Despite livestock entries considerably back and no prize money given out, it was still a day to remember for John Elliot of Gordon Brooke Estate, Earlston, when his rising yearling Aberdeen-Angus heifer went all the way to take the supreme champions of champions at the Border Union Show, Kelso.
Gordon Black Cherry X638 is a daughter of Rawburn Luthor, which has bred bulls to 25,000gns, and out of Linton Gilbertines Black Cherry S048 and her gd was one of the foundation cows of the herd having been purchased at Carlisle for 9000gns. She paraded in calf to a Rawburn bull due in April, with stockman, Iain Campbell at the end of the ropes.
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She is set to be sold this October at Stirling Bull Sales, along with 35 other 2021 born heifers from the Gordon herd.
“There was six worthy champions in front of me, all of them were champions in their own rights. I liked the Angus heifer as she was very correct and well flourished for her age. She stood well and was well put together,” said champions of champions judge, Peter Alexander, Blairgowrie, who had the choice of the beef, sheep, Clydesdale, ridden horse, rabbit and goat champions to choose from.
In a very small selection of cattle taking the runner up title was the Limousin champion, a four-year-old bull from Keith Redpath, Redpath Farms, Heiton, Kelso. That came in the form of the stock bull, Derriaghy Oscar, which was bought at Carlisle where he stood junior champion. He is the result of the sire, Mereside Godolphin onto the dam, Proctors Mayfly. Having stood second in his class at the Highland this year he is now destined for Duns Show this week.
Among the sheep rings it was a two crop Cheviot ewe from Norman and David Douglas’ Whitehope flock from, Catslackburn, Yarrow, that got the winning tap out from sheep inter-breed judge, Blair Cockburn, Broughton, Biggar. This winner stood female champion and reserve overall at the Royal Highland Show this year as well as numerous titles in 2020. She is a daughter of Mainside Yarrow, a ram bought at Builth Wells, and out of a home-bred ewe.
The blue and white sash among the sheep was awarded to the any other MV accredited champion, a Blue Texel gimmer from David Gray, Sunnycroft. She is a daughter of Pistyll Dynamite and bred from a Nantyderri dam. No stranger to the show circuit she stood third at the Great Yorkshire and first at Biggar Show this year and last year she was placed second at the pedigree lamb show at LiveScot.
The sheep sections also witnessed three Scottish national shows to include the Zwartbles, Hebrideans and Jacob sections.
Marshall Meadows Mary Rose was crowned Clydesdale champion for John and Christine Fairbairn, and children, John and Kate, from Berwick Upon-Tweed, Northumberland. Their home-bred yearling filly is sired by Tillside Topman, out of the private purchased dam, Cumeragh House Valetta.
LEADING awards
Clydesdales (Judge: M Ralston, Campbeltown, Argyll). Champion – J and C Fairbairn, Berwick Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, with the yearling filly, Marshall Meadows Mary Rose. This home-bred girl is sired by Tillside Topman, out of the private purchase, Cumeragh House Valetta. Reserve – Y Pringle, Newtongrange, Dalkeith, with their gelding, Mardoug’s Glenlivet. Having stood first at Braco this one was bought privately from Tom Tennant, being sired by Garff President and out of West Forth Donna. Yearling, two-year-old colt or gelding – K Willey. Yeld mare – A Young. Yearling filly – J and C Fairbairn. Young handlers – Kate Fairbairn.
Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: T Arnott, Kelso). Champion – J Elliot, Gordon Brooke Estate, Earlston, with his rising yearling heifer, Gordon Black Cherry X638, which is set to be sold this October at Stirling Bull Sales, along with 35 other 2021 born heifers. This show star is sired by Rawburn Luthor, which has bred bulls to 25,000gns, and out of Linton Gilbertines Black Cherry S048 and her gd was one of the foundation cows of the herd having been purchased at Carlisle for 9000gns. She paraded in calf to Rawburn bull due in April. Reserve – A Hodge, Duns, Berwickshire, with his 2021 born bull, Rulesmains Pegasus. This home-bred bull has already done the show circuits having stood junior male champion at the Royal Highland Show, the breed national show at Norfolk and the Great Yorkshire Show, and will now be destined for sale this October at Stirling. A son of Carruthers Gilbert, which stood reserve male champion at Carlisle in 2018 where he was purchased for 6000gns, and out of one of the best breeding lines in the herd, Rulesmains Princess. Senior bull, 2020 born heifer – JM Steel. Junior bull – A Hodge. Cow – L Pittendrigh. 2021 born heifer, group of three – Gordon Brooke Estate.
