A WASHOUT for many shows across Scotland didn’t stop Colmonell and Ballantrae show from hosting a successful day with both local and travelled breeders proving that for a small show, it packed a big punch in terms of quality livestock.

Holstein and Texel breeder, Robert Fleming, had the honour of tapping out the overall and reserve champions, both of which he found in the sheep lines. He awarded the supreme honours to Blackface breeder David Morrison, Dalwyne, who won with his home-bred, one-crop ewe by a £52,000 Crossflatt sire.

Mr Fleming said that his winner “was a tremendous example of the breed in terms of character and carcase, however, it was an extremely close decision with an exceptional Texel standing runner-up.”

That Texel is relatively new to the show scene for breeders Robert and Debbie McTaggart, Glen Farm, Gatehouse of Fleet. Their winning gimmer is by Milnbank Wild Child and stood champion at Stranraer on her first show outing.

In a competitive dairy section, it was the Holstein cow by James McNeil, from Cairnpat, Lochans, which took the championship prize. His second-calver, Aintree Topsy Florence, is by a De-Se Topsy sire and is due her third calf in January.

The reserve dairy champion was a Brown Swiss cow, Soulseat Jack Pot Dee Exc 93, from breeders R McColm, High Boreland, Stranraer. This third-calver was successfully shown as a heifer and is by Super Brown Jack Pot.

The sun came out just in time to draw crowds to the busy beef cattle section and the championship ticket awarded to Alan and Shona Stevenson, Carbello, Cumnock. Their two-year-old Limousin heifer, Burnbank Neve, has been scooping up tickets during the 2019 showing season, taking continental championship wins at Dalrymple and Stranraer. Adding to their win, the Stevenson’s took the overall group prize in a competitive field.

Reserve in the beef lines was Alice and Louise Allan, Arnsow, Kirkmichael, with the 14-month-old Limousin cross bullock, Game Changer, by Swarland Larry.

Leading awards

Dairy cattle (Judge: H Kennedy, Carngillan). Champion – J McNeil, Cairnpat, Lochans, with his Holstein cow, Aintree Topsy Florence, on her first outing. She was bought in from Aintree and is by a De-Se Topsy sire and out of a Florence dam. The second-calver is due her third calf in January and is producing 50 litres from twice-daily milking. Reserve – R McColm, High Boreland, Stranraer, with his Brown Swiss cow, Soulseat Jack Pot Dee Ex 93. She is on her third lactation and is producing 9000 litres at 4% BF and 3.4% P. Her sire is Super Brown Jack Pot and out of a home-bred dam, Zolla Dee. She previously was shown successfully as a heifer winning inter-breed championships. Heifer under one-year-old, best dairy heifer – C Andrew, Kilphin. Heifer between one and two – D Watson, High Mark. Cow-in-calf or milk for Holstein Friesian – J McNeil. Cow-in-calf or milk any other breed – R McColm.

Beef cattle (Judge: J Sheenan, Girvan) Champion – A and S Stevenson, Carbello, Cumnock, with their 25-month-old Limousin heifer, Burnbank Neve. She was bought at Carlisle as a weaned calf and is by Maraiscote Lettisier. She stood pure-bred champion at Dalrymple and continental champion at Stranraer. Reserve – A and L Allan, Arnsow, Kirkmichael, with their 14-month-old Limousin cross bullock, Game Changer. He is Welsh bred by Emily Jones, sired by Swarland Larry and out of a Limousin cross cow. She is new to the showing circuit and will next be shown at LiveScot and Agri-Expo. Best bred animal cross breed female, cross breed calf, best beef animal female – A and S Stevenson. Best bred animals cross breed male – A Allan. Best beef animal pure breed male and female – WE and I Brown, Laigh, Drumdow. Suckler cow with calf at foot born before Feb 1 – G Cook, Glendoune. Best suckled cow with calf at foot born after Feb 1 – E McNeil. Confined champion – J Hyslop.

Blackface (Judge: U Hodge, Kirklands). Champion – D Morrison, Dalwyne, Barr, with his home-bred one-crop ewe by a £52,000 Crossflatt and out of a dam by a £50,000 Dalwyne. She stood champion at Dalrymple and won the Ayr stock judging and her dam stood champion at Abbington as a gimmer in 2016. Reserve – JW Kay, Gass, Straiton, with their April-born ewe lamb. She is off a £20,000 Auldhouseburn and out of a £4000 Midlock dam. Colmonell was her first show outing and she is set to head to Abington and Muirkirk. Tup – Clanary. Shearling – Chirmorrie. Tup lamb – High Croach. Special prize for best pair of tup lambs and ewe lambs and gimmer – Little Larg. Ewe lamb – Gass Ewe – Dalwyne. Best group of three – Balrazzie. Hired shepherds class – A McMillan, Dalwyne.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: A Sheenan, Farden). Champion and reserve – W Barrowman, Mid Knockglass, Stranraer, with a March-born tup lamb. He has already picked up reserve at Stranraer and champion at Wigtown and hails from a flock of 25 Blue and is sired by a Kirkby Redgate sire and out of a home-bred ewe. He will be for sale later in the year. Reserve was a March-born home-bred ewe lamb also by the Kirkby Redgate tup and out of a home-bred ewe. She won her class at Stranraer show. Aged tup, tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb and best group of three – W Barrowman. Ewe – R Wallace.

