Braehead Harmony again made her presence felt at last weekend’s glorious Beith Show, winning the Clydesdale championship and prestigious overall champion of champions.

The event saw Caroline Woodburn’s three-year-old mare, which claimed the breed championship on her debut at the previous week’s Kilmaurs Show, again take all the plaudits in front of a packed ringside. Having been purchased as a yearling from Fiona Hardie, Dumfries, Harmony is sired by Dillars Ollie and bred from Braehead Hermione.

Clydesdale judge, Tom McMillan, Eskechraggan Farm, Rothesay, tapped out the yearling filly, Burnbank Tiger Lily, from John Graham of Burnbank Farm, Blair Drummond, Stirling as his reserve within the breed. Only on her second outing, she is out of Greenknowes Golden Storm and is a daughter of Doura Magic Touch – bred by Charlotte Young, of Hall Farm, Ayr – which has claimed both the National Stallion Show’s supreme overall title for three years’ in succession and the Cawdor Cup, as well as overall champion at the 2019 Royal Highland Show.

The show’s prime and continental cattle judge Shona Stevenson, Carbello Farm, Cumnock, found her victor in the form of the 17-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Wee Nippy, from Andrew Ireland, Feoch, Darvel, which went on to secure the show’s reserve champion of champions title. Following her success at Kilmaurs having picked up the champion ticket amongst the beef cattle, this girl is bred by Clive Dent, Naby View, Lartington, Barnard Castle, and is a daughter of the 14,000gns Fieldson Mahrez.

Standing reserve to Wee Nippy was an April 2021-born Charolais cross heifer from Jack Blair, East Kerse, Lochwinnoch. Sired by a Charolais bull, she was purchased from the Grahams of Burnbank, Stirling, at the Clyde and Central Young Farmers’ calf rally, held at Caledonian Marts, in March.

Simmental heifers from Lachlan Quarm’s Annick herd, Holehouse, Annick Estate, Irvine, dominated the continental cattle when standing as champion and reserve, as well as landing the pairs championship. Brought out with the help of Matt Gilliland, the top ticket went to Annick Islay Kiwi, which is by Sterling Nelson 2 and out of the home-bred Annick Alisons Islay, which stood first in her class at the 2018 Ayr Show.

The July, 2020-born Annick Icicles Leah claimed the blue and white rosette. A daughter of the 15,000gns Wolfstar Gold Digger – purchased at the 2017 Stirling Bull Sales – she is out of the home-bred Annick Fuchsias Icicle, another that stood first in her class at the 2018 Ayr Show.

Alan Prentice, from Ravenstruther, had plenty to celebrate when he secured the Highland cattle championship with his three-year-old cow, Banrigh 11 of Hyndford. Judged by Alastair Fitzsimmons, Tregallon, Dumfries, the victor is by Alasdair 4 of Douglas and out of the home-bred Banrigh 3 of Hyndford.

Taking reserve was the red yearling heifer, Shonag 2 of Gartocharn, from the McKechnie family, France Farm, Gartocharn. On her first outing, she is a daughter of Brodie of Culfoich and bred out of Kirsty 2 of Gartocharn.

Among the dairy cattle, it was David Campbell, of JR and T Campbell, Low Ballees, West Kilbride, who landed the dairy inter-breed title with his Holstein cow, Lowmalzie Corinthian Wensign – selected by the inter-breed judge, George Borland snr, Mossbog, Mauchline. In her third lactation, peaking at 75kg per day and predicted to produce 17,836kg in 305 days, she was purchased as a freshly calved heifer from breeder Andrew McKay, Broughton Mains, Sorbie, Newton Stewart, and is a daughter of Supersire Corinthian.

The 2½-year-old Holstein, Powgree Piston Jessica VG85, from local dairy farmers J and G McConnell, Hoodsyard, Beith, was tapped out by judge Graham Mackie, Westerboard Cottage, Twechar for the reserve position. Sired by Sandy-Valley Piston and out of Powgree Merchandise Jessica, this girl is peaking at 39kg per day in her first lactation and is predicted to produce 12,000kg.

Duncan Whyte’s Border Leicester flock from Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns, was back among the trophies when he not only landed the breed championship and reserve honours but also the inter-breed with a two-crop ewe which caught the eye of judge, Allan McKeller, Benderloch, Oban.