Native beef breeds (Judge: R McNee, Dundee). Champion – E Hodge, Duns, Berwickshire, with her two-year-old Hereford heifer, Coley 1 Liley. This is just the start of Emma’s Hereford herd with this foundation heifer being purchased privately from Heather Whittaker in December. A Gouldingpoll 1 Gold Spice daughter, she is out of Granefell Coral Lily 753. Sole entry – E Hodge.
Limousin (Judge: R McNee). Champion and reserve – Redpath Farms, Heiton, Kelso, with the top ticket going to the four-year-old bull, Derriaghy Oscar, which was bought at Carlisle where he stood junior champion. He is the result of the sire, Mereside Godolphin onto the dam, Proctors Mayfly. Having stood second in his class at the Highland this year he is now destined for Duns Show this week. The blue and white rosette went to the yearling heifer, Redpaths Sugar. This embryo calf was on her first outing being sired by Ampertaine Gigolo, and out of Redpaths Hilary. Senior bull, heifer – Redpath Farms. Junior bull – GP Hamilton.
Young handers (Judge: R Neill, Jedburgh). Aged 16-21 – 1, Mark Reid; 2, Kirsty Campbell; 3, Lindsey Stewart.
Beltex (Judge: G Maxwell, Faughill, Melrose). Champion – N Harvey, Duns, with a home-bred shearling tup, that is destined to be sold at Carlisle this year. This boy, Blackadder Greatest Showman, is a son of Blackadder Ferrari and out of the Airyolland Weapon daughter, Blackadder Ella. Reserve – J Green, Lilliesleaf, Melrose, with the home-bred gimmer, Greenall Galway Girl, which will be sold this year. She is the result of the AI sire, Mortons Cheeky Boy onto a home-bred gimmer. Aged ram – F Bell. Shearling ram, pair – N Harvey. Gimmer, group of three – J Green.
Lleyn (Judge: N McGowan, Alyth, Blairgowrie). Champion and reserve – T and I Walling, Selkirk, with the champion going to a home-bred four-crop ewe. Sired by Netherton Demon, she was reserve champion at the Royal Highland Show as a gimmer in 2018 and also champion as a ewe at the Great Yorkshire last year. Runner up was a home-bred gimmer that is a daughter of Tacho Iceman on her first outing. Ram, ewe, gimmer, group of three – I and T Walling. Shearling ram – A Watson. Ram lambs, ewe lamb – D and K Whitelaw.
Suffolk MV (Judge: J Mauchlen, Sportsmains, Kelso). Champion and reserve – M Walton, Wooler, with the top honours going to a two-crop ewe. This home-bred ewe stood first at the Great Yorkshire this year, backed by a Birness tup out of a home-bred ewe. The runner up was a home-bred gimmer that is sired by Monkton Ballistic, which was bought at Shrewsbury four years ago and out of a home-bred dam. Shearling, ewe lamb – Kelcastle. Ram lamb – E Wilkie. Ewe, gimmer – M Walton.
Texel MV (Judge: R Laird, Biggar). Champion – RH Bell and Co, Roxburgh Mill, Kelso, with a home-bred gimmer. This embryo gimmer is backed by Sportsman Cannon Ball and out of a Cambwell Alastair sired-ewe. Reserve – D Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk, with a tup lamb on its first outing, which is destined to be sold this year. This boy is a son of the 24,000gns New View Electrifying , and out of a Clinterty Yuga Khan sired dam. Shearling – IF Murray. Ram lamb – D Gray. Ewe – K Cameron. Gimmer – F Bell. Ewe lamb – Legars Ltd.
Zwartbles (Judge: L Campbell, Ballymena). Champion – A Baird, Greystone, Dunblane, with his one-crop ewe, which stood reserve champion at the Royal Highland Show, and supreme sheep at West Fife and reserve inter-breed at Ayr and Drymen this year. Greystone Hella, is a daughter of 2200gns Pistyll Fire and out of Greystone Eclipse. Reserve – C Rae, Wallacetown, Dumfries, with the male champion from the Royal Highland Show, East Middle Jezki. This shearling tup was bred by the late Charles Scott, which is owned in partnership with Stuart Craig. He is a son of East Middle Gallileo, out of Whitestone Grace, and has already won rosettes at Ayr, Northumberland Penrith and Cumberland Shows. Aged ram, ewe gimmer, group of three – A Baird. Shearling ram – C Rae. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – C and H Duffy.
AOB MV (Judge: G Sinclair, Heriot). Champion – D Gray, Sunnycroft, with a Blue Texel gimmer. She is a daughter of Pistyll Dynamite and bred from a Nantyderri dam. No stranger to the show circuit she stood third at the Great Yorkshire and first at Biggar Show this year and last year she was placed second at the pedigree lamb show at LiveScot. Reserve – A and J Guthrie, Selkirk, with a Dutch Spotted tup lamb. Ram, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – D Gray. Ram lamb – A and J Guthrie.