Border Leicester (Judge: B Broatch, Riggheads). Champion – D and I Walker, Laigh Alticane, Girvan with their three-crop ewe by Lynham Lord Kelso. She is out of a dam by Knockglass Cruiser and is the mother of the £2500 lamb which topped the sale price at Lanark in 2018. Reserve – A Clark, Fineview Farm, Glenluce with his home-bred gimmer by Intock Sandy and out of a purchased dam from Neil Howie of North Lynham. Tup lamb and gimmer – A Clark. Ewe, ewe lamb and best group of three – D and I Walker.

Scotch Mule (Judge: A Sheenan). Champion – G Allan, Highfield, Ochiltree, with his gimmer bought at Castle Douglas as a ewe lamb from the Kerrs, at Sauchrie Mains. She is by an Agglethorpe tup and out of a home-bred dam. She stood first at Biggar and Dumfries in her class and will be sold at Castle Douglas. Reserve – W Barrowman with his April-born ewe lamb by a home-bred tup. She was on her first outing and will also be sold at Castle Douglas sale in a week. Lamb – W Barrowman. Gimmer – G Allan. Pen of three lambs – R Wallace.

Texel (Judge: J Nisbet, Orchardton Mains). Champion and supreme sheep – R and F McTaggart, Glen, Gatehouse of Fleet, with a gimmer off a Milnbank Wild Child and out of a Knap-bred ewe. She stood champion at Stranraer on her first show outing for 2019. Reserve – G Hurcomb, Garthlearie, Stranraer, with his March-born ewe lamb. She is by a Carron sire and out of a home-bred ewe. She was on her first show outing and will be kept for breeding in the grass-fed flock. Male over one year and best group of three – A Clark. Ewe – D Walker. Gimmer – R and F McTaggart. Tup lamb – J Wilson. Ewe lamb – G Hurcomb.

Suffolk sheep (Judge: J Nisbet). Champion – J Wilson, Barneil, Girvan, with a shearling by a Broomknowes tup and out of a ewe from the Hazeltree flock. He stood champion on his first show outing and will be sold at Ayr in the autumn. Reserve – A Clark, Meikle, Glengyre, with a gimmer out of a Broomknowes ewe bought as a gimmer in 2017 and by a Martindale sire. The triplet took her first win for the season and will be kept for replacements for the flock. Male over one-year – J Wilson. Ewe, gimmer and tup lamb – J Clark. Ewe lamb and group of three – A Clark.

AOB sheep (Judge: B Broatch). Champion – J McMillan, Carse of Clary, Newton Stewart, with his Royal Highland winner, Clary Delight. This Beltex gimmer is by Hackney Braveheart and out of Clary Belle. In a successful show season, she took the red tickets at Wigtown, Stranraer and the Highland. Reserve – E Clark with aa home-bred Beltex shearling, Glengyre Digby. He is out of a Brockton ewe and will be for sale at Newton Stewart later in the year. Tup – E Clark. Ewe or gimmer – J McMillan. Tup lamb – I McKnight. Ewe lamb – A McWilliam. Group of three – N Bodle.

Prime lambs (Judge: R Templeton, Carslae). Champion and reserve – J Wright, Pinmore Mains, Barr, with his March-born Beltex cross Texel lambs. The home-bred lambs were on their first show outing and will be heading to market later in the year. Pen of three lambs by a native sire – I Campbell, Craigalbert. Pen of three lambs by a continental sire – J Wright. Pen of three lambs (Greyface/Mules) and single cross breed lambs – J Frame, Blairston.

Commercial breeding sheep (Judge: R Templeton). Pair of native sired gimmer – F McMillan. Pair of continental-sired gimmers – J Clark, West Glengyre.

Young stock handlers (Judge: R Fleming, Hillhead). Under 12 years-old – 1, Murray McNeil, Cairnpat, Lochans, with a yearling heifer, Cairnpat Kingpin Dyebell; 2, Rhianna Bodle’s January-born Zwartbles tup lamb, Gismo; 3, Ramsay Stevenson, Carbello, Cumnock, with his Limousin cross heifer calf, Moana. Under 15 years-old – 1, Adam McGuire, Low Three Mark, Stoneykirk, with his 15-month-old Limousin cross bullock, Cracker; 2, David Lawson, Newton Stewart, showing a 16-month-old Limousin cross bullock, Gringo; 3, Calum Cook, Glendoune, Girvan, with his two-year-old Belted Galloway heifer, Bertha.