A daughter of Clola Double Deal which was purchased for £2000 at Lanark from Jimmy Douglas, Cairness, this girl is out of a home-bred ewe by Fordafourie Festival and stood reserve supreme champion at the breed’s 125th anniversary show and sale, held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, last August.

Duncan’s shearling tup, Ditton Islay Mist, stood reserve on the day. Sired by Ditton Wham Bam, he is bred out of a Lammermuir Jake-sired ewe.

Mungo Guthrie, High Greenbank, Darvel tapped out two ET hoggs from Graeme McCarter’s Glenfern flock, from Stewarton as his Texel victors. It was the tup hogg that took the top spot, with his ET sister in reserve position. Both are sired by the £60,000 Strathbogie Yes Sir and out of a Knock Yardsman-sired ewe.

Going all the way in the Suffolks was the ewe lamb, Rigfoot Cookie, from David Tulloch and Emma Paterson, Uplawmoor. She is an AI daughter of Mullaghboy Goliath – which has bred sons to 26,000gns and 20,000gns – and out of a home-bred ewe.

Taking reserve honours was a shearling tup from Les Kirk, Dunlop. On his first outing, he is sired by a Rigfoot ram and is out of a home-bred ewe.

James Taylor, Lochhill, Mauchline, had the champion and reserve tickets in the Bluefaced Leicesters with his ewe hogg taking the red rosette. She is by a Kildalloig-bred ram and out of a home-bred ewe.

His five-crop ewe that landed the reserve spot is out of another home-bred ewe and this time by a Mendick ram.

In the native sheep classes, it was Douglas Stainton’s Ochiltree Ryeland flock, from Chryston, that scooped all the honours. He led the way with a Lingerwood Laddies Yoggi-sired gimmer placed at the top of the line.

His home-bred tup, Ochiltree Ya Dancer, claimed the blue and white sash. This one is sired by Kierhead Xtraordinary, he is out of Bryn Caffo.

LEADING awards:

Dairy (Judge: Graham Mackie, Westerboard Cottage, Twechar). Cow in milk – 1, JR and T Campbell, Low Ballee, West Kilbride; 2, A Wylie, Broadstone Farm, Beith; 3, J and GP McConnell, Hoodsyard Farm, Beith. Cow in milk, no more than three calvings – 1, JR and T Campbell. Back calving cow any age – 1, A Wylie. The Derby best two or three-year-old heifer – 1, J and GP McConnell; 2, JR and T Campbell; 3, A Wylie. Pair of females – 1, JR and T Campbell; 2, J and GP McConnell; 3, A Wylie. Calf born after Sept 1, 2018 – 1, R Wylie, Broadstone Farm, Beith; 2, AN Mackie, Meadowhead, Mauchline; 3, AN Mackie. Calf born after Dec 1, 2018 – 1, R Wylie; 2, R Wylie. Maiden heifer born before Sept 1, 2018 – 1, JR and T Campbell. Holstein confined to Garnock Valley and Lochwinnoch parish – 1, J and GP McConnell; 2, J and GP McConnell; 3, A Wylie. Best registered Holstein female – 1, JR and T Campbell; 2, J and GP McConnell; 3, J and GP McConnell. Best udder in show – 1, JR and T Campbell; 2, J and GP McConnell; 3, A Wylie. A.J. Wilson and Co Ltd Perpetual Trophy best Holstein/Friesian shown in foregoing classes – 1, JR and T Campbell; 2, A Wylie. Milk records – 1, JR and T Campbell; 2, A Wylie; 3, J and GP McConnell. Best udder in show – JR and T Campbell.

Continental cattle (Judge: Shona Stevenson, Carbello Farm, Cumnock). Female any breed – 1 and champion, M Gilliland (LD Quarm), Holehouse Farm, Annick Estate, Irvine. Female any breed maiden heifer – 1 and reserve, M Gilliland (LD Quarm). AOB heifer any age including cross-bred – 1, J Blair, East Kerse Farm, Lochwinnoch. Pairs shown by exhibitor in foregoing classes – 1, M Gilliland (LD Quarm); 2, Jack Blair.

