Park-type Cheviot reigns for Steven

Overall judge, John Tilson, Wedderlie, admired the ewe for her natural breed character and said she was a good example of the breed being correct throughout and of a good type.

Mr Tilson's choice of reserve was the inter-breed beef champion, Abington Lily, a 34-month-old British Blue heifer from Ian McGarva, Nether Abington, Abington, shown by Duncan Davidson and Kelly Blackwood.

It was nevertheless the lead sheep that took centre stage, when a one-crop ewe on her first outing of the season, stepped up to take the big one. A big winner last year, she was breed champion at both Haddington and Dalkeith and is by Muirton Tip Top.

Abington Lily is also a big winner, having secured the inter-breed beef honours here last year. By the AI sire, Tenace de la Praule, she is bred from Tamhorn Grace.

Just pipped at the post in the beef lines was the champion Limousin, Roundhill HGiroflee, a seven-year-old cow from WJ Smith, Old Greentowers, Cartland, assisted by daughter Christina and son Will who earlier won the cattle young handlers. HGiroflee, by the French sire, Acajou and out of Roundhill EGiroflee, was paraded with her fourth calf at foot, Brocklinn Playboy.

The Smiths also won the inter-breed beef pairs with the Limousin champion and her daughter, Brocklinn Nikita, a 2½-year-old heifer.

Back amongst the massive sheep lines, Mr Tilson found his reserve in Alan McClymont's home-bred traditional Bluefaced Leicester shearling from Kirkstead, Yarrow. He is by the £2000 Burndale, that won two Royal Highland Show championships, and has been part of the winning inter-breed pairs. Fourth at the Royal Highland Show, his full brother made £4000 at the Kelso Ram Sales last year.

Second reserve was the Texel champion from David Preacher, Holylee, Walkerburn. His home-bred gimmer, is by the 8000gns Milnbank Wisconsin used on loan from Elmscleugh, while the dam was bought at the Solway and Tyne show and sale at Carlisle in 2015 from Rascarrel. Another with previous show form, she was reserve supreme sheep at Dalkeith, and reserve breed champion at Kelso.

LEADING awards

Young handler’s calf (born in the year of the show, to be led by child under 14 years of age on show day (Judge: J Tilson). 1, Will Smith; 2, Sarah Comrie; 3, Zander Forrest; 4, Anna Baillie.

Highland (Judge: D Souter). Champion – G Brown, Springfield, Penicuik, with a 41/2-year-old stock bull, purchased privately from Glengorm Castle Estate, Mull. He is a former champion at Mull Show. Reserve – S and R Hunter, Barrhill, Allanton with Lisa 2 of Gartocharn, purchased last year at Oban as a three-year-old. She was shown with her February-born heifer calf at foot and stood reserve champion at East Kilbride last year. Her calf is destined for Stars of the Future in November, after also winning her class. Bull – G Brown. Cow, pair – S and R Hunter. Three-year-old heifer, calf – G Hyslop, Glentewing, Biggar. Two-year-old heifer – T Sloan. Yearling heifer – C Cuthbertson.

Charolais (Judge: S Barclay, West Rossburnlane, Stirling). Champion – A and JJ Forrest, Hillend, Roberton with last year’s champion the 21-month-old, Ladygill Naughty But Nice. Sired by Ladygill Hennesy, her dam is Edenhurst Jenny that was purchased at the herd dispersal as a heifer. Reserve – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Kirkton Manor with a home-bred bull. Bull – JP Campbell and Son. Heifer – A and JJ Forrest.

Limousin (Judge: S Barclay). Champion and reserve beef inter-breed and reserve – WJ Smith, Old Greentowers, Cartland with Roundhill HGiroflee, a seven-year-old with her fourth calf, Brocklinn Playboy at foot and back in calf. She is by Acajou, and out of Roundhill EGiroflee. Reserve was Brocklinn Nikita, a 2½-year-old heifer by the imported sire, Ionesco, and seven-months in calf. All classes – WJ Smith.

Simmental (Judge: J Dyet, East Merkland, Sandford). Champion and reserve – G Brown, Springfield, Penicuik with a Woodhall-bred bull, purchased from the late Hector Macaskil. A former prize winner here, he is by Wonderboy and bred from a home-bred cow by Alnwick Talisker. Reserve was Mr Brown's stock bull, Shiloh Freedom, a former breed champion here purchased privately in Northern Ireland. Sired by Kilbride Farm Bantry 10, his dam is Glen Cait. All classes – G Brown.

