Triple Crown winner shines in the rain

The event, which was staging the Scottish Limousin Grand Prix, the Scottish National Simmental and the National Beltex shows, saw all three breeds star in the inter-breed competitions, culminating the overall judge, Jimmy Warnock giving the winning slap to Mike and Melanie Alford's 26-month-old heifer, Foxhillfarm Naomi.

Their 'triple crown' winner which boasts championship titles at the Highland, Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh under her belt, is a daughter of the 140,000gns record priced Trueman Jagger, bred from Foxhillfarm Isla, a previous triple crown champion, was paraded in calf to Elite Monteque.

"The Limousin heifer has exceptional conformation and character and she moves very well. She's the complete animal," said Mr Warnock, immediate past chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society, who presented the silverware for the reserve overall to the inter-breed sheep winner, the hill-type North Country Cheviot champion from Norman and David Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow and honourary reserve to the lead donkey.

"The ewe was also a very correct, good ewe, full of character, and it was a very good donkey too," added Mr Warnock.

Securing a first Lairg-type Cheviot championship here to follow on from a overall champion of champions win with a South Country, for the father and son duo was a four-crop ewe from their Whitehope flock. First here as a gimmer and inter-breed sheep champion at Wooler in 2017, this ewe brought out by shepherd Matt Carryer is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides being a daughter of Whitehope Pharoah out of a former show ewe.

Champion donkey was Elma Cunningham's multi award winning Gamlingay Love in a Mist, an 11-year-old grey mare by Gamlingay Prophecy, from Carluke. She is out of Camalin Tamerisk and is a former British champion, three times Highland Show best in breed and champion winner at numerous other local events.

Despite the rain, sheep numbers were up to the norm with just short of 1000 head entered and most forward on the day for the 20 sections.

Inter-breed sheep judge, Angus Kennedy, Broughton, found his reserve overall in the Beltex leader from Graeme and Fiona Burke's Pentland flock all the way from Brechin. Their show stopper, Pentland Dixie, a gimmer by Airyolland Wurzel has already made a name for herself taking the same award at Fettercairn and Kirriemuir while also standing second in a strong class at the Highland.

Back amongst the cattle and the winner of the National Simmental Show – Gerald and Morag Smith and son Dougie's Drumsleed Hivy, a massive three-year-old bull from Laurencekirk – was given the reserve slap by overall beef judge, Chris Curry, Morpeth.

Another star performer, this big boy by Haystar Cracker, was inter-breed champion at Kirriemuir and Fettercairn, male champion at the Highland and breed leader at Alyth.

Aberdeen-Angus heifers from the Allens from Stouphill, Alnwick, bagged the pairs. This included the champion, Stouphill Quorum and her stable mate Stouphill Lady Rose.

Reserve were two Limousin heifers from Dougie McBeath and Sarah Jane Jessop, Stirling, to include the reserve champion, Springsett Nancy and Springsett Orchid.

LEADING awards

Clydesdale (Judge: T Edge, Hope, Wrexham). Champion – T Tennant, Ettrick, Selkirk with the four-year-old brood mare, Mollinhillhead Lady Claire, a daughter of Bratlach Ballintoy, out of Mollinhillhead Lady Caroline, that was bought from the Stewart family as a six-month-old foal. Champion here as a yearling, she was on her first outing since and was shown with filly foal by Garth President. Reserve – J Fairbairn, Berwick upon Tweed, with the four-year-old gelding, Cumeragh House Dennis, by Woodside Lucky Strike. He was placed at the Highland and is part of Mr Fairbairn’s driving team. Senior gelding, young handlers – J Fairbairn. Yeld mare – Y Pringle and DJ Copland. Brood mare – T Tennant. Foal – M and A Bell, Gretna.

Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: N Wattie, Alford). Champion – WD Allen, Alnwick, Northumberland, with the April 2017-born heifer, Stouphill Quorum, a November 2017-born heifer by Duncanziemere Jigsaw out of Carlhurlie Quorum. Third at the Highland on her sole previous outing and a member of the inter-breed pairs at Kelso with her stable mate, Stouphill Lady Rose, by Weeton Diamond Mine, Quorum was paraded in-calf to the 13,000gns Logie Defiance. Reserve – I Watson and J Ford, Kersquarter, Kelso, with Kersquarter Jipsy Erica, a March 2018-born heifer by Balmachie Lord Jock out of Cheeklaw Jipsy Erica, that stood second at Northumberland and first at Haddington. She also made up part of the winning Angus group of three. Bull – AE and CR Bishop, Wokingham, Berkshire. Cow, senior heifer, group of three – WD Allen. Junior heifer – I Watson and J Ford.

Scottish National Simmental Show (Judge: D Donnelly, Ashbourne, Derbyshire). Champion – G and M Smith, Drumsleed, Laurencekirk, with Drumsleedy Hivy, a three-year-old stockbull that was inter-breed champion at Kirriemuir and Fettercairn, champion at Alyth and male champion at the Highland. A son of Haystar Cracker, he is out of Drumsleed Valania. Reserve – R and A Simmers, Keith, with the February 2017-born heifer Sterling Fcuk Impuls, bought at Stirling in February for 13,000gns as a foundation female for the Backmuir herd, she is by Sterling Gino, out of Sterling Cands Fclik and stood female champion and reserve overall at the Highland. She was paraded in calf to Islavale Gambler. Reserve male – J and P Goldie, Newbiemains, Annan, with the three-year-old bull, Skerrington Iceman, a son of Sowenna Aristocrat out of Skerrington Rhona 32 that stood reserve male at the Great Yorkshire in 2018. Reserve female – D Craig, Stewarton, with Kennox Tara’s Gem, a former champion winner at the Highland and reserve inter-breed beef champion at the Highland Show in 2017. She is by Sowenna Aristocrat, out of the show cow, Kennox Helen’s Tara and was on her first outing since. Tara’s Gem was paraded with her second calf at foot. Senior bull, senior heifer – G and M Smith. Intermediate bull, junior bull – N and N Gwynne, Newton Stewart. Yearling bull – J and P Goldie. Cow, calf – D Craig. Intermediate heifer – R and A Simmers. Junior heifer – F Gwynne, Newton Stewart. Yearling heifer – M and M Macaskill, Innerwick, Dunbar.

Native beef breeds (Judge: M Ross, Gorebridge, Midlothian). Champion – RJB Wilson and Sons, Cowbog, Kelso, with the 15-month-old Hereford heifer, Romany 1 Ishbel BW R55, the result of a frozen embryo bred from Romany 1 Ishbel, a former best under two-year-old at the Royal Show, sired by Romany 1 Naugator, a previous bull of the year and Royal Show champion. Placed second at Northumberland and third at the Highland, she is destined for the Designer Genes Sale at Shrewsbury in December. Reserve – J Hodge, Horndean, Berwick upon Tweed, with the 16-month-old heifer, Shraden 1 Alice, bought last year at the breed sale in Hereford. She is by Dendor Knuckelduster, out of Shraden 1 Alice and stood first at Northumberland and the Great Yorkshire. Bull – Gordon Brooke Estate, Earlston. Cow, senior heifer, group of three – J Hodge. Junior heifer – RJB Wilson and Sons.

Scottish Limousin Grandprix (Judge: M Quick, Crediton, Devon). Champion, inter-breed cattle champion and overall champion of champions – M and M Alford, Devon, with Foxhillfarm Naomi, a 26-month-old heifer by Trueman Jagger that was champion at the Highland, Great Yorkshire and the Royal Welsh. She is bred from Foxhillfarm Isla which also did the ‘triple crown’ wining the same three shows. Naomi was shown in calf to Elite Monteque. Reserve – D McBeath and SJ Jessop, with the rising two-year-old heifer, Springsett Nancy, which scooped the reserve female and junior female honours at the Highland and also made up part of the inter-breed team at the Highland. She is by Woodroad James, a bull bought at Roscrea that was male champion at the past two Scottish Limousin Grandprix and this year scooped the reserve male title. Male champion – M and M Reid, Alloa, with Reids Orion, a 16-month-old bull shown by free-lance stocksperson Kim Brown that was inter-breed beef champion at West Fife Show. He is by the Wilodge Cerberus-sired Reid’s Galaxy that stood inter-breed junior champion at the Stars of the Future in 2011, which was sold privately to the Barlow Bros of the Littlewood herd from Preston. His dam is Littlewood Ginger, bought privately from the Barlow Bros after Mr Reid was so impressed by the progeny from Galaxy. Calf, heifer with calf – Aileen Ritchie, Whitecairns, Aberdeenshire. Yearling bull, heifer calf – A Cormack, Allanton, Duns. Junior bull, yearling heifer – J Logan, Kelso. Intermediate bull – M Reid. Senior intermediate bull, cow – Redpath Farms, Kelso. Senior bull, heifer stirk, junior heifer – D McBeath and SJ Jessop. Senior heifer – MJ Alford.

