Texel gimmer from the Glenside flock wins champion of champions award at sunny Newmilns Show

The Texel, shown by brothers, John and Glenn Paterson, Maybole who run the Glenside and Sorn flocks under the watchful eye of their grand-father John Forsyth, and assisted by their parents Eileen and John Paterson, formally of Oxenshaw, Sorn, went straight to the top with a gimmer boasting the best of genetics.

Champion Texel and overall champion of champions from John and Glenn Paterson

With six different breeds to choose from, inter-breed judge, Jimmy Sinclair, Crookston had his work cut out for him, but had no hesitation in selecting the gimmer. She is a daughter of the 40,000gns Mellor Vale Déjà Vu, with the dam being sired by the 16,000gns Fordafourie Big Ben. Just pipped at the post was Corra Faith, a Blue Texel gimmer from John Cousar and Laura Young, Howcommon, Craigie. Privately purchased earlier in the year, this Cleenagh Eeny Meeny Miny Moe-sired entry, was the winner of the any other continental section.

Any other continental champion and reserve overall sheep was the Blue Texel

Texels from the Patersons, were again to the fore in the inter-breed group of three judged by Alex Kirkpatrick, Sanquhar, with Beltex from Jim Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill Farm, Chapelton, landing the reserve honours.

Andy Ireland's Wee Nippy, a black Limousin cross heifer from Feoch, continued on her winning ways to win the overall cattle championship, with the blue and white sash presented to the lead dairy, Harperfield Peach 57, from Willie and Roger Lindsay, Harperfield, Sandilands. Their Ayrshire cow was reserve at East Kilbride and junior cow at West Morland County, last year.

Suffolk supreme was the shearling ram from the Scrogtonhead flock

The on-farm dairy, beef and sheep competitions introduced during the Covid years, continued with cattle within a 20-mile radius and sheep within a 10-mile radius of the showfield at Loudon Castle, able to compete.

LEADING awards

Holstein Friesian (Judge: A Kirkpatrick, Barr, Sanquhar). Champion and reserve dairy interbreed – A Brown and Sons, Kirkhill of Barnweil, Craigie, with Kirkweil Sid Pheobe Ex92, giving 55 litres after calving in February. On her first outing of the season, she is by Pine-Tree Sid, and bred from Kirkweil Evolution Pheobe Ex93. Reserve – A Brown and Sons, with the heifer in milk, Kirkweil Mission Joanne VG86, giving 40 litres, also on her first outing. Sired by Progenesis Mission PB, her dam is Kirkweil Contrast Joanne GP82. Maiden heifer, bred confined – Hendrie Bros, Millands, Galston. Heifer in milk, cow, pair – A Brown and Sons. Calf shown by child under 14 years – R Howie, Tarshaw Farm, Tarbolton.

Stuart and William Heads won the Blackface championship with this ewe

Ayrshire and any other dairy breed (Judge: Mr A Kirkpatrick). Champion, supreme dairy and reserve overall cattle champion – Firm of DM Lindsay, Harperfield, Sandilands with third-calver Harperfield Peach 57, which is giving 45 litres per day. She is by Harperfield Sands of Time, and out of the veteran Harperfield Peach 50 Ex94. Peach 57 was reserve at East Kilbride junior cow at West Morland County, last year and the Lindsays have her entered for the Highland. Reserve – Firm of A Cochrane jnr, Nether Craig, Crosshouse with Kedar Norwin Angel VG56, a Brown Swiss giving 47 litres. A third calver which calved down in April, she is by Norwin and out of Kedar Jongleur Apricot VG88. Angel was on her first outing. All classes – Firm of DM Lindsay.

Any other native champion was this Dorset from

On-farm dairy competition (Judge: A Struthers jnr, Boylston, Cumnock). Dairy calf aged between 4-12 months – R Davidson, Sunnyside Cottage, Coylton. Pair of pedigree in-milk animals – A and M Dalling, Westertoun, Drumclog. Pair of non-pedigree in-milk animals – J Rutherford, Bransfield, Darvel.

Harperfield won the any other dairy breed class, supreme dairy and overall cattle championship

Continental beef (Judge: S Illingworth, Howgillside, Eaglesfield). Champion – R and J Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill, Chapelton, with Solway View Pure Class, a British Blue heifer, purchased in February 2021. She is by Gitan Du Ptit’T Mayeur, while her dam is the Graphite De Dessous La Ville daughter, Bringlee Evadine. She was continental champion at Strathaven Show last year. Reserve – A Shiels, East Doura, Craigie with an eight-month old, home-bred Charolais young bull. Barkhill Sergeant was on his first outing and is by Whiteclifee Muskateer, out of Rooskeynamona Layla which is a daughter of Rooskeynamonda Casper. Heifer – R and J Hamilton. Bull, inter-breed pairs – A Shields. Calf, inter-breed calf – D Smith and Sons, Lawersbridge, Mauchline.

