The 2024 show season kicked off in style with some glorious sunny weather for Kilmaurs Show last weekend, ensuring a packed ring of livestock and horses.
This year also saw the first champion of champions award at the event which was presented to the beef supreme, a Charolais cross heifer named Legally Blonde from Allan and Susan Campbell, Crawlaw, Galston.
Brought out with the help of stockman Taylor Holloway, this August 2022-born heifer was purchased at Dalmally from Duncan Semple, Dippen, having stood reserve senior champion at Stars of the Future last year. It is sired by the French bull, Duracel.
“She hasn’t got many holes, she is full of meat and walks well,” said the beef judge John Cousar, Tarbolton, who teamed up with the dairy and Clydesdale judges, Andrew Struthers and Mr and Mrs Campbell respectively to select the supreme overall.
Mr Cousar added: “My reserve was well grown for her age with plenty of power behind her.”
The runner up came from the same home in the form of the pure Limousin heifer Goldies Taboo, which was purchased at the Red Ladies and weaned calf sale at Carlisle in December. Bred by Bruce Goldie, Dumfries, this October 2022-born heifer is a daughter of Goldies Juggler, out of Goldies Glamour.
She was shown successfully last year, landing the champion of champions at Moffat Show and reserve inter-breed at Dumfries Show. Andrew Struthers, found both his dairy champion and reserve in entries from George Borland, Mossbog, Mauchline.
Taking the lead was the second calver, Mossbog Lambda Rachel, which calved in February and is giving 48 litres per day. Classified VG86, she is sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda and bred from Mossbog Flash Rachel.
“She could compete at any show. She caught my eye as soon as I saw her for her dairy quality and balance throughout. She has tremendous depth of body, with an open rib and strong veination. Her fore attachment and udder depth confirm her placing,” said Mr Struthers.
Runner-up was the calved heifer Vetech Rubicon Atlee, paraded two months fresh and giving 32 litres per day. Bought in as a heifer for her bloodlines, she is a daughter of EDG Rubicon and bred from the Ex91-classified dam, Vetech Kingpin Atlee 2.
Champion Clydesdale was the rising two-year-old Baldowran Regan, from Robert Melvin, Crieff. He is sired by Baldowran Kingsman and bred from Baldowran Darcy, having been purchased from Steven McMillan in Ayrshire.
“My champion was a good upstanding gelding, being well grown for its age. There was a great turnout of Clydesdales overall which was good to see,” said Clydesdale judge Alan Campbell.
Leading Awards
Dairy cattle (Judge: A Struthers, Boylston). Champion and reserve – G Borland, Mossbog, Mauchline, with the top spot going to Mossbog Lambda Rachel, a second calver that calved in February. A daughter of Farnear Delta-Lambda, she is bred from Mossbog Flash Rachel, and is VG86 classified giving 48l. Runner up went to the freshly calved heifer, Vetech Rubicon Atlee, paraded two months fresh and giving 32l. Bought in as a heifer for her bloodlines, she is a daughter of EDG Rubicon and bred from the Ex91-classified dam, Vetech Kingpin Atlee 2. Quey in milk, dairy cow in milk, pair of cows or queys – G Borland, Mossbog, Mauchline. Dairy cow in calf, calf under six months, group of three, female bred – H Montgomerie, Newlands, Kilmaurs. Calf over six months – G Cochrane, Nethercraig, Crosshouse. SAYFC – D Howat, Mossbog, Mauchline.
Beef cattle (Judge: J Cousar, Tarbolton). Champion and reserve – A and S Campbell, Crawlaw, Galston. Supreme was the August 2022-born Charolais cross heifer, Legally Blonde. Purchased at Dalmally from Duncan Semple, Dippen, she stood reserve senior champion at Stars of the future last year. Sired by the French bull, Duracel. Runner up was the October 2022-born Limousin heifer, Goldies Taboo, purchased at the Red Ladies and weaned calf sale. Bred by Bruce Goldie, Mouswald, she is sired by Goldies Juggler, and out of Goldies Glamour. Champions of champions at Moffat Show and reserve inter-breed at Dumfries Show in 2023. Bullock – J Stalker, Thorn, Fenwick. Heifer, cross-bred beef, pure-bred beef – A and S Campbell.
Clydesdales (Judge: Mr and Mrs A Campbell). Champion – R Melvin, Crieff, with the rising two-year-old, Baldowran Regan. Sired by Baldowran Kingsman and bred from Baldowran Darcy, he was purchased from Steven McMillan in Ayrshire. Reserve – B and D McMillan, Clydeview, Rothesay, with Fordelhill Sapphire. This two-year-old filly is a daughter of Macfin Starlight and out of Fordelhill Jubilee Ruby. Bred by Scott Greenhill, Fordelhill she is now destined for the Royal Highland Show. Gelding, yearling or two-year-old colt or gelding, ridden – R Melvin, Crieff. Mare, yeld or brood, pair – A Anderson/I Nisbet, Stewarton. Yearling or two-year-old filly, one or two year-old colt or filly – B and D McMillan, Clydeview, Rothesay. Young handler – Freya Shaw, G and A Robertson, Kilwinning.
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