It was a red letter day for the Roan family at the Stewartry Show, as not only did they take the Holstein title for the first time, they also went on to lift the overall champion of champions title.
The family – Steven, Tracey, Andrew and Lucy – from Boreland of Colvend, Dalbeattie, took the top ticket with Colvend Crockett Sunray. Classified Ex91, this third calver is currently giving 50kg, having calved at the end of February. She beat off competition from the winners from all of the other cattle sections, the supreme sheep, heavy horse, and the leader from the equine classes.
Champion of champions judge Patsy Hunter, The Scottish Farmer, said: “I was most impressed by the Holstein for her dairy characteristics. She was full of milk with excellent venation and a fantastic top line.
“Selecting a reserve was slightly more difficult as it was very close between the Texel and the Galloway.”
That reserve came, however, in the form of the overall sheep champion, from Brian and David MacTaggart of Douganhill Farms.
Brian was bringing out the sheep champion for a record time and his leader was a Coniston Equinox-sired Texel gimmer.
Reserve overall in the sheep was young Fraser Forsyth’s home-bred Blue Texel gimmer.
Leading Awards
Galloway (Judge: Ms C McMillan). Champion – J and S Ross, Romesbeoch, Shawhead with Kirkstead Lea G11. Hot on the heals of winning the Great Yorkshire Show, this heifer was bought at Castle Douglas in February for 2400gns from Alan McClymont, and is a daughter of Blackcraig Bugsy Malone, out of Kