The season might be coming to an end, but Philiphaugh Estates had plenty to celebrate at Yarrow Show topping three sections before going on to win the inter-breed sheep championship.

Their supreme winner was a North Country Cheviot park-type gimmer, brought out by Alan Cowens. A daughter of Synton Van Gogh out of an Ericstane Claymore-sired ewe, she took the same award at Dalkeith and the breed championship at the Border Union, this year.

"It is hard to go past such a big flashy sheep, being as correct and a strong character of the breed," said inter-breed judge, Forrest Irving, Whitchesters, Hawick.

Just pipped at the post was the champion Blackface ewe lamb from Billy and Andrew Renwick, Blackhouse, Yarrow. She is by a £42,000 Glenrath, out of a home-bred ewe by a £28,000 Dalchirla and was on her first outing

LEADING awards

South Country Cheviot confined (Judge: W Douglas, Carlenrig, Teviothead, Hawick). Champion – WN Douglas, Catlackburn, Yarrow, with a three-crop ewe which was first here as a gimmer. She is a daughter of Catslack Dictator and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – JF Irving and Son, Mountbenger, Yarrow, with a two-shear Crossdykes tup sired by a £5000 Mainside. He was bought in at Lockerbie last year for £7000 from J Common and Sons. He was champion here last year. Aged ram, tup lamb, ewe, ewe or gimmer with lamb, female group, group – WN Douglas. Two-shear ram, shearling ram, ewe lamb, pair of ewe lambs, male group – JF Irving and Son. Gimmer – Messrs Hume, Sundhope, Yarrow.

North Country Cheviot (Judge: G Braid, Johnstonebridge, Lockerbie). Champion – Philiphaugh Estates, Selkirk, with a gimmer that previously stood inter-breed at Dalkeith and champion at the Border Union, Kelso. She is by Synton Van Gogh and out of a Ericstane Claymore ewe. Reserve – G Davis and Partners, North Synton, Ashkirk, with a Philiphaugh-sired ewe lamb out of a home-bred ewe. She previously stood first at St Boswells Show. Tup, tup lamb, gimmer, female group – Philiphaugh. Ewe – S Howden, Floor Farming, Kelso. Ewe lamb – G Davis and Partners.

Blackface (Judge: B Graham, Craigdarroch, Sanquhar). Champion – T Renwick and Sons, Blackhouse, Yarrow, with a ewe lamb on her first outing. She is by the £42,000 Glenrath and out of a home-bred ewe by the £28,000 Dalchirla. Reserve – W and S McClymont, Tinnis, Yarrow, with a Balliemeanoch sired three-crop ewe, out of a home-bred ewe by a Glen, Gatehouse sire. She was champion here last year. Aged ram, ewe – W and S McClymont. Shearling ram, gimmer, male group, group – A McClymont, Kirkstead/ Dryhope. Ram lamb, ewe lamb, pair of ewe lambs, female group – T Renwick and Sons.

North Country Cheviot Hill (Judge: P Tweedie, Buchtrig, Hownam, Jedburgh). Champion – Philiphaugh Estates, Selkirk, with a home-bred three-crop ewe by Attonburn Masterclass out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – M and S Wilson and Sons, Newbank, Beattock, with a three-shear tup that was champion at Moffat Show. Sorbietrees V6 was bought in at Lairg last October. Tup – M and S Wilson and Sons. Shearling, gimmer – W Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso. Tup lamb, ewe, ewe lamb – Philiphaugh Estates.

Any other sheep breed (Judge: G Braid). Champion and reserve – Philiphaugh Estates, Selkirk with a three-crop Bluefaced Leicester ewe sired by the £6500 D7 Shrewbridge tup. She was reserve at Moffat Show. Reserve was a Bluefaced Leicester tup lamb by the K10 Kirkstead tup purchased at Kelso for £4000 whilst the dam is by H16 Mendick. Ram, ewe, gimmer – Philiphaugh. Ewe lamb – Rawburn. Group – JB Hyndhope.

Prime lambs (Judge: P Tweedie). Champion – G Davis and Partners, North Synton, Ashkirk, with three March-born Texel crosses.

Young handlers (Judge: F Irving, Whitchesters, Hawick). Champion – Beth Thomson (11), Catlackburn, Yarrow. Reserve – James Thomson (6). Juniors – 1, James Thomson; 2, James Cowen. Seniors – Beth Thomson, Melanie Henry.

Cattle (Judge: D Runciman, Huntington, Lauder). Champion – Firm of G Gray, Sunnycroft, Lindean. Group – T Renwick and Sons, Blackhouse, Yarrow. Three suckled calves, senior suckled calf – WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow. Junior suckled calf – Firm of G Gray.