Continental beef (Judge: M Ross, Gorebridge). Champion – JHC Campbell and Sons, Alnwick, with the 15-month-old Charolais bull, Thrunton Oklahoma, a son of the 28,000gns Maerdy Jerusalem out of the Blelack Digger daughter, Thrunton Juliet, on his first outing. He is bound for the bull sales at Stirling in October. Reserve – R and A Crockett, Denholm, with Bacardi Miss Money Penny, an April 2017-born heifer by Gulliver out of Cleuchhead Delilia that was champion at Northumberland and Stirling and first at the Great Yorkshire. She is in calf to Seawell Kitemark. Senior bull – G and A Hamilton, Duns. Junior bull – JHC Campbell and Sons. Cow, senior heifer – R and A Crockett. Junior heifer – G and L Lewis, Jedburgh.

Young handlers (Judge: M Ross). 16-21yrs – 1, Sebrina Kooistra; 2, Maria Kooistra. 15 and under – 1, Lewis Ralston; 2, Kirsty Campbell.

Beltex Scottish National (Judge: J Young, Alford). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – G and F Burke, Brechin, Angus, with Pentland Dixie, the reserve inter-breed sheep champion from Kirriemuir and Fettercairn. This home-bred gimmer which stood second in her class at the Highland is by Airyolland Wurzel and out of a Kingledores Rascal-sired ewe. Reserve – JL McMillan, Newton Stewart with Smartarse Dark Horse, a shearling ram bought at Carlisle last year for 3800gns. He is by Ardstewart Aristocrat, a former champion winner at Carlisle, out of a Woodies ewe and stood first in his class at the Highland. Reserve female – RE Wood and Sons, Kingledores, with a ewe. Reserve male – A Miller, Inverurie, with a ram lamb. Aged ram, gimmer – G and F Burke. Sherling ram, ewe lamb, group of three, pair – JL McMillan. Ram lamb – A Miller. Ewe – RE Wood and Sons.

Border Leicester (Judge: W Sandilands, Ancrum). Champion – RN Howie and Partners, Alnwick, with Westforth Barbarian, a member of the first prize pen of three at Lanark, purchased from Tom Tennant for £1900. He is by Alticane Uncle Mo and out of an Eildon Last Chance-sired ewe. Reserve – JS and JB Mauchlen, Kelso, with Kilphin Kingpin, a three-shear ram bought at Lanark as a lamb on his first outing since. He is by Intock Sandy. Senior ram, ewe, ewe lamb, group of three – JS and JB Mauchlen. Shearling ram, ram lamb, gimmer, pair – RN Howie and Partners.

Suffolk (Judge: A Gray, Lanark). Champion – Roseden and Lilburn flock, Northumberland with a home-bred one-crop ewe by Rookery Union Jack out of a ewe with a Drimmie sire. She was third at the Great Yorkshire. Reserve and Scottish National winner – Mrs CM Nelson, Kelso, with the champion winner from Haddington, a two-crop ewe by Middlemuiur Messi, out of a Conveth ewe that was champion at Fife in 2016. First at Northumberland last year and in May, she was also placed at the Highland and lifted the female championship at the Border Suffolk Club Show. Untrimmed shearling – Elaine Wilkie, Boreland, Lockerbie. Sheraling ram – T Darling, Duns. Ram lamb untrimmed, ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – Roseden and Lilburn. Ewe – Mrs CM Nelson.

