The sun was shining to help celebrate a centenary of Strathaven show which saw a Simmental cow and calf crowned champions of champions from David Craig, Kennox Stewarton.

The four-year-old cow and February-born calf outfit stormed their way to the top. The cow, Kennox Tara's Gem is sired by Sowenna Aristocrat and out of Kennox Helen's Tara.

She is a former champion and reserve inter-breed beef champion at the Royal Highland in 2017, this year she also took reserve female at the Scottish national at Kelso and champion at Dumfries.

The outfit caught the judge, Steven Roan, Boreland of Colvend, Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright, eye as soon as it walked into the ring, it was up against the sheep, Clydesdale, ridden horse, goat, poultry and dog champion.

"Just having that tremendous length, style and confirmation. Alongside a well grown calf with full potential, made it top for me" said Mr Roan.

Just behind in the beef section was another cow and calf outfit this time for Limousins from Archie Lindsay, Kepscaith.

The 3½-year-old cow and January-born calf at foot previously took reserve at Carnwath show this year. The cow, Clydeside Lulu is a daughter of Clydeside Bronx and out of a home-bred cow.

The Neilson family were awarded the inter-breed dairy ticket for a Holstein Friesian cow in her fourth lactation having last calved in March. Overside Alamar Amanda was reserve at Agriscot in 2017, she is now producing 52litres and is a classified EX93.

In the busy sheep lines it was a Blackface ewe lamb from Madge Rorison, Clonrae, Tynron, Dumfries that came out on top. She is a daughter of the £5200 Auldhouseburn and out of a home-bred ewe by the £25,000 Auldhouseburn.

Pipped at the post in the sheep was a Beltex one-crop ewe from Daniel Hodge, Dyke Auchinleck, New Cummnock. She was bought in from the Red Patch flock and is sired by Corstane Whissler, out of an Aviemore ewe.

Doura Ballerina worked herself to the top in the Clydesdales for William Dunbar, East Fainybank, Newhouse. The yearling filly, was bought in as a foal from Jim Young, Doura, she is sired by Doura Aird Ambition, out of Balgay Highland Lass.

LEADING awards

Ayrshire (Judge: D Brewster, Boclair, Bearsden, Glasgow). Champion and reserve – DM Lindsay, Harperfield, Sandilands, with a five-year-old cow. The third calver, last calved in May is producing 55kg a day and is sired by Harperfield Coral reef and out of Barr Sandy Rose. This year she has taken champion at Biggar, Newmilns and Peebles.

Their reserve ticket was the daughter of the champion, Willowfield Winnie the 3rd. The heifer is sired by Harperfield Nijinsky and is now producing 32kg. Calf shown by handler under 16 – W Bryson and Son, Dykehead, Lesmahagow, Lanark. Heifer in-calf – Messrs Leggate, Silverrigg, Chapelton. All other classes – DM Lindsay.

Holstein Friesian (Judge: D Brewster). Inter-breed dairy, champion and reserve – W.W Neilson, East Brackenridge, Strathaven, their champion, Overside Alamar Amanda was reserve at Agriscot in 2017. She is now in her fourth lactation having last calved in March, producing 52 litres and is a classified EX93. The reserve ticket was awarded to their third calver, Overside Gillespie Delight on her first outing. She is classified VG88 and is now producing 63kg. Back calving heifer – W Bryson. Calf shown by young handler – WP Currie. All other classes – WW Neilson

Cattle young handlers (H Guthrie, Mosspark, Kirklanside, Kilmarnock). 1, Gregor Watret, Muirfield, Hightae, Lockerbie; 2, Lynsey Currie, Blackbog, Quarter, Hamilton; 3, Mark Bryson, Dykehead, Lesmaghow.

Beef cattle (Judge: A Currie, Fisherton, Ayr). Champion – Reid and Ferguson, High Unthank, Strathaven, with a 17-month-old Limousin heifer. She was bought privately from John Warnock, High Bent and is out of a Limousin cross cow. She previously took reserve commercial champion at East Kilbride this year. Reserve – A Meikle, Dykehole, Strathaven, with a February born Charolais bull calf. He is out of a British Blue cow and is set to be sold next month at Ayr sucked calf sale. Calf born after 1st January 2019, junior champion – A Meikle. Calf born between September and December 2018, bullock – R and G Watret, Muirfield, lockerbie. Heifer, senior champion – Reids and Ferguson.

Beef cow or heifer with calf at foot. Champion – Jenny Devine and Martyn Hill, Roberton, Hillend, with a Limousin cross cow and her sixth calf, a January-born British Blue cross heifer calf. The outfit was bought at Stirling from John Graham and have previously taken the same award at Lesmahagow and reserve at Peebles whilst the calf took champion at Moffat show. Reserve – C Cooks, Glensoon, Girvan, with the three-year-old cow with her spring born heifer calf. Cow with autumn calf – J Devine and M Hill. Cow with spring calf – C Cooks.