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Blackface (Judge: J Kay, Oxton, Lauder). Champion – S McClymont and sons, Tinnis, Yarrow, Selkirk, with a home-bred gimmer. This one is a result of the £14,000 Glenrath sire onto a £13,000 East Happrew sired dam, and she stood second in her class at the Highland Show this year. Reserve – Burncastle Farming, Lauder, with a two-crop ewe, brought out by shepherds James Brady and Ben Carter, who run 2000 ewes. This home-bred female is sired by a £30,000 Dyke Lanark purchase, and out of a home-bred dam by a £14,000 Auldhouseburn. Ram, ewe – Burncastle. Shearling ram – A Rogerson. Ram lamb, gimmer – S McClymont. Ewe lamb – D and A Redpath.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: H McNee, Tealing, Dundee). Champion – J Herdman, Alnwick, with a three-crop ewe on its first outing. This one is sired by the £15,000 H2 Carryhouse and bred from a Midlock sired dam. Reserve – S Ainslie, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, with a home-bred ewe lamb, that stood champion at Haddington Show. She is backed by P2 Nunscleugh and bred from a L3 Penhill-sired ewe. Ram, shearling ram – FM Strang Steel. Ram lamb, ewe – J Herdman. Gimmer, ewe lamb – A Ainslie.
Cheviot (Judge: M Cockburn, Broughton, Biggar). Champion – WN Douglas, Yarrow, Selkirk, with a two-crop ewe. The female champion and reserve overall from the Royal Highland Show is a daughter of Mainside Yarrow, a ram bought at Builth Wells, and out of a home-bred ewe. She was part of the show team in 2020 before the pandemic struck. Reserve – AJ Warden, Skelfhill, Hawick, with a tup lamb on its first outing. He is the first crop of sons from a 5500gns Catslackburn Lockerbie purchase, and out of a Townfoot sired ewe. Ram, two-shear ram, shearling ram, ewe, ewe lamb – WN Douglas. Ram lamb – AJ Warden. Gimmer – H Brown.
Hebridean (Judge: D Cassie, Lutterworth, Leicestershire). Champion – D Braithwaite, Newcastleton, with the home-bred shearling tup, Skipwith Zeth, which was on his first outing. Part of the 30 ewe flock, this boy is backed by home bred genetics being sired by Skipwith Xeed and out of Skipwith Rosemary. Reserve – L Cowper, Keswick, Cumbria, with the gimmer, Newbridge Hyacinth, which is part of the 40 ewe flock. She is sired by Longmorn Benbecula and out of a Brightside Strowan. Ram, ewe lamb, group of three – J and M Andrews. Shearling – D Braithwaite. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer – LJ Cowper. Veteran ewe, ewe with lambs at foot – N and A Fecitt. Diversity group of three – S Warren.
Jacob (Judge: R Price, Churchstroke, Powys). Champion – E MacMillan, Fintry, with the shearling tup, Luruha Gordo. He is sired by Harbell Linken, which was bought at St Boswells five years ago and out of a Dunmore gimmer. Reserve – M Munro, Ladybank, Fife, a tup lamb. He is a son of Oakdean Dave and bred from a home-bred ewe. Ram – E MacMillan. Ram lamb – M Munro. Ewe, pair – R Locker. Gimmer – MJ Harper. Ewe lamb – B Webster.
Kerryhill (Judge: D Steen, Moffat). Champion – K McIntosh, Hawick, with a March born ewe lamb on its first outing. She is sired by a Calcot tup and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – R Innes, Jedburgh, with a gimmer. Ram, ewe, ewe lamb, group of three – K McIntosh. Ram lamb, gimmer – R Innes.
Lairg tup Cheviot (Judge: W Elliot, Wooler). Champion and reserve – R Rennie, Kelso, with the winner going to a two-crop ewe. A Heatherup Viscious Stu daughter she is bred from a home-bred ewe. Runner up went to the stock tup, Badanloch Xtra-Special which was bought at Lairg this year for £16,000. Having stood reserve breed champion at the Highland this year he is sired by the £5000 Armadale Seagull. Ram, ewe – R Rennie. Two shear ram, shearling ram, gimmer – M Elliot. Ram lamb – WN Douglas. Gimmer – Kelsocleugh Farming.
