IT WAS a dreich day in Newcastleton, in the Scottish Borders, where a strong sheep section competed to be crowned overall Holm Show champion.

That title was awarded to a Texel shearling tup on his first outing, belonging to Glen Wilson, Hawthornside, Bonchester Bridge. He is by Anglezarke Avatar, a Tophill Wallstreet son, out of a home-bred ewe, and is destined for next week's Kelso Ram Sales.

Taking the reserve sheep rosette was a two-shear hill-type North Country Cheviot tup, from Aaron Wood, of Bridgewater and Wood, Potholm, Langholm. He was on his first outing, and is by a £9000 Esktremor tup, out of a home-bred ewe.

LEADING awards:

South Country Cheviot (Judge: W Douglas). Champion – T Elliot, Hindhope, Jedburgh, with a two-crop ewe by the home-bred tup, Hindhope Thistlepark Crack, out of a home-bred dam. She was Alwinton Show champion earlier this year. Reserve – C Weir, Mainside, Hownam, Kelso. Aged ram, ram lamb, male group, ewe, ewe lamb – T Elliot. Shearling ram – M Little, Douglas Terrace, Langholm. Gimmer – G Jackson, Blackburn, Newcastleton. Ewe with lamb – R Bell, Bloch Farm, Langholm. Shepherd's ewe lamb pair – R Elliot, Hermitage, Newcastleton. Shepherd's ewe, shepherd's gimmer, shepherd's ewe lamb, female group – C Weir.

Hill Cheviot (Judge: B Kennedy). Champion, reserve inter-breed and reserve – A Wood, Bridgewater and Wood, Potholm, Langholm. Champion was a two-shear tup on his first outing. He is by a £9000 Esktremor sire, out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve was awarded to a tup lamb, by a Woodchester sire, out of a home-bred dam and was also on his first outing. Aged ram, shearling ram, ram lamb, ewe, ewe lamb, group – A Wood. Gimmer – AB and C Main, Byers Farm, Bewcastle.

Blackface (Judge: D Walton) Champion – G Jackson, Blackburn, Newcastleton, with a gimmer by an £18,000 Dyke, out of a Midlock-sired home-bred ewe. She was overall champion here last year as a ewe lamb. Reserve – S and G Anderson, Penchrise, Hawick with a ewe. Aged ram, shearling ram, male group, ewe, shepherd's ewe, shepherd's ewe lamb pair – S and G Anderson. Ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb, shepherd's gimmer, shepherd's ewe lamb, female group – G Jackson. Ewe with lamb – E Kinghorn, Douglasdale, Blair Avenue, Jedburgh.

Greyface (Judge: K Hall). Champion – D and M Hope, Albierigg, Canonbie, with a ewe lamb by a J7 Silverhill, out of a home-bred ewe. This was her first outing. Ewe, gimmer – RA Fox, Windy Hill, Hethersgill, Carlisle. Ewe lamb – D and M Hope. Ewe lamb pair – RW and M Carruthers, Hillbre, Penton.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: K Hall). Champion – D and M Hope, Albierigg, Canonbie, with a one-crop ewe by an H20 Townhead, out of a Warksburn K10 home-bred ewe. Reserve – J Anderson, Rowanburnfoot, Canonbie, with a ewe lamb on her first outing. She is by a Shafthill K1, out of a bought-in ewe from the Midlock flock, in 2018. Aged ram, ram lamb – I Copeland, Bailey Mill, Newcastleton. Ewe – D and M Hope. Shearling ram, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – J Anderson.

Continental (Judge: B Walton). Champion – C Goddard, Frankstown, Longtown, with an aged ram. Aged ram – C Goddard. Shearling ram – RA Fox, Windy Hill, Hethersgill, Carlisle. Gimmer, ewe lamb – A Carruthers, Peel A Hill, Bewcastle.

Texel (Judge: B Walton). Champion and inter-breed sheep and reserve – G Wilson, Hawthornside, Bonchester Bridge. Supreme was a shearling tup on his first outing. He is by Anglezarke Avatar, out of a home-bred ewe and is destined for the Kelso Ram Sales. Reserve was a three-crop ewe by a Cairnam tup, out of a home-bred ewe. She was champion at Roberton Show last year. Aged ram, ram lamb – RA Fox, Windy Hill, Hethersgill, Carlisle. Shearling ram, ewe, ewe lamb – G Wilson. Gimmer – K Little, Fiddleton, Bankend, Ewes, Langholm.

Prime lambs (Judge: P Gardner). Champion – A Little, Hollands, Penton, with a pair of continental-sired lambs. Reserve – RA Fox, Windy Hill, Hethersgill, Carlisle, also with a pair of continental-sired lambs. Lightweight continental pair – A Little. Heavyweight continental pair – RA Fox. Cheviot-sired pair – W Nixon, Cooms, Langholm. Blackface-sired pair – A Carruthers, Peel A Hill, Bewcastle.

Any other breed (Judge: P Gardner). Champion – C Goddard, Frankstown, Longtown, with a shearling ram. Aged ram – W Nixon, Cooms, Langholm. Shearling ram – C Goddard. Ram lamb, ewe – R Nixon, Blinkbonny, Newcastleton. Gimmer, ewe lamb – S Robb, Rowanburn, Canonbie.

Sheep young handlers (Judge: J Sinclair). Aged 10 and under – 1, Will Beattie; 2, Georgina Beattie; 3, Adam Johnston. Aged 10-16 years – 1, Niamh Gorton; 2, Mathew Gorton; 3, Rory Nixon.

Goats (Judge: L Ferguson). Champion – J Thomson, Hartwell, Fairloans, Newcastleton, with an aged nanny. Any aged nanny – J Thomson.