Any native breed of beef cattle (Judge: R Cruickshank, Little Kype, Sandford, Strathaven). Champion and reserve – G Dunbar, Springholm, Strathaven, with a 17-month-old Hereford heifer. Drumboy Rosie is a daughter of Romany Distiller and out of Baldinnie Cathy. Reserve was the 11-month-old Hereford heifer from the same home. She took champion at Ayr show 2018, she is by the same sire and out of Drumboy Olivia. All classes – G Dunbar.

Limousin (R Cruickshank, Little Kype, Sandford, Strathaven). Champion – A Lindsay, Kepscaith, with a 3½-year-old cow and January-born calf at foot. The cow, Clydeside Lulu is sired by Clydeside Bronx and out of a home-bred cow. She was champions of champions at Carnwath show two years ago and this year took reserve at the same show. Reserve – I Nimmo, Bogside with the April 2018 bull, Maraiscote Oxygen. He is heterozygous polled and a son of Roundhill Ladies Man, out of Maraiscote Liege. Bull – I Nimmo. Senior cow or heifer, heifer, calf – A Lindsay.

British Blonde (R Cruickshank). Champion and reserve – T Hope, South Brownhill, Strathaven, with the 16-month-old heifer, Brownhill Opal. She is a daughter of Hallfield Illinois and out of Brownhill Demi. This year she took junior champion at the Royal Highland and reserve at East Kilbride. Their reserve ticket was for the similarly aged heifer, Brownhill Ona. She bagged a second prize ticket at the Royal Highland and is by the same sire, out of Brownhill Gale. All classes – T Hope.

Simmental (Judge: W Smith, Gouknest Cottage, Stewarton, Kilmarnock). Champions of champions, beef inter-breed, Champion – D Craig, Kennox Stewarton, with the four-year-old cow and February born calf outfit. The cow, Kennox Tara's Gem took champion at the Royal Highland 17, reserve female at this year's national show and champion at Dumfries. She is a daughter of Sowenna Aristocrat and out of Kennox Helen's Tara. Reserve – MR and MT Quarm, Holehouse, Annick, Irvine, with a 16-month-old bull which is set for Stirling bull sales this October. He is the first bull calf from the 15,000gns Wolfstar Gold Digger and out of Annick Trixibelle 10th. Bull, senior heifer – MR and MT Quarm. Cow or heifer in-calf or at foot, junior heifer – D Craig.

Any Other Breed of Continental (Judge: W Smith). Champion – B and S Comrie, Stonebyres, Lanark, with an 18-month-old British Blue bull set for Carlisle this January and has bagged many tickets this summer. He is a son of Kelowna Jimbo and out of Stonebyres Gem. Reserve – JJ Forrest, Hillend, Roberton, with the 22-month-old Charolais heifer, Ladygill Naughty But Nice. The champion this year from Biggar, Peebles and Moffat, is a daughter of Ladygill Hennesay, out of Edenhurst Jenny. Bull – B and S Comrie. Heifer – JJ Forrest.

Clydesdales (Judge: P Tennant, Brookbank, Rowhead, Biggar). Champion – W Dunbar, East Fainybank, Newhouse, with the yearling filly, Doura Ballerina. She was bought in as a foal from Jim Young, Doura and is a daughter of Doura Aird Ambition, out of Balgay Highland Lass. Reserve – K Donald, Sandford, Strathaven, with the yeld mare, Boat Lady Annabell. The previous champion at Lesmahgow and East Kilbride is sired by Dillars Ideal and out of Boat Lady Bethany. Brood mare. colt filly – J McNay and E Blount, Ryecroft, Dumfries. Filly foal – D Combe, WindyKnowe, Hawesland. Yeld mare –K Donald. Two-year-old filly, pairs – A Jackson, Covington mill, Thankerton. Yearling filly – W Dunbar. Gelding – B Lindsay.

Clydesdale young handlers – Hannah Lyndsay.

Goat classes (Judge: D Clark, Lee Meadow, Carluke). Champion and reserve – A Dick, Rowanmyle House, Tarbolton, Mauchline, with the six-month-old British Toggenburg, Rowangate Nickki Lass. The reserve ticket went to the two-year-old milker, Rowangate Nickki Moon, which has been winning a number of tickets this show season. All classes – A Dick.

Blackface Sheep (Judge: R Colley Snr, Mitchellslacks, Thornhill). Inter-breed sheep and champion – M Rorison, Clonrae, Tynron, with a £5200 Auldhouseburn sired ewe lamb and out of a home-bred ewe by the £25,000 Auldhouseburn tup. Reserve – DC and JJ Marshall, Gosland, Broughton with a shearling tup that stood fifth at the Royal Highland. He is a son of the £1100 Auldhouseburn and out of a home-bred ewe by the £9000 Midlock tup. Aged tup, ewe lamb – J and A Boswell, Burnhead. Aged tup – A Woodburn, Netherwood. Shearling, ewe hogg, pair – DC and JJ Marshall. Tup lamb, ewe lamb, group – M Rorison. Ewe – A McLarty, Firm of Shawhead.

