By Kathryn Dick

Wet weather failed to dampen the spirits of competitors at Appin Show, where an array of sheep made their mark in the show ring, however it was the inter-breed cattle champion from the MacGillivray family that took overall champion of champions once again.

The MacGillivray’s – Ewen and son, Ewen, from Barcaldine Home Farm, Connel – led the way with the pedigree Limousin heifer calf, Creran Oban Lass, that made her debut at Lorn Show where she stood reserve inter-breed cattle and continued her winning streak by taking centre stage at Appin.

This classy pure-bred is a full sister to Creran Morinjho, which sold for 10,000gns at the Stirling Bull Sales in 2017, and Ewen is hoping that the successful bloodline will continue with this eye-catching heifer at future shows.

Highland cattle breeders were also out in full force, with more than 40 entries to be judged. Taking top spot here was the red heifer, Lillian 4 of Glen Kinglass, from RD Schuster, Glenstrae, Dalmally, led by Stuart McKay. Reserve in this strong section went to Cuileann of Brucefield, a 10-year-old black cow from John Cooper, Tordarroch Estate, Farr, which had won her class three years in succession here, as well as a third prize at the Royal Highland Show in 2012 as a young heifer.

In the sheep section, the inter-breed female champion was a Blackface ewe that was crowned supreme sheep and went on to stand reserve champion of champions. This was a three-crop ewe from James Henry Weir, Invernahyle, Appin, that had been bought at Lanark as a gimmer in 2016 from Andy Woodburn, Netherwood.

Runner-up for the sheep championship was the supreme male, a Blackface ram shown by Donnie MacCorquodale, from Achnaba, North Connel. This ram was purchased as a shearling at Dalmally from the MacGregors of the Dyke in 2018 and is sired by an £18,000 Crossflatt.

LEADING awards:

Commercial cattle (Judge: A Smith, Aberchalder, Invergarry). Champion, overall cattle champion and champion of champions – E MacGillivray, Barcaldine, with Creran Oban Lass, an October, 2018-born pedigree Limousin heifer calf, by Powerful Irish and out of Lodge Icola. Oban Lass was reserve cattle champion at Lorn Show. Reserve – E MacGillivray, Barcaldine, with a cross-bred steer. Hill cow – W MacLeod, Lurignish. Heifer calf born 2019, bullock calf born September-December 2018 – D MacDonald. Heifer calf born September-December, 2018, bullock calf born 2019 – E MacGillivray.

Highland cattle (Judge: A MacDonald, South Uist). Champion – RD Schuster, Duiletter, Glenstrae, with the yearling heifer, Lillian 4 of Glen Kinglass, a daughter of Kirkibost Geal of Ardbhan and out of Lillian 4 of Bute. Reserve – J Cooper, Tordarroch Estate, Tordarroch, Farr, with Cuileann of Brucefield, a 10-year-old black cow by James Beusach of an Sidhean, out of Subhlair Dubh 4 of Brucefield. She has won best in her class three years in the running at Appin as well as coming third in her class at the Royal Highland Show in 2012. Senior bull – Leys Castle Farms, Inverness. Junior bull – M Poland, West Ferlochan, Benderloch. Senior cow, two-year-old heifer, calf – J Cooper. Junior cow – Mrs Q Strickland, Cladich, Dalmally. Three-year-old heifer, yearling heifer – RD Schuster.

Blackface (Judge: D MacVicar, Lephinchapel, Strachur). Champion and overall sheep – JH Weir, Appin, with a three-crop ewe, bought from the Netherwood flock as a gimmer in 2016 at Lanark, with this being her first outing in the show ring. Reserve – D MacCorquodale, Achnaba, North Connel, with a Dyke-bred tup, bought at Dalmally in 2018 as a shearling. He is sired by an £18,000 Crossflatt. Bred shearling – W MacLeod, Lurignish. Aged ram, two-shear, gimmer, bred female, mixed group, reserve female, champion male – D and J MacCorquodale. Pair of wedder lambs – K Jackson. Bred shearling, ram lamb, bred male, ewe, gimmer in milk, ewe lamb, female group, ewe with lamb, reserve male, champion female – JH Weir.

Any other pure sheep (Judge: A Smith). Champion – R MacColl, Appin, with a one-crop Cheviot ewe which was bought as a gimmer at Dingwall in 2018. This was her first outing. Reserve – D MacColl, Lismore, with a Suffolk tup lamb, out of a home-bred dam and sired by an Essie tup bought at Dingwall in 2018. This lamb won overall sheep champion at Lismore. Aged male, gimmer, ewe lamb – D MacCorquodale. Ewe, female champion – R MacColl. Ram lamb, male champion – D MacColl.

Cross sheep (Judge: A Smith). Champion and reserve – A MacKellar, Seaview Croft, Benderloch, with a one-crop Suffolk cross ewe and reserve with a Suffolk cross gimmer, both purchased from Messrs Wallace and Son, Ayrshire. Ram, ewe lamb – I Henderson. Prime lamb pair – D Colthart. Pet lamb – R MacColl. Ewe, gimmer – A MacKellar