British Blue (Judge: S Pattison). Champion, inter-breed beef champion and reserve champion of champions and reserve – JA McGarva, Nether Abington, Abington with last year’s winner, Abington Lily, Tenace de la Praule daughter bred from Tamhorn Grace. She was champion at Lesmahagow this year, and champion of champions at Biggar last month. Reserve was Abington Nitro, a 15-month-old bull, by Corrandulla Finton, out of Abington Harriet. He was reserve male at the Royal Highland and reserve breed champion at Biggar. Bull, heifer, pair – JA McGarva. Cow – AS and C Comrie, Stonebyres Mains, Kirkfieldbank.

Any other native breed (Judge: J Dyet). Champion – M Runciman, Eastmains, Lauder with the five-year-old Beef Shorthorn cow, Coldrochie Augusta Blossom, by Colnvalley Bogart and shown with third calf at foot, East Mains Napoleon, a Chapelton Logan son. She was purchased at the Coldrochie dispersal, and was reserve at Berwickshire. Reserve – Kersquarter Aberdeen-Angus, Kersquarter, Kelso with an Aberdeen Angus heifer. Bull, yeld heifer, pair – Kersquarter Aberdeen-Angus. Cow – M Runciman. Senior heifer – A Jackson, Woodyett, Kirkfieldbank. Calf – J Anderson.

Peeblesshire JAC calf competition (Judge: W Purdon, Stravenhouse, Carluke). Haltered trained – 1, K Smellie; 2, C Brown; 3, N Pate. Turned out – 1, C Brown; 2, N Pate; 3, A Smellie.

Commercial (Judge: W Purdon). Champion – Miss G Scott, Gateside, Linlithgow with Clootie Miss Tootie, a 16-month-old heifer purchased privately from Andrew Harrison. She is by a Limousin cross British Blue bull, with her dam being a Limousin cross. She was reserve champion at West Fife, placed at the Royal Highland, and reserve champion of champions at Dalkeith. Reserve – J Devine and M Hill, Hillend, Roberton with cow with shown with her sixth calf at foot, a Limousin cross British Blue heifert. Steer (over eight months) – J Wight and Sons, Townfoot. Heifer (over eight months) – G Scott. Suckled steer calf (under eight months), continental suckled calf pair – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Kirkton Manor. Suckled calf steer (under eight months), calf shown by young stockperson under 26 years – A and JJ Forrest. Sucked heifer calf (under eight months), breeding female and calf – J Devine and M Hill.

Cow and calf classes (Judge: W Purdon, judged on farms). Champion – T and A Cockburn, Kingside, West Linton with home-bred Blue cross cows with April-born Brtish Blue cross calves at foot, by the stock bull, Woodend Hadrian. Reserve – A Smellie and Partners, Posso, Peebles with their second prize pen of three cows, home-bred Limousin crosses, shown with Charolais calves at foot. Three cows nursing calves by continental sire – T and A Cockburn. Three cows nursing native-bred calves, three heifers with first calves – W and AM Aitken, Scotstounbank, West Linton. Pure-bred bull – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Kirkton Manor. Pair of in-calf heifers, pair of bulling heifers – J Warnock and son, Dreva, Broughton.

Blackface (Judge: W Ramsay, Milnmark, Dalry). Champion – J Wight and Sons, Midlock, Crawford with a £25,000 Elmscleugh-sired gimmer, on her first outing. Her dam is a home-bred ewe, sired by the £90,000 Dalchirla. Reserve – AJ Kennedy and Son, Mitchellhill, Broughton with a Gosland-sired shearling, on his first outing. His dam is by thea£30,000 Auldhouseburn. Aged ram – DC and JJ Marshall, Gosland, Broughton. Shearling, confined shearling – AJ Kennedy and Son. Tup lamb, confined tup lamb, ewe lamb, confined ewe lamb, three ewe lambs off hill confined – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Kirkton Manor. Ewe – Burncastle Farming Co, Lauder. Gimmer – J Wight and Sons. Three ewe lambs off hill – A Smith, Wester Crosswoodhill, West Calder.