Texel (Judge: R Cockburn, Errol, Perth). Champion – Firm of G Gray, Selkirk, with a one-crop ewe that was third at the Highland and bred the first prize tup lamb at Ingliston. She is by Clinterty You Cracker and out of a ewe by Plasucha Tiger that is a former reserve winner at the Great Yorkshire. Reserve – D Preacher, Walkerburn, with a gimmer that was reserve inter-breed sheep at Dalkeith and an ET sister to last year’s big winner here and at Dalkeith. She is by Milnbank Wisconsin, a tup used on loan from Elmscleugh, while her dam a Rascarrel ewe was purchased at the Solway and Tyne show and sale in 2015.Aged ram – N Harvey and Prof Penny, Duns. Shearling ram, ram lamb, ewe lamb – J Arnott, Kelso. Ewe – G Gray. Gimmer – D Preacher

Zwartbles (Judge: J Stevenson, Saltburn By The Sea, North Yorks). Champion – Caroline Anderson, Oxton, Lauder, with the champion winner from Northumberland and the Great Yorkshire, Penlyn Chickpea, a three-crop ewe by Cynefin Wennol out of a Penlyn ewe. Reserve – S Craig, Kelso, with the breed leader from Biggar, a ewe lamb. Craigies Gladrags is by the home-bred sire, Craigies Flippineck out of Craigies Aftershock and stood reserve female at the Highland and first at the National at Stirling. Ram – AJ Thorburn, Eastriggs, Annan. Ram lamb, gimmer, group of three – C Rae, Brownrigg Loaning, Dumfries. Ewe – C Anderson. Ewe lamb – S Craig.

Any other breed (Judge: G Hamilton, Hawick). Champion and reserve – D and C Gray, Selkirk, with Blue Texels. Supreme was Ettrick Duke, the second prize tup lamb at the Highland by Dragon Buster, a tup that stood male champion at the Royal Welsh in 2018. He is out of the reserve champion, Nantyderri Aria, a two-crop ewe by Whatmore Walnut, bought at the Nantyderri production sale, that was reserve at Biggar and Dalkeith. Duke is destined for the breed sale at Carlisle at the end of the month. Ram – AJ Guthrie, Selkirk. Ram lamb, ewe, ewe lamb – D and C Gray. Gimmer – A Gray, Lowick, Berwick upon Tweed.

Prime lambs (MV) (Judge: G Hamilton). Champion – H Currie, Carlisle, with a pen of two mediumweight Texel lambs. Reserve – Elaine Wilkie, Boreland, Lockerbie, with the only other entry in the section, the second prize pair of mediumweight lambs, Suffolk crosses.

Blackface (Judge: R Paterson, Crieff). Champion and reserve – Burncastle Farming, Lauder, with home-bred females. Supreme brought out by shepherd James Brady was a gimmer on her first outing of the year after standing first at Westruther last year. She is by a £25,000 Elmscleugh and out of a ewe by an £11,000 Happrew. Reserve was a one-crop ewe on her first outing by a £14,000 Auldhouseburn. Shearling ram – A Anderson, Oxton, Lauder. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – S McClymont. Ewe, gimmer – Burncastle Farming.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: I Minto, West Linton). Champion – J Herdman, Alnwick, with a mid-March-born ewe lamb by a £3600 Hotbank tup bought at Carlisle as a shearling in 2017 in partnership with Obie Sharp, Colin Campbell and Bill Hedley. The dam is a home-bred ewe with a Carryhouse sire. Reserve – S McClymont, Selkirk, with a home-bred two-crop ewe that stood reserve at Dalkeith. She is by a £2000 Midlock lamb bought at Castle Douglas, out of a ewe by a Tanhouse sire. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – J Herdman. Ewe, gimmer – S McClymont.

Cheviot (Judge: S Anderson, Hawick). Champion – WJC and SJ Weir, Kelso, with the breed leader from Pennymuir last year, a three-crop ewe by Becks Kazoo which goes back to the £9000 Mainside Starburst. She was on her first outing of the year and is out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – J Smith, Hawick, with a two-shear ram bought at Lockerbie last year from Hazel Halliday. The tup, Dalgare Ernie, was on his first outing and is by Springwells Ernie. Aged ram, –WN Douglas, Yarrow. Two shear, shearling ram, ram lamb, gimmer – J Smith. Ewe, ewe lamb – WJC and SJ Weir.

