RHS: Lawrie family's Ayrshire Hilltower Modern Marcy takes dairy inter-breed

The supreme judge, James Hodge, Berwick-upon-Tweed, said of his stint: “It was a pleasure to be part of this show in its 200th year, which saw a tremendous line up of cattle in front of me, showing strong dairy quality right down the line. All animals were well worthy of a championship ticket here.”

The Lawrie family, who milk 250 cows, were presented the supreme with their fourth calver, Hilltower Modern Marcy. Freshly calved just three weeks ago, she is giving 50-litres per day and is classified VG88. A West Mossgiel Modern Reality daughter, she is out of the heifer, Hilltower Mandella Marcy, which was bought as a present for James’ 18th birthday.

Making this her third outing, she was also junior champion here in 2019 and champion at the Great Yorkshire Show last year.

“She was the queen of the ring, being a cow with presence that wanted to stand champion today. I really could not find many faults with her – she is a well-balanced cow throughout, showing strong rump structure with a hard top line and a beautiful head full of character with an excellent wedge structure,” said Mr Hodge, who farms 450 acres of arable ground having dispersed his 300-cow Holstein herd eight years ago.

Awarded the blue and white sash was the Holstein champion from Brian and Michael Yates, from Castle Douglas. Their fourth calver, Logan Estate Jazz, is a well known show winner, being a former intermediate champion at the Dairy Expo and Superheifer at AgriScot. She is sired by EDG Esther Estate and out of the Ex91-classified dam, Logan Atwood Jazz. Calved in March, she has since been classified Ex93.

Leading the junior inter-breed section was the Ayrshire winner Urr Louise 376, from father and son, Keith and Colin Davidson, from Castle Douglas. Their heifer last produced a calf 100 days ago and was parading on her first outing. Still giving 30 litres per day, she is by Halmyre Urr Rockstar and out of Halmyre Urr Louise 353.

The any other breed (AOB) junior winner took the runner up in the junior inter-breed.

This was the Red and White heifer, Cuthill Towers Jackpot Bloom, again from the Lawries. Having calved in February, she was on her first outing and is sired by Swiss Bec Jackpot Pp Red, out of the Ex90 dam, Cuthill Towers Highland Bloom.

Another nod to the Red and White section, saw a quartet of entries from the Lawries and Mungo Bryson, Whiteflat, Mauchline, take the inter-breed team championship.

AOB Calve champion was Blythbridge Vip Reagan from the Laird family Ref:RH260622032 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Dairy young handlers

Ayrshire rivalry amongst the young handlers saw John Caldwell, Ladyyard, Mauchline, secure the championship ahead of Mauchline YF member, Katie Watson, in reserve.

John (12) is keen on showing having stood second in his class here last year and competed at several events since. This year he has already been champion at Catrine and reserve at Ayr Show.

Katie (16) moved up the charts from her fourth place at the Royal Highland Showcase last year and is a previous young handler winner from Dairy Expo.

John Caldwell was the overall young handler in the dairy section Ref:RH260622040 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Dairy calf championship

Young Stuart Caldwell, Ladyyard, did the double amongst the calves – first winning the showmanship honours and then the award for the best calf with the nine-month-old Holstein heifer, Ladyyard Spock Tabatha.

This youngster is by Rosylane-Llc Spock, out of Ladyyard Snowy Tabatha and was reserve champion at Ayr Show. She will be shown at future calf shows.

The previously unshown Islandpride Thunder Blexy, was given the tap into the reserve position. She’s jointly owned by David Yates, Meiklefirth Partners and Richard Lloyd. A July, 2021-born Holstein, this heifer is by Blondin Thunder Storm and out of the VG86 classified 5guys Blexy Raptor.

The AOB calf champion went to the Jersey, Blythbridge VIP Reagan from the Laird family of Blythbridge Holsteins, Peebles. This nine-month-old calf is a daughter of River Valley Venus VIP.