Prime cattle (Judge: Shona Stevenson). Prime heifer – 1, champion and show reserve, A Ireland, Feoch Farm, Darvel; 2, J Blair; 3, J Blair. Suckled calf born before April 1, 2021 – 1, J Blair; 2, J Blair. Best bullock or heifer bred and reared by exhibitor – 1, A Wylie. Best confined to Garnock Valley and Lochwinnoch Parish – 1, J Blair; 2, J Blair. Beef calf born in current year led by under 14 years – 1, R Wylie. Beef calf born from dairy herd – 1, R Wylie. Young Farmers clubs any prime beef – 1, J Blair; 2, J Blair.

Highland cattle (Judge: Alastair Fitzsimmons, Tregallon, Dumfries). Bull born in 2018 – 1, L Stark, Tippetcraig, Bonnybridge. Cow in milk with own calf at foot or in-calf – 1, Glasgow City Council, Pollock Country Park; 2, Glasgow City Council. Heifer born before Jan 1, 2019 – 1, J and C McKechnie, France Farm, Gartocharn; 2, A Prentice, 8 Westbank, Ravenstruther. Heifer born on or after January 1, 2020 – 1 and reserve champion, J and C McKechnie; 2, A Prentice; 3, J and C McKechnie. Pairs – 1, Glasgow City Council; 2, J and C McKechnie.

Border Leicesters (Judge: Mungo Guthrie, High Greenbank Farm, Darvel). Best tup – 1 and reserve, D Whyte, Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns. Ewe – 1, champion and inter-breed sheep, D Whyte. Hogg – 1, D Whyte; 2, D Whyte. Lamb – 1, D Whyte. Group of three – 1, D Whyte.

Blackface (Judge: Allan McKeller, Benderloch, Oban). Ewe and cross lamb – 1, A Shepherd.

Prime sheep (Judge: Mungo Guthrie). Cross ewe with lamb at foot – 1, Rigfoot Suffolks, Uplawmoor.

Suffolks (Judge: Mungo Guthrie). Ewe or gimmer with lamb at foot – 1, Rigfoot Suffolks; 2, LG Kirk, Dunlop. Ewe hogg – 1, Rigfoot Suffolks; 2, LG Kirk; 3, Rigfoot Suffolks. Tup – 1 and reserve, LG Kirk. Tup lamb – 1, Rigfoot Suffolks; 2, LG Kirk. Ewe lamb – 1 and champion, Rigfoot Suffolks. Group of three – 1, Rigfoot Suffolks; 2, LG Kirk.

Bluefaced Leicesters (Judge: Mungo Guthrie). Ewe or gimmer in-lamb or lamb at foot – 1 and reserve, J Taylor, Lochhill, Mauchline. Ewe hogg – 1 and champion, J Taylor; 2, D Whyte. Tup lamb or ewe lamb – 1, J Taylor. Group of three – 1, J Taylor. Best Bluefaced Leicester in show – 1, J Taylor.

Native sheep (Judge: Allan McKeller). Tup – 1 and reserve, D Stainton, Chryston. Gimmer – 1 and champion, D Stainton.

Texels (Judge: Mungo Guthrie). Tup any age – 1 and champion, G McCarter, Stewarton; 2, J Riddet; 3, D Whyte. Ewe any age – 1, G McCarter; D Whyte. Gimmer – 1 and reserve, G McCarter; 2, D Whyte; 3, G McCarter. Tup or ewe lamb – 1, G McCarter; 2, G McCarter; 3, D Whyte. Best Texel in show – 1, G McCarter.

Continental sheep (Judge: Mungo Guthrie). Best Continental – 1, G McCarter. YF any breed of sheep – 1, A Scott. Pet lamb any breed – 1, A McCarter; 2, B McCarter.

Clydesdales (Judge: Tom McMillan, Eskechraggan Farm, Rothesay). Best male – 1, Lenzie Clydesdale. Best female – 1, champion and show champion, C Woodburn, Craigie. Colt, filly or gelding under three-year-old – 1 and reserve, J Graham, Blair Drummond.

Vintage tractors (Judge: David Wilson). 1, C Burn; 2, J Steele; 3, C Hutton.