Hebridean (Judge: Mrs H Brewis, Sherinton, Newport Pagnell). Champion – CK and KE Heeley, Penrith, with the first prize gimmer from the Highland, a daughter of Cinderhill Jotun, out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – J Mosley, West Linton, with Brightside Wiay, the reserve male from the Great Yorkshire and male champion from the Highland. This three-shear ram that was bought at Lanark for the top price that day, also stood champion here in 2017 and again is by Cinderhill Jotun. Aged ram – J Mosley. Sheraling ram, ewe, ewe lamb – N and A Fecitt, Downbiggin, Sedbergh. Ram lamb – J James, West Linton. Gimmer – CG and KE Heeley.

Jacob (Judge: G Connor, Linlithgow). Champion – Marion Leithead, Melanie Harper and Lyn James, Hawick, with a shearling ram bred by Wyn Harris that was bought at St Boswells. By a Hope sire, he was champion at Dalkeith and second at the Highland. Reserve – R Locker, Greenlaw, with the reserve female champion from the Highland and reserve winner from the National at Fife Show, a home-bred gimmer by the AI sire, Hope Rocky, out of a home-bred ewe. Aged ram – M Leithead. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, pair – R Locker.

Kerry Hill (Judge: A Stott, Canonbie). Champion – S and A Burgess, Dumfries, with Topspot Bonnie Lass, a home-bred gimmer by a Montgomery sire used on loan out of a foundation ewe bought from the Mowhaugh flock and one of 18 ewes in the flock. She won a lot of red tickets as a ewe lamb. Reserve – J Graham, Lockerbie, with last year’s champion, a one-crop ewe that won three championships last year. She is by a Fronarth ram used on loan and out of a Whitcastle-bred ewe bought as a foundation female for Mr Graham’s six-ewe Birsca flock. Aged ram, gimmer, ewe lamb – S and A Burgess. Ram lamb, ewe, group of three – J Graham.

Lairg-type Cheviot (Judge: A MacDonald, Grantown on Spey). Champion, supreme sheep and reserve overall champion of champions – WN Douglas, Yarrow, winning their first hill-type Cheviot championship here. Their winner was a home-bred four-crop ewe brought out by shepherd Matt Carryer. First here as a gimmer and inter-breed sheep at Glendale show in 2017, she is by Whitehope Pharoah, a son of a £4000 Suisgill, that was sold at Lairg for £3200 at Lairg. The dam, a home-bred show ewe is by a £1200 Hethpool. Reserve – A Cowens, Selkirk with a previously unshown ewe lamb by a home-bred son of a £3000 Stouphill bought at Lockerbie. The sire is bound for Lairg in October. Aged ram, ram lamb, ewe lamb – A Cowens. Two shear ram – Linhope Farming Partnership, Alnwick. Shearling ram – R Rennie, Kelso. Ewe – WN Douglas. Gimmer – J Runciman and Sons, Galashiels

North Country Cheviot (Judge: P Hedley, Jedburgh). Champion – W and J Thomson, Kelso, with Hownam Grange Vicky, a gimmer that was reserve female at the Great Yorkshire. She boasts inter-breed champion winners on both sides, with her sire being Synton Vespa, last year’s overall champion of champions here, while the dam, Hownam Grange Victoria, was champion and reserve supreme sheep at the Highland in June and hill champion at the Great Yorkshire. Reserve – A Cowens, Selkirk, with the inter-breed sheep champion from Dalkeith, a gimmer by the £5000 Synton Van Goch out of a ewe by Ericstane Claymore She stood second in her class to the champion. Aged ram, shearling ram – WD Allen. Two shear ram – SG Turnbull, Jedburgh. Ewe, gimmer – W and J Thomson. Ewe lamb – S Anderson, Stow.

Scotch Half-bred (Judge: W Sandilands, Ancrum). Champion – S Shaw, Kelso, with a ewe. Ewe – S Shaw. Gimmer – H Anderson, Oxton, Lauder. Ewe lamb, group of three ewe lambs – GD Pate, Gorebridge.