South Country Cheviot (Judge: G Jackson). Champion – RH Paton, Castle Crawford, Crawford with a three-crop ewe that stood first in her class at Dumfries. She is sired by Castle Zebo. Reserve – JF Irving and Sons, Mount Benger, Yarrow with a ewe lamb, by Zidane, a homebred shearling that is heading to Lockerbie and was unbeaten last year as a tup lamb. Her dam is a homebred ewe by Catslack Ace. Aged ram, tup lamb, tup lamb pair, ewe lamb, group, male champion – JF Irving and Son. Shearling – WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Selkirk. Ewe – RH Paton. Gimmer, three ewe lambs from hill – B and M Cockburn, Stirkfield, Broughton. Wool – J Smith.

North Country Cheviot (Hill-type) (Judge: R Rennie, Attonburn, Yetholm). Champion – WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Selkirk with a home-bred two-crop ewe, brought out by shepherd Matt Carryer. She is by Attonburn Rebus, and out a homebred ewe. She stood first in her class at Kelso. Reserve – Mrs CM Reid, Borland with a ewe lamb on her first outing. She is by a £1000 Intake tup, purchased at Lairg last year, while her dam is a Sandside ewe, also purchased at Lairg at the flock dispersal last year. Aged ram, shearling, gimmer – W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso. Tup lamb, ewe, group wool – WN Douglas. Ewe lamb, three ewe lambs from hill – CM Reid.

North Country Cheviot (Park-type) (Judge: K Stones). Champion, inter-breed sheep and overall champion of champions – S Turnbull, Jethart, Jedburgh with a one-crop ewe on her first outing of season. Sired by Muirton Tip Top, she stood breed champion as a gimmer at Haddington and Dalkeith in 2018. Reserve – Sir FM Strang-Steel, Philiphaugh, Selkirk with a Synton Van Gogh-sired gimmer, that stood fifth at the Royal Highland, inter-breed sheep at Dalkeith and reserve at Kelso. Her dam is a Ericstane Claymore daughter. Aged ram, shearling, ewe, three ewe lambs straight from hill, group – S Turnbull. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – Mrs J Cowan. Gimmer, wool – Sir FM Strang-Steel.

Suffolk (MV Accredited) (Judge: J Herdman). Champion and reserve – S and G Brown, Woodhead, Gorebridge with a five-crop ewe by Pennan Finale, out of a ewe by Muirton Kick Off. She is the dam of the retained son, Cappielaw Mr Marbleous, that stood reserve at Peebles last year, whilst his daughter stood the breed champion last year. Reserve was a tup lamb on his first outing by the 5500gns Strathbogie Dynamite purchased at Shrewsbury last year. His dam is by Forkins Firestarter and he is bound for the Kelso Ram Sales. Shearling, wool – E Wilkie, Shaw Cottage, South Berryscaur. Tup lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – Wooled – S and G Brown.

Suffolk (Non-Accredited) (Judge: J Herdman). Champion – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Kirkton Manor with a home-bred shearling, by a Nisbets tup purchased at Kelso, out of a home-bred dam. He is destined for the Kelso Ram Sales. Reserve – A Pate, Nettlingflatt, Stow with a ewe lamb that was second at Haddington. She is by a home-bred tup and out of a four-crop ewe which stood first in her class. Both parentages trace back to Catslackburn breeding. Aged ram, shearling, gimmer, group – JP Campbell and Sons. Tup lamb – G Shaw and Co, Smallholm Mains. Ewe, ewe lamb – A Pate. Wool – C Hepburn.

Bluefaced Leicester (Traditional-type) (Judge: F Johnston). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep and reserve – RA McClymont and Sons, Kirkstead, Selkirk with a home-bred shearling by the £2000 Burndale that has won two Royal Highland Show championships, and has been part of the inter-breed pairs. Fourth at the Royal Highland Show, the tup is bred from a ewe with a Leadburnlea sire. His full brother sold at Kelso Ram Sales in 2018 for £4000. Reserve was a tup lamb, also by the £2000 Burndale. This embryo-born lamb is bred from a ewe that is a two times champion winner of the Scottish Progeny Show by a 6800gns Shrewsbridge. Aged ram – H Brown, Leadburnlea, Gorebridge and M Quinn, Whinneyhall, Kinglassie. Shearling, tup lamb, ewe lamb, progeny – RA McClymont and Sons. Ewe – H Brown, Leadburnlea, Gorebridge. Gimmer – M and N Gray, Low Epsley.

