For the second year in succession, the champion winner from the Highland cattle section secured the overall champion of champions at a sunny Beith Show.
Getting the all important tap out in champions line up was the two-year-old Highland heifer, Somasag of Lyntoun, from Thomas Sloan, West Linton. A daughter of Eoin Mhor 23 of Mottistone, she is out of Carol 3 of Gray Brae.
She was placed supreme on a points basis from the various section judges, who had to chose an overall from the lead winners in the Highland, pedigree cattle, primestock, dairy, Clydesdale, pony and the supreme sheep.
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The blue and white sash was awarded to the 17-month-old Limousin bull, Delnic Taggart from Nick Dent, Holehouse, Irvine. A son of Homebyres Neman, he is bred from Delnic Pearl and was on his first outing.
Inter-breed pairs went to a duo of three-year-old Highlanders from the Glasgow City Council.
There was a double win for Alastair Wylie, Broadstone, Beith, in the dairy section, when he landed the champion and reserve honours. His supreme was a second calved Holstein cow paraded 190 days in milk, giving 39litres per day and back in calf. She is sired by an Annandale bull.
Mr Wylie’s reserve was a heifer by the same sire, shown 62 days in milk and giving 41litres.
In the sheep rings, the Suffolk champion from David McMillian, Isle of Bute, took the inter-breed honours. The two-crop ewe was purchased privately from John Christie, Westcarse, and is a daughter of Ballyboe Boe.
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The reserve was the champion Border Leicester, a gimmer from Duncan Whyte, Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns. Sired by Gortnagross Rocket, which was bought out of Lanark for £3600, she is bred from a Clola Double Deal sired-ewe.
The event also included the Ayrshire Young Farmers’ Rally Dairy Calf Show, which saw the supreme go to the May 2023-born heifer calf, Mossbog Milano Roxy from David Howat. This home-bred Holstein is sired by Lebold Dreamview Milano and bred from the Ex92 classified dam, Mossbog Rich Roxy.
Runner up was the yearling Holstein heifer, Glenvalley Sidekick Ava from Cameron McGregor. An embryo from the Apple family, she is a daughter of Walnutlawn Sidekick and out of Auchensala Adeles Doorman Ava RDC, which is Ex90 classified.
The showmanship award was won by John Caldwell from Mauchline YFC.
Leading Awards
Holstein Friesian (Judge: M Young, West Spittal, Stewarton). Champion and reserve – A Wylie, Broadstone, Beith. Supreme was a second calver paraded 190 days in milk, giving 39l and back in calf. Sired by an Annandale bull and reserve with a heifer, 62 days in milk, giving 41l. Cow in milk having had two calves, cow in milk having had three calves, heifer, pair, maiden heifer – A Wylie. Calf – E Kennedy. Calf led by 14-year-old – R Wylie. Registered female – J and GP McConnell.
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Any other dairy breed (Judge: M Young). Champion and reserve – A Mackie. Supreme was a Fleckvieh yearling heifer calf bred by I and A Watson. Runner up was an October-born heifer named Cheeky Girl. All classes – A Mackie.
Primestock (Judge: A Weir, Castlecary Mill, Castlecary). Champion – G Scott, Hawhill, Dalry, with the yearling bullock, Baby Guinness. Purchased from Jamie Pirie of Blarnavaid, Drymen, for £4300 at Clyde and Central Young Farmers’ calf rally competition, he is sired by Wilodge Merlin, and is now destined for Ayr and the Highland. Reserve – R Montgomerie, with the home-bred Charolais cross bullock, Marmaduke which is destined for Ayrshire Young Farmers’ Calf Rally. This 15-month-old bullock is sired by Fury Leader and bred from a Carbello cow. Breeding cross-bred heifer – A Blair. Prime heifer, bullock calf teeth, Young Farmers’ heifer – G Scott. Bullock two broad teeth, suckled calf born before Sept 2023 – D Smith. Best bred by exhibitor, young farmers’ bullock – R Montgomerie.
Pedigree cattle (Judge: A Weir, Castlecary Mill). Champion – N Dent, Holehouse, Irvine, with the home-bred 17-month-old Limousin bull, Delnic Taggart. Sired by Homebyres Neman, he is bred from Delnic Pearl. Reserve – A Wilson, West Croft, Kilwinning, with the maiden Simmental heifer, Cairnview Rea 8. A daughter of Slievenagh International she is out of Cairnview Rea 7. Bull, pairs – N Dent. Heifer – AJ Wilson.