Dillars Flashman was champion Clydesdale for Robert Hamilton

Native beef (Judge: S Illingworth). Champion and reserve inter-breed beef – D Welsh, Westbroad Moss, Fenwick with two-year-old Beef Shorthorn, Westbroad Pablo, shown by stockman Ian Johnstone. Champion of champions at Stewarton and breed leader at Neilston, he is by the 12,000gns Shawhill Leroy, and out of Broad Delila 1, a daughter of Annanwater Baxter. Reserve – G Dunbar, Drumboy, Drumclog with 15-month old bull, Drumboy Vindicator 1103. He is by Fabb Northern Star, a son of Square-D Tortuga 953T and bred from the Moeskaer Samson daughter, Moeskaer Kashmir 1655. Vindicator was native champion at Catrine and reserve breed champion at Ayr. Cow – R McLaughlan, High Langcraig, Craigie. Bull – D Welsh.

Prime beef (Judge: S Illingworth). Champion, beef inter-breed and supreme cattle – A Ireland, Feoch Farm, Darvel with his Limousin cross heifer Wee Nippy. Purchased at Barnard Castle, she already boasts several championships to include Catrine, Beith, Kilmaurs and Lesmahagow and is destined for the Highland. Sired by Fieldson Mahrez, she out of a Limousin cross British Blue Dam. Reserve – A Ireland with Buckaroo, a nine-month-old Limousin cross bullock purchased at Kirkby Stephen. He was first at Ayr. Beef calf – R and C Stevenson, Carbello, Cumock. Bullock, heifer, confined, inter-breed pairs – A Ireland. SAYFC – D and R Holdings, Low Bowhill, Newmilns.

On-farm cow and calf (Judge: S Illingworth). Champion – M Wylie, Skeldon Drive, Dalrymple. Reserve – J Warnock, High Bent, Strathaven.

Young handlers (Judge: J Currie, Westtown Bungalow, Nemphlar). Champion – Gregor Brown (12), Kirkhill of Barweil, Craigie with Kirkweil Darwin Queen, a September-born Holstein Friesian calf.

Clydesdales (Judge: W Craig, Rashillhouse, Stewarton). Champion – R and J Hamilton, Dillars House, Dillarburn with the yearling colt, Dillars Flashman, bred by J and L Kennedy, Hillhouse. Sired by Dillars Envoy, he is out of Spittal Contessa. He was second at the Stallion Show and reserve at Lesmahagow. Reserve – A Craig and A Jackson, Covington Mill, Thankerton with Boat Lady Sofie, a yearling filly. She is by Dillars Ollie, and out of West Glen Rambling Rose. Brood mare, foal – J Rochhead, Malcolm Wood, Blantyre. Yeld mare, two-year-old colt or gelding – C Young, Hall, Drongan. Two-year-old filly, pair, bred – A Craig and A Jackson. Yearling filly – A Steel and Son, Jackton. Senior gelding – G Robertson, Lainshaw Main, Stewarton. Yearling – R and J Hamilton, Dillars House, Dillarburn.

Blackface (Judge: S MacAuley, Connachan, Crieff). Champion – W Heads, Aitkenhead, Fenwick with a two-crop ewe, by a £35,000 Dalchirla out of a ewe by a £7500 Dalchirla. Reserve – Brisbane Glen Estates, Ayrshire, with the second prize winner to the champion brought out by shepherd, Oz Wardrop. She is by an Auldhouseburn son of the £160,000 Dalchirla, and out of a home-bred dam. Aged ram, yearling ram, tup lamb, ewe, group of five, bred – W Heads. Ewe hogg, wool – H Gibson, Weitshaw, Sorn. Ewe lamb – TG Boswell, East Burnhead, Darvel.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: F Robertson, Crosswoodhill, West Calder). Champion – Firm of Shawhead, Newmains Home Farm, Douglas, with a ewe lamb of The Mill prefix, shown by shepherds Alastair and Alan MacLarty. She is by a Dunbrach tup purchased at Stirling last year from Alex Steadman, which is by a H6 Highberries and out of a homebred dam. Reserve – D Hogg, Cairndale, Moscow with the two-shear tup, N2 Giants Causeway, purchased at Ballymena for 4000gns. An ET, he is bred from the 2016 J26 Ty-Gwyn ewe and sired by the L1 Farden Popeye. The tup was also the sire of the second and third prize ewe lambs. Tup, ewe, tup lamb, group – D Hogg. Ewe hogg – RD McInnes and Co, Greystoneknowe Cottage, Kilmarnock. Ewe lamb – Firm of Shawhead.