Ladyyard Spock Tabatha was Holstein calve champion Ref:RH260622030 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Any other breed

Ayrshire breeder, Mungo Bryson, Whiteflat, scooped the top trophy with the red and white Holstein, Whiteflat Jordy Lizzie Red.

Appropriately for the bi-centenary show, the family is also celebrating 200 years on the farm where they milk 210 cows. Their second calver last calved in March and was on her first outing. She is now giving 35 litres and was VG88 classified as a two-year-old. A Cycle Mchucci Jordy Red daughter she is out of Whiteflat Absolute Lizzie.

After a big win in the Ayrshire section, Arthur and Susan Lawrie, Kinross, had to settle at reserve with their Red and White, Cuthill Towers Addiction Peony. This third calver calved in February and was inter-breed at Fife this year. She is a daughter of Ansly Addiction P Red, out of the VG87 classified Cuthill Towers Peony Rose 2 and is giving 45 litres.

The same home secured the junior championship with the heifer, Cuthill Towers Jackpot Bloom, which last calved in February. She was on her first outing and is sired by Swiss Bec Jackpot Pp Red, out of the Ex90 dam, Cuthill Towers Highland Bloom and is now giving 32litres per day.

AOB champion was Whiteflat Jordy Lizzie Red from Mungo Bryson Ref:RH240622094 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Holstein

It was a day to remember for Brian and Michael Yates, from Castle Douglas, when they lifted the top award among the Holsteins.

Their fourth calver, Logan Estate Jazz, was All Britain winner last year, intermediate champion at the Dairy Expo and super heifer at AgriScot. She is by EDG Esther Estate and out of Logan Atwood Jaz. Calved in March, she is Ex93 classified.

A recent import from France, Wilt Bailay, landed the reserve title for Colin Laird, Blyth, West Linton. She produced her second in January and is a daughter of De Oosterhof Willems Eagel, with seven generations of VG and Ex cows on the dam side, being out of the VG87 dam, Wilt Brazilia. On her first outing, she is giving 45 litres per day.

The same home also bagged the junior championship with the heifer, Grayridge Fitz Georgette. Having stood reserve inter-breed at Dairy Expo, she calved in January and is giving 52 litres. Bought in as a calf from David Gray, Grayridge, she is backed by eight generations of VG and Ex-rated cows, being out of Clarkestown Dundee Georgina Ex91 and by Toc Farm Fitz.

Logan Estate Jazz Ex93 from the Yates family stood champion in the Holstein section Ref:RH240622101 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Ayrshire

Arthur and Susan Lawrie and sons, James and David, from Kinross, took the plaudits here with Hilltower Modern Marcy.

She was on her third outing, having been champion junior here in 2019 and champion at the Great Yorkshire Show last year. This fourth calver last calved three weeks ago and is now giving 50 litres, being VG88 classified. She is by West Mossgiel Modern Reality and out of Hilltower Mandella Marcy, which was bought as a present for James’ 18th birthday.

The blue and white sash was presented to the junior champion, Halmyre Urr Louise 376, from father and son duo, Keith and Colin Davidson, who run 180 cows at Castle Douglas. This heifer last produced a calf 100 days ago and was parading on her first outing still giving 30 litres. She’s by Halmyre Urr Rockstar and out of Halmyre Urr Louise 353.

Dairy Shorthorn

It was a clean sweep among the Dairy Shorthorns for Adam Lawson’s herd from North Cassingray, Fife, having landed the champion, reserve and junior top tickets.

Securing the overall was the second calver, Lisnamulligan Royal Kathleen 2. She last calved two months ago and is a daughter of Oxton Winfall, out of the dam, Bishopsbrae Royal Kathleen 5. She is now giving 35 litres and is classified VG87.

The second calver, Winbrook Peeress Rose 33 secured the reserve breed championship and the top junior title. Having last calved two months ago, she is by Bushmills Jazz, out of Winbrook Peeress Rose 28 VG86 and is giving 35 litres. She was bought in from David Dent, Kirkby Stephen.

The Lawsons took the top ticket in the Dairy Shorthorn section Ref:RH240622103 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...