North Country Cheviot (Judge: A Pate, Heriot, Midlothian). Champion – R Runciman, Galashiels, with a three-crop ewe. This home-bred sheep is sired by Allanshaws Will I AM, which has previously stood male champion at the Highland Show, and out of a home-bred ewe. This ewe stood first at St Boswells last week with her two ewe lambs at foot. Reserve – W and J Thomson, Kelso, with their home-bred three crop ewe, Hownam Grange Vicki, which stood reserve champion at the Highland and champion at the Yorkshire this year. She is a daughter of Hownam Grange Victoria, the reserve inter-breed sheep champion at the Highland and the Great Yorkshire,in 2019. Her sire is Synton Vespa. Ram – W and J Thomson. Two shear ram, shearling ram, ewe, gimmer – R Runciman. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – S Turnbull.
Scotch half bred (Judge: N Hamilton, Earlside, Hawick). Champion and reserve – GD Pate and sons, Humbie, with the top trophy going to a ewe lamb. This one is backed by an Alticane sire onto a home-bred ewe. Runner up went to a April born ewe lamb, this time by a North Lyham sire. Ewe – GS Shaw and Co. Ewe lamb, pen of three – GD Pate
Shetland (Judge: A Hill, Spalford, Newark). Champion – B and J Watson, Carleton, Holmcrook, with the home-bred coloured shearling ram, Muncaster George. He is a son of Marsyas of Spalford and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – ML Playfair, Kelso, with the two-shear white ram, Kaim Knowe Everest. Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides. Coloured ram, white ram, coloured ram lamb, white ram lamb, coloured ewe, coloured gimmer, white ewe lamb – PML Playfair. Coloured shearling ram, white shearling ram, white ewe, white gimmer, coloured ewe lamb – B and J Watson.
Suffolk Non-MV (Judge: C Pate, Mossilee, Galashiels). Champion – H Brown, Temple, Gorebridge, Midlothian, with a two-crop ewe on its first outing. She is backed by a New Channel tup and bred from a home-bred dam. Reserve – GD Shaw and Co, Kelso, with a home-bred shearling tup, which will be sold at Kelso Ram Sales next month. He is by a Midhope tup which was bought at Shrewsbury in 2019. Shearling ram, gimmer – GS Shaw and Co. Ewe, ewe lamb – H Brown.
Texel Non-MV (Judge: S Sandilands, Lauder). Champion – R Rennie, Kelso, with a three-crop ewe which was bought as a ewe lamb at the Kirkton dispersal at Longtown. Reserve – J and P Anderson, Lauder, with a gimmer on its first outing. She is backed by home-bred genetics being a daughter of Headshaw Dazzler and out of a dam by Loosebeare Yeo, which was bought at Kelso Ram Sales. Shearling ram, ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – J and P Anderson. Ewe – R Rennie.
Any Other breed Non-MV (Judge: G Sinclair, Heriot). Champion – I Clark, Lockerbie, with a Texel Beltex cross ewe lamb. She is sired by a Hollylee Texel tup and bred from a Mortons Beltex. Reserve – A and P Glennie, Oxton, Lauder, with a two-crop Beltex ewe. This home-bred female is sired by a tup purchased from Grant Anderson and out of a home-bred ewe. Ram, ewe – A and P Glennie. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – I Clark. Gimmer – W Sandilands.
Prime lambs Non-MV (Judge: G Sinclair). Champion and reserve – R Rennie, Kelso, with Beltex crosses all sired by a Grangehall tup that was bought at Lanark. Pen of two lightweight – A and P Glennie. Pen of two medium weight, pen of two heavyweight – R Rennie.
Young handlers (Judge: G Sinclair). MV champion – Rosie Chandler. Reserve – Lauchlan Rae. Non-MV Champion – Ewan Chapman. Reserve – Kirsty Turnbull.
Dairy goats (Judge: B Perry, Norton). Champion – HJ Campbell, Torphicen, Bathgate, with the three-year-old British goat, Capitol Freja. She is sired by Homeacres Hugo out of Capitol Artemis, and stood reserve champion at this year’s Royal Highland Show and champion at Angus Show. Reserve – V Wood, Stanley, Country Durham, with the four-year-old, Treval Alison. The result of the sire, Leatland Ashbee onto the dam, Treval Aliola. Saanen and British Saanen Milker – V Wood. Toggenburg and British Toggenburg milker, Toggenburg and British Toggenburg goatling – R Campbell. Anglo Nubian milker, Anglo Nubian goatling, AOB goatling – V Wood. Golden Guernsey milker, Toggenburg and British Toggenburg kid – A and C Sieker. Any other variety milker – HJ Campbell. Anglo Nubian kid, AOB kid – B Fairley. Golden Guernsey kid – R Torrence.
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