Highland cattle (Judge: B McWalter, Corpach, Fort Willian). Champion – T Sloan, West Linton, with the two-year-old heifer, Somasag of Lyntoun. A daughter of Eoin Mhor 23 of Mottistone, she is out of Carol 3 of Gray Brae. Reserve – JS McKechnie, France Farm, Gartocharn, with the three-year-old heifer, Shonag 2 of Gartocharn. This is her third reserve title here and she is sired by Brodie of Culfoich and out of the Brogach 1 of Balmoral daughter, Kirsty 2 of Gartocharn. Bull – A and H Kirkpatrick. Cow – R and E McMillan. Heifer born before Jan 2022 – J and C McKechnie. Heifer born after Jan 2022 – T Sloan. Heifer born after Jan 2023 – A Prentice. Pairs – Glasgow City Council.
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Clydesdale (Judge: A Fitzpatrick, Braco, Uplawmoor). Champion – 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, having stood reserve champion at Kilmaurs. Reserve – I Nisbet and A Anderson, Stewarton, with the four-year-old, Redcastle Star Analise. Bought privately from John Anderson she is sired by Freedom Majestic Dreamliner, and is out of S2. Mare, pairs – I Nisbet and A Anderson. Colt, filly or gelding under three – B and D McMillan.
Border Leicester (Judge: S Herraty, Low Ranachan, Campbeltown). Champion and reserve – D Whyte, Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns. Champion was a gimmer by Gortnagross Rocket, which was bought out of Lanark for £3600, out of a Clola Double Deal sired-ewe. Runner up went to a home-bred shearling tup which was the same way bred. Third as a lamb at the Royal Highland Show. Both are destined for Ayr and the Highland. All classes – D Whyte.
Suffolk (Judge: S Herraty). Champion and reserve – D McMillan, Isle of Bute. Supreme was two-crop ewe purchased privately from John Christie, Westcarse, and sired by Ballyboe Boe. Reserve went to the home-bred January-born ewe lamb, Westmere Maggie Mae. Sired by Westmere Zac, she is out of Westcarse Annie. All classes – D McMillan.
Continental (Judge: S Herraty). Champion – M Dempsie, Auchengrove, with the Valais Blacknose ewe hogg, Brickrose Karma. Sired by Deerpark J Ace, she is out of Goldies Jill. Reserve – C Wallet, with the February-born Dutch Spotted tup lamb, Warlock Hunter. The dam, Westbroad Fern was purchased with this lamb inside. Tup, gimmer – M Dempsie. Ewe, lamb – C Wallet.
Texel (Judge: S Herraty). Champion and reserve – D Whyte, Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns, with a gimmer which was purchased as a ewe hogg from Robbie Wilson at Longtown. Sired by Holylee Foreman, her dam is by Sportsman Dirty Harry. Reserve was last year’s supreme sheep, a one-crop ewe by Harestone Eldorado bred from an Auldhouseburn Billy The Kid-sired ewe. All classes – D Whyte.
Zwartbles (Judge: S Herraty). Champion and reserve – I Halbert, Inverkirk, with two gimmers bought privately from Jim Shuttleton and both daughters of Kirkfield Jockey. Champion was Holmes Lilly, with the runner up going to Holmes Lucy. All classes – I Halbert.
Native (Judge: S Herraty). Champion – D Mitchell, New Cumnock, with the Ryeland shearling tup, Bryn Caffo Celt, which was purchased as a lamb. Reserve – D Stainton, Stepps, with the two-shear Ryeland ewe, Bachebrook Custard. Purchased from Worcester as a lamb she is sired by Cagedale Zirius Black and out of a Westfield dam. Tup, ewe lamb – D Mitchell. Ewe, tup lamb – D Stainton.
Blackface (Judge: S McIntyre, Knowes Farm, Lochwinnoch). Champion and reserve – R Seaton, Glenlaura, with a home-bred gimmer taking the top spot, shown with a pair of lambs at foot. Champion here last year, she is by an Auldhouseburn sire and out of a home-bred ewe. The blue and white ticket went to a gimmer, which was purchased in lamb in February from Dalwyne. All classes – R Seaton.
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