Beautiful spring weather, coupled with a good, strong show of livestock ensured a cracking day out for all at Ayr Show and a record gate attendance in the region of 9000.
For many exhibitors and spectators, it was not only their first show of the season but also the first in the past two years following Covid.
It was however the second show of 2022 for Stirling-based enthusiasts, Stewart and Lynsey Bett, who landed their second inter-breed beef title here with a commercial calf, but first supreme overall champion of champions, judged on a points basis.
The couple, who are no strangers to the top awards with commercial calves, landed the coveted Rowan Crystal supreme champion of champions trophy, presented by Jim Craig, with the 11-month-old Limousin cross heifer calf, Sexy Spice, when judged by the various inter-breed judges on a points system.
"She's a really nice heifer with good, clean lines and a bit of flash. She's very easy seen and a heifer that I would think will go on and do more in the future," said Colin Wight, Carwood, the supreme beef judge, who also presented the award for inter-breed beef group to the commercials. This comprised Sexy Spice and two Limousin crosses from James Nisbet, Sorn Mains, in the shape of Moonlight and Social Agenda. The former which had stood champion at Ochiltree was bought at Barnard Castle, with the latter, purchased at Carlisle in March was champion steer at the show.
Sexy Spice was bought privately at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair privately last year from her breeder, Llyr Hughes of Pabo Limousins. A daughter of the top breeding sire, Pabo Oldspice, she is out of a Limousin cross Blue female and stood supreme at the Aberdeen Spring Show, Thainstone, in March, on her sole previous outing.
A tie for the reserve supreme overall saw the inter-breed dairy winner, a Holstein from William Watson, The Muir, and the lead Clydesdale from Mrs Colleen Marshall, Newton Stewart, in joint place – just one point behind.
The Holstein, Muir Toohot Molly VG88-3yr, was on her first outing having calved six weeks previous. She is by Peak Altatoohot and was shown giving 46litres six weeks calved.
Champion Clydesdale was the four-year-old home-bred yeld mare, Burgess Outon Miracle, the reserve winner at the Great Yorkshire last year. She is by Eskechraggan Ernest and out of Rashillhouse Jessica Jean.
Reserve overall beef champion was the late Lachlan Quarm's Annick Ginger's Lucia, a 27-month-old in-calf heifer from Annick Lodge, Irvine, on her first outing. She was paraded by James Hodge and is by Wolfstar Goldigger.
LEADING awards
Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: R Dunlop, Middlepart, Dalry). Champion and reserve – A Clark and Sons, Avisyard, Cumnock. Supreme was Duncanziemere Jody W404, a July 2020-born heifer by Ribble Bowness, a bull bought privately as a calf, out of a home-bred cow whose great grand-dam was a former champion at the Royal Highland Show. Reserve was the 16-month-old heifer, Duncanziemere Edwina X408, by Rawburn Jester Eric, out of a home-bred Edwina by Duncanziemere Editor. All classes – A Clark and Sons.
Beef Shorthorn (Judge: J Dick, English Street, Annan). Champion – New breeder, Charlie Fletcher, Blackcleugh, Annan, with Redstone Romeo, a 10-month-old bull calf out of the privately purchased Runleymill Miss Ramsden, and sired by Glenariff Majestic. This was the first time Charlie had shown an animal from her four-cow Redstone herd. Reserve – New breeders, D and M Wyllie, The Gill, Cummertrees, with the home-bred yearling heifer, which was also being shown for the first time. Burlie Roxy Rae is the result of the in-calf cow purchase, Meonside Suckle which was bought at Longtown alongside her calf, and sired by Willingham Kensington. Bull, female, pair – C Fletcher. Heifer – D and M Wyllie.
Belted Galloway (Judge: G Harvey, Buchanan Street, Balfron, Glasgow). Champion – Jennifer Taylor, Brae of Gadgirth, Sundrum, Ayr with the previously unshown heifer, Tobergill Xuist, an October 2019-born entry out of Tobergill Uist. Reserve – J and Z Kirk, Low Kirkbride, Auldsgirth, Dumfries, with Huntfield Twiggy a six-year-old cow by Southfield Major that was champion at the Royal Highland Showcase, last year and a prize winner as a heifer stirk.
Hereford (Judge: G Harvey). Champion – C Smith and A Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Ardersier, Inverness, with Studdolph 1 Barbie 754, a two-year-old heifer that stood reserve overall champion at the National Poll Show in September. Privately purchased as a six-month-old calf, she is by Lowesmoor 1 Nasser, and out of a Studdolph-bred female, by Weybrook 1 Duke. She was paraded in calf to a Dendor bull. Reserve – G Dunbar, Drumboy Drumclog, with the native champion from Catrine, Drumboy 1 Vindicator, a 14-month-old son of Fabb Northern Star, out of Mosker Cashmere. He was reserve junior male at the Stars of the Future. Bull – G Dunbar. Senior heifer, junior heifer, pair – C Smith and A Wilson.