Bluefaced Leicester (Crossing-type) (Judge: R Hutchison). Champion – J Wight and Sons, Midlock, Crawford with a home-bred gimmer by the K1 Shafthill purchased at Hawes. Her dam is by the E1 Barffhouse. The gimmer was third at Royal Highland Show. Reserve – J and A Brown, Macqueston, Tynron with the second prize gimmer, a daughter of the K26 Hewgill bred from a ewe by the D17 Hewgill. She was reserve at Dumfries. Aged ram – J and A Brown. Shearling – I Minto, Townhead, Dolphinton. Tup lamb – S Ainslie, Linkshead, Cocksburnpath. Ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – J Wight and Sons. Progeny – MR Thornborrow and Sons, Easter Dawyck.

Scotch Mule (Judge: A Shennan, Farden). Champion – RD Archer and Son, Carry House, Hexham, with a ewe lamb, by an £11,000 Ashyhole sire bought at Kirkby Stephen in partnership with The Steel. She was second at Penrith Show, and will be offered for sale at Hexham. Reserve – F Robertson, The Beeches with a K4 Midlock-sired gimmer out of a Crosswoodhill-bred ewe, that was shown at this year’s Royal Highland Show. Ewe, gimmer, pen of three ewe lambs – F Robertson. Ewe lamb – RD Archer and Son.

Texel (MV Accredited) (Judge: N Harvey, Blackadder Mains, Duns). Champion and reserve – D Preacher, Holylee, Walkerburn with a home-bred gimmer by the 8000gns Milnbank Wisconsin used on loan bred from a Rascarrel female bought at Carlisle. She was placed at the Highland and stood reserve supreme sheep at Dalkeith and reserve breed champion at Kelso. Reserve for Mr Preacher was a Knap shearling purchased at the Kelso Ram Sales last year, that is destined for the Solway and Tyne Show and Sale at Carlisle next month. Shearling, gimmer, group – D Preacher. Tup lamb, ewe – G Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk. Ewe lamb – B Renwick, Legars, Kelso.

Texel (Non-Accredited) (Judge: J Orr, Wester Walston, Dunsyre). Champion – J and P Anderson, Headshaw with a tup lamb shown by son Adam. Sired by Hartside Atlanta, which was purchased at Kelso Ram Sales last year, his dam is by a home-bred tup. He was first at Kelso. Reserve – A Smellie and Partners, Posso, Peebles with a home-bred gimmer that won her class at Dalkeith. She is by Cambwell Wanderer which is shared with James Brown, Cardon. Aged ram – CA Barrie, Howburn, Elsrickle. Shearling, tup lamb, ewe – J and P Anderson. Gimmer, group – A Smellie and Sons. Ewe lamb – B and M Weir.

Beltex (Judge – J Hall, Inglewood). Champion – RE Wood and Son, Kingledores, Tweedsmuir with Kingledores Betty Boo, a two-crop ewe that was champion at the Royal Highland Show as a gimmer in 2017, and also breed champion at Lesmahagow the same year. Sired by Clary Ablaze, her dam is Kingledores Starlight, by Clary Professor. Reserve – G Maxwell, Faughhill, Melrose with the shearling, Faughhill Duke, a Callacrag Barbarian son out of Thimbley Starling, Tacherhill Perot daughter. Duke is bound for the Kelso Ram Sales, after standing second in his class at the Scottish National Show, also at Kelso, to the breed champion. Shearling – G Maxwell. Tup lamb, ewe, gimmer, group – RE Wood and Son. Ewe lamb – A Dunlop, Corstane, Broughton.

Any other breed (MV Accredited) (Judge: J Hall). Champion and reserve – D and C Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk with Blue Texels. Supreme was the ram lamb, Ettrick Duke, that is destined for next week's breed show and sale at Carlisle. He is by Dragon Buster, and stood second at the Royal Highland Show, and champion at Kelso. Duke’s dam, Nantyderri Aria was reserve after taking the same award at Dalkeith, Biggar and Kelso. Purchased at Carlisle last year at the Nantyderri Production Sale, she is by Whatmore Walnut, and out of a Pistyll-bred ewe. Shearling – R Brand. Tup lamb, ewe, ewe lamb, group – D and C Gray.

Hebridean (Judge: D Kinsman). Champion – J Mosley, Kirkdean, Blyth Bridge with the aged tup, Brightside Wiay, a three-shear son of Cinderhill Jotun that stood reserve here last year. Reserve – N and A Fecitt with the gimmer Sparram Wood Eroica, by Brightside Tomich, with her dam being Ribblepark Eunice. She stood first at Kelso. Aged ram – J Mosley. Shearling, ewe lamb – D Braithwaite. Tup lamb – J James, Old Manor House. Ewe, gimmer – N and A Fecitt. Group, multihorn – J and M Cuthbert.