Shetland (Judge: Mrs N Turner, Bury, Lancs). Champion and reserve – Mrs S Tyson and Mrs R Willan, Keswick. Supreme was white one-crop ewe, Erika of Derwent, a home-bred ewe by Greenacre Copper out of Bronwyn of Derwent on her first outing. Reserve was the three-shear coloured ram, Elmor of Derwent which won the supreme wool on the hoof at the Great Yorkshire. He is by Charles of Derwent and out of Bernice of Derwent. Coloured ram, white ewe, coloured gimmer, white gimmer – Mrs S Tyson and Mrs R Willan. White ram, coloured ram lamb, white ewe lamb – B and J Watson, Carleton, Holmcrook. Coloured shearling, coloured ewe – PML Playfair, Kelso. White shearling, white ram lamb and reserve white champion – Mr and Mrs A Bain, Tranent. Coloured ewe lamb and reserve coloured – Julie Anne Leitch, Melrose.

Suffolk Non MV (Judge: D Reid, Mouswald, Dumfries). Champion – A Warden, Hawick, with a gimmer by a £1700 Allanshaws tup bought at Kelso, out of a ewe by a different Allanshaws ram. She is a full sister to £4000 and £3500 shearling rams sold at Kelso off Skelfhill. Reserve – Hazel Smith, Hawick, with a ewe lamb by a Skelfhill sire bought at Kelso in 2017. Aged ram, sheraling ram, ram lamb – S Shaw, Kelso. Ewe – AW and BT Taylor, Biggar. Gimmer – A Warden. Ewe lamb – H Smith.

Texel Non MV (Judge: N Anderson, Duns). Champion – WN Douglas, Selkirk, with a home-bred three-crop ewe by a home-bred son of a 4000gns Haddo, out of a ewe by a Glenside ram. She was on her first outing. Reserve – G Cakebread, Commonside, Hawick, with a previously unshown shearling by Allanfauld Yorkie out of a home-bred ewe. He is destined for the ram sales here in September. Aged ram, gimmer – A Warden, Hawick. Shearling ram – G Cakebread. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – J and P Anderson. Ewe – WN Douglas.

Any other breed Non MV (Judge: G Hamilton, Hawick). Champion and reserve – A and P Glennie, Oxton with Beltex lambs. Supreme was an April-born ewe lamb by a tup bought from Grant Anderson out of a home-bred ewe that was champion at Duns last year. Reserve was a tup lamb the exact same way bred. Ram, ewe – N and G Sandilands, Jedburgh. ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – A and P Glennie

Prime lambs (Judge: G Hamilton). Champion – A and P Glennie, Oxton, with a pen of two Beltex lambs. Reserve – L McGowan, Duns, with a pair of heavy weight lambs. Light weight lambs, medium weight lambs – A and P Glennie. Heavyweight lambs – L McGowan.

Young handlers (Judge: A Kennedy, Broughton). Champion – Fletcher Renwick. MV– 1, Fletcher Renwick; 2, Ellie Miller; 3, Seth Miller. Non MV – 1, Beth Thomson; 2, Kirsty Turnbull; 3, Archie Hendry.

Goats (Judge: P Mounter, Spennymoor, Durham). Champion – Becky Campbell, Torphicen, Bathgate, with the milking Toggenburg, Linnavon Edelwiess, a four-year-old by Guilden Glen out of Linnaven Bromeliad, that kidded in March. Reserve – Valerie Wood, Greencroft, Stanley, with the milking AOV Treval Arla, a two-year-old that kidded down in March and is by Treval Eili, out of Treval Ariadne. Saanen milker, Anglo-Nubian milker, AOV milker, Saanen goatling, AOV goatling, Saanen kid, Anglo-Nubian kid – V Wood. Toggenburg milker – B Campbell. Golden Guernsey milker, Golden Guernsey goatling – Christina Sieker, Melrose. Toggenburg goatling, Toggenburg kid – Anke Sieker, Melrose. Anglo Nubian goatling – B and S Mason, Perth. Golden Guernsey kid – R Torrance, Thropton, Morpeth. AOV kid – Hannah Campbell, Torphicen.