Suffolk (Judge: W Borthwick, Auchenraith Farm, Mauchline). Champion – P and L Gray, Cowgrove, Galston, with a home-bred shearling on his first outing of the season. He is by Scrogton Black Star, a son of Brijon Black Magic, out of a 2017-home-bred ewe by Muirton Premier. He is destined for the Kelso Ram Sales. Reserve – A Fleming, Over Lethame, Strathaven, with a 2018-born Quarter-bred ewe by Lakeview Larry Lamb, a son of Strathbogie Jackpot. The dam is by Pyeston Majic Hat. Ram, gimmer, group of three – P and L Gray. Ewe, tup lamb, ewe lamb – A Fleming.

Commercial (Judge: J Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Muthill). Champion – R Anderson and Son, Oldwalls, Galston with a three-quarter-bred Beltex lambs by a home-bred sire. Reserve – P and L Gray, Cowgrove, Galston with three-quarter-bred Texel ewe with a pair of Beltex lambs at foot. Ewe with pair of cross-bred lambs – P and L Gray. Pair cross-bred ewe hoggs, pair cross-bred prime lambs – R Anderson and Son, Old Walls Farm, Galston.

Texel (Judge: Mr J Currie). Champion, inter-breed sheep and champion of champions – J and G Paterson, Glenside, Maybole with a previously unshown home-bred sired by the 40,000gns Mellor Vale Déjà Vu out of a home-bred dam by the 16,000gns Fordafourie Big Ben. Reserve – P and L Gray, Cowgrove, with a home-bred shearling on his first outing by Scrogtonhead Class Act, a tup that sold privately to Whiteley Hey flock in 2020. His dam, a home-bred dam is by Clintery Yuga Khan. Sheraling ram, ewe – P and L Gray. Aged ram – G Gatherer, Fairlynne, Stair. Gimmer, tup lamb, ewe lamb, group of three – J and G Paterson.

Beltex (Judge: Mr J Taylor). Champion – J Cousar, Howcommon, Craigie with the home-bred gimmer, Howcommon Gypsy Tart, by Howcommon Frank the Tank, a son of the Belvior View E.Z. Rider. The dam is Howcommon Daiquiri, a Henry V/H/Vrijbos daughter bred from Clary Brianna. Gyspy Tart is destined for the Highland. Reserve – J Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill, Chapelton with Mid Shawtonhill Hot Fuzz ET, a Clary Fly-Boy daughter bred from the Quarrymount William Wallace daughter, Shawtonhill Dottie. Ram, ewe – A Ireland, Feoch, Darvel. Gimmer – J Cousar. Tup lamb – R Anderson and Son, Oldwalls, Galston. Ewe lamb, Group – J Hamilton.

Any other native sheep (Judge: F Robertson). Champion – B and E Welsh, Roundshaw, Auckinleck with a Manorcroft-bred five-crop Polled Dorset ewe that was second at Catrine and first at Ayr. She was purchased as a ewe lamb at the Manorcroft dispersal. Reserve – N MacDonald, West Blackbyre, Waterside with the four-shear North County Cheviot park-type tup, Gothigill X4. Sired by Broomhillbank Volatile, he is bred from a home-bred dam by Nun Cote Nook Jumbuck. Ram – N MacDonald. Ewe, tup lamb, ewe lamb, group of three – B and E Welsh. Ewe hogg – D Hodge, Dykes, Auchinleck.

Any other continental sheep (Judge: Mr J Taylor). Champion – J Cousar and L Young, Howcommon, Craigie with Corra Faith, a privately purchased Blue Texel gimmer on her first outing and bound for the Highland Show. Sired by Cleenagh Eeny Meeny Miny Moe, her dam is a 2017-born Corra bred by Hackney Yardman. Reserve – D and J Alexander, Millside, Galston with a home-bred three-crop, unshown Blue Texel ewe. She is by Beili Blues Dylan and out of a 2016-born home-bred dam by another Beili Blues sire. Ram, ewe, group of three – D and J Alexander. Gimmer – J Cousar and L Young. Ewe lamb – G Robb, Chalmerston, Stair.

On-farm sheep (Judge: D Hamilton, Allanton, Darvel). Group of 5-20 cross-bred ewes and their lambs – S Anderson, Oldwalls, Galston. Group of 21 or more cross-bred ewes and their lambs – S and E Prentice, Dallars Mains, Hurlford.

Working collie (Judge: S MacAuley). Champion – E Wright. Young handlers (14 and under) – O Manson.

Sheep young handlers (Judge: W Borthwick). Champion – Miss Sienna Nisbet (12), Orcharton Farm, Ochiltree, with a Bluefaced Leicester ewe lamb by the N1 Hundith.