Scotch Mules (Judge: R Colley Snr). Champion and reserve – Firm of Shawhead, Douglas, Lanark, with a ewe lamb by a home-bred sire on just her second outing brought out by shepherd Alan Mclarty. Their reserve was a gimmer on her first outing sired by a Finness tup. Gimmer, ewe lamb – Firm of Shawhead. Ewe – J Guild, Laight, New Cumnock.

Shetland (Judge: L Armstrong Snr, Dunsyre mains, Carnwath). Champion – D Alcorn, Annavale, Biggar, with the home-bred gimmer, Annavale Bivata. The champion from Peebles and Dalkeith, is a daughter of Annavale Adelphi and out of Rench Ivory. Reserve – H and A Hill, Low Whiteside, Lesmahgow, with the three-shear tup, Rosebank Ramsay. He has picked up a number of first prize tickets this summer. Ram – H and A hill. Ram lamb, group – F Frame, Hawthornbank, Lanark. Ewe, one-year-old ewe, ewe lamb, pair – D Alcorn.

Any other pure breed of Native (inc. Jacobs) (Judge: L Armstrong). Champion – S Thomson, Mid Tulloch, Darvel with a home-bred yearling ewe on her first outing. She is a daughter of an Over Whitelaw tup. Reserve – S Hamilton, Auchtyfardle. Ram – G and SJ Donald, Windhill, Sandford, Strathaven. Ram lamb, one-year-old ewe, ewe lamb, group, pair – S Thomson. Senior ewe – S Hamilton.

Texel (Judge: G Sinclair, Crookston, Heriot, Midlothian). Champion and reserve – A Neilson, East Brackenridge, Strathaven, with a March-born tup lamb. He is set to be sold on the September, 28 at the breed sale in Carlisle. He is a son of Kingspark Bently and out of a home-bred dam, which is a full sister to Garngour Awesome. The tup lambs sister took the reserve, a Crailloch Ammunition sired gimmer on her first outing. Ram – A Meikle, Newhouse. Ewe lamb – A Johnstone, Meikle, Galston. Pair – M and G Ballantyne, East Cauldcoats, Strathaven. All other classes – A Neilson.

Beltex (Judge: G Sinclair). Reserve sheep inter-breed, champion – D Hodge, Dyke Auchinleck, New Cummnock with a one-crop ewe which was bought from the Red Patch flock. She is sired by Corstane Whissler and out of an Aviemore ewe. Reserve – A Meikle, Newhouse, Jackton with a shearling on his first outing. He is a son of Airyolland Botticelli and out of Tercrosset Silver Dollar. Ram – A Meikle. All other classes – D Hodge.

Any other breed of Continental sheep inc Zwartbles (Judge: G Sinclair). Champion and reserve – Laine Daff, Greenside cottage, Old barn road, with the three-shear Bleu du maine ram, Maximum Obama which was bought at Carlisle last year. He is a son of Perdi and has previously bagged seven any other breed champions and male champion at the Royal Welsh. Reserve went to the one-crop ewe of the same breed, Greenside Posh Bleu which is sired by Tighnahinch Massey. Last year as a gimmer she took champion at the Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh. One-year-old ewe, ewe lamb – M and J Simpson, Tardoes, Kilmarnock. All other classes – L Daff.

Prime sheep (Judge: S Dunlop, Balminnoch, Straiton, Maybole). Champion and reserve – J Frame, Blairston mains, Ayr. Single fat lamb, pen of three lambs by a Beltex tup, pen of three any other cross – J Frame. Pen of three by a Suffolk tup – R Hamilton, High Crewburn, Strathaven. Pen of three lambs by Texel tup – Templeton, Low Drumcloy.

Any other breed of Continental (Judge: S Dunlop). Champion – A Walker, High Parks, Hamilton, with a Blue du Maine gimmer on her first outing. She was bought in as a lamb from Paul Farmer. Reserve – Miss C Hamilton, High Crewburn, Strathaven, with a two-crop Texel ewe which was bred by Craighead and was bought at the select seven sale at Lanark. Ram, ram lamb, group, pair – S Thomson. Ewe, ewe lamb – C Hamilton. One-year-old ewe – A Walker.

Commercial breeding sheep (Judge: S Dunlop). Champion and reserve – R Hamilton, High Crewburn, Strathaven. Pair of ewes by Native sire, pair of ewe lambs by Continental sire – R Hamilton. Pair of ewes by Continental sire – J and J Frame, High Dyke, Strathaven.

Sheep young handlers (Judge: D Clark). 1, Kelsie Guild, New Cumnock; 2, S Hamilton; 3, Jack Guild.