Any other native breed (Judge: G Harvey). Champion – D Gall and J and J Graham, Blair Drummond, of 3G Galloways, with Blackcraig Shields, an October 2019-born heifer bought at Castle Douglas in February for 5000gns from the Finlay family. She is by Nucamp of Balgray and out of Blackcraig Shields
Simmental (Judge: A Ivory, Strathisla Farms, Meigle, Blairgowrie). Champion and reserve inter-breed beef and reserve – LD Quarm, Annick Lodge, Irvine, with the previously unshown in-calf heifer, Annick Ginger's Lucia, a February 2020-born entry by Woolfstar Golddigger out of a previous home-bred Ginger's Lucia. She was paraded by James Hodge, brought out with assistance of Matt Gill and Andy Perritt and will be sold at the herd dispersal in September at UA, Stirling. Reserve was the Beith Show winner, Annick Islay's Kiwi, a December 2019-born entry by Sterling Nelson, which was shown in calf to Kilbride Farm Karl. She will also be sold at the dispersal. Bull, cow, senior heifer, junior heifer – LD Quarm. Pair – AJ Wilson, Westcroft, Kilwinning.
British Blue (Judge: A Ivory). Champion – D and L Watret, Muirfield, Hightae, Lockerbie, with the former champion winner, Criffelview Kendra, a rising seven-year-old cow by Cromwell Fendt, out of Criffelview Gracious. She was paraded with 6.5-month-old bull calf, Criffelview Romeo, at foot, by Greystone Novelty. Reserve – J and A Young, Over Auchentiber, Stewarton, with the yearling heifer, Auchentiber Rowan, the reserve winner at Neilston. She is by Stonebyres Mister Muscle out of Solway View Infinity. Bull, female – D and L Watret. Heifer – J and A Young.
Any other continental (Judge: S Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly). Champion – A Weir, Castlemill, Castlecary Mill Farm, Bonnybridge, with the 15-month-old Limousin heifer, Castlemill Sandy, a daughter of Huntershall Overkill, bred from Castlemill Oasis. She was second at the Stars of the Future and the pedigree calf classes at LiveScot. Reserve – J Hodge, Dykes Farm, Auchenleck, with the runner-up from Catrine, Hodges Rob Roy, a two-year-old Charolais by Hodges Noble, a Thrunton Galvinston-sired bull, out of Carradale Irish. Bull – J Hodge. Heifer – A Weir.
Commercial (Judge: R Simpson, Aughnacloy, Dungannon, Co Tyrone). Champion, inter-breed beef and overall champion of champions and reserve – S and L Bett, Fallin, Stirling. Supreme was Sexy Spice, an 11-month-old black Limousin cross heifer by Pabo Oldspice, out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow. Champion at the Aberdeen Spring Show at Thainstone in March, she was bought privately at the Welsh Winter Fair from her breeder, Llyr Hughs of the Pabo Limousin herd, and is destined for all the main summer shows. Her sire, Oldspice is a full brother to the 19,000gns Pabo Superspice, sold recently at Carlisle. Sexy Spice also made up part of the winning inter-breed group of three alongside two heifers from James Nisbet, Sorn Mains. They included Moonlight, the black heifer that was champion at Ochiltree and Social Agenda, the champion steer, bought at Carlisle in March from Grange Hall. Standing reserve for the couple was a Happy Ending, a slightly younger Limousin cross heifer that stood second in her class to the champion. She is by Mereside Oscar and was bought at Carlisle, in March from JM and AM Lewis, Wales. Cross-bred steer senior – J Nisbet. Junior cross-bred steer – A Ireland, Feoch, Darvel. Senior cross-bred heifer – H and S Dunlop, Holehouse, Ochiltree. Junior cross-bred heifer – S and L Bett. British Blue cross – R Montgomerie, Assloss, Kilmarnock. Pair – J Paterson and Son, Low Three Mark, Stoneykirk.
Young stockpersons (Judge: Mrs L Simpson, Aughnacloy). – 1, Amy Vance (14); 2, Sienna Nisbet (12); 3, James Young (12).
Home beef and continental beef YFC (Judge: Mrs L Simpson). Champion – A Weir, SSS YFC with the Limousin heifer, Castlemill Sandy.
Commercial beef YFC (Judge: Mrs L Simpson). Champion – Amy Vance, Machars YFC with the February 2021-born Limousin cross, Theg Marvel, bred at Shennanton Estate.
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