Shetland Sheep (Judge – D Wilson, Summerside, Newmains). Overall, white champion, and reserve white champion – D Alcorn, Biggar with the home-bred gimmer, Annavale Bivata, an Annavale Adelphi daughter out of Rench Ivory. She was white champion at Dalkeith. Reserve white was the tup lamb, Annavale Cadell, by Brae Marlin, out of Stoneheap Delphi. Reserve overall and coloured champion – H Hill, Lesmahagow with a tup lamb on his first outing. Sired by Ecclesmachan Glencraig, he is destined for Strathaven in a few weeks. Coloured reserve – S Russell, Irvine with a one-crop moorit fleckit ewe, shown with her two lambs. She was on her first outing of the season, after standing champion at Dunblane as a ewe lamb. Aged white ram, white tup lamb, white ewe, white gimmer, fleece on the hoof (female) – D Alcorn. Coloured aged tup, fleece on the hoof (Lamb) – D Collins. Coloured tup lamb, coloured gimmer, group H Hill. Coloured ewe, white ewe lamb, coloured ewe lamb – S Russell. Fleece on the hoof (male) – P Barnes.

Novelty class (Judge – M Stevenson, c/o United Auctions, Stirling). Champion – D Fleming, Heriot House, Heriot with a Blue Texel ewe lamb. Viewforth-bred, she is by Millside Norman, and out of a Bellli Blues sired Viewforth ewe. Reserve – Mr Turnbull, a ram lamb. Black ram lamb, black ram – Mr Turnbull. Black ewe lamb – D Fleming. Black female – P Barnes.

Any other breed (Non-Accredited) (Judge: M Stevenson). Champion and reserve – D Fleming, Heriot House, Heriot with Beltex. Supreme was the gimmer Withy Trees Da Bomb Diggidy, purchased as a ewe lamb. Sired by Matt’s Coco Pops, she is out the Drumchapel Scooby-sired ewe Rathbone Tidy. Reserve was the aged ram, Cranes Alligator, purchased at the Carlisle last year. Sired by Broxty Supreme, he is out of Hackney Tint. Male, female – D Fleming. Ewe lamb – H Anderson.

Commercial sheep (Judge: M Stevenson). Champion – J Currie, Haswellsykes, Peebles with a single lamb by a Corstane Beltex. Reserve – A and P Glennie, Threeburnford, Oxton with their second prize single. Pen of three continental bred heavy lambs, single lamb – J Currie. Pen of three continental light lambs – A and P Glennie. Pen of three down cross heavy lambs – T Weir. Pen of three down cross light lambs – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Kirkton Manor. Ewe and lamb – WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Selkirk. Gimmer pair – P Smith and Sons, Cloverhill, Broughton.

Young Farmer’s prime sheep (Judge: M Stevenson). Champion – M Aitken, Scotstounbank, West Linton with a pair of lambs not exceeding 82kg. Reserve – J Cockburn, The Green, Cardrona with a pair of lambs over 82kg. Lightweight lambs – M Aitken. Heavyweight lambs – J Cockburn. Non-MV ewe lambs – G Pate, Toxside, Gorebridge.

Young handler’s sheep (Judge: M Stevenson). Champion – Joanna Dale with a Blackface ram lamb. Under 10 years – sheep handling – 1, R Renwick; 2, G Thomson; 3, S Cuthbert; 4, K Turnbull. 10-16years – 1, J Dale; 2, Z Wood; 3, L Barnes; 4, R Mann.

Clydesdales (Judge: P Black, Fife). Champion – J Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Stirling, with Burnbank Harry, and April-born colt foal on his first outing. Sired by Redcastle Brelee Majasestic, his dam is Drumeen Grace. Reserve – A Jackson and A Craig, Boat, Thankerton with Boat Lady Ailsa, by the Cawdor cup winning stallion Dillars Excel with her dam being Boat Lady Eliza. She was reserve female at Bute, first at Biggar, champion at Carnwath, and fifth at the Royal Highland Show. Senior gelding, reserve male – A Noble. Junior colt or gelding – Y Pringle. Yeld mare, reserve female – L Laidlaw. Two-year-old filly – A Jackson and A Craig. Foal – J Graham. Heavy horse other than Clydesdale, ridden Clydesdale – J Sheridan. Driven heavy horse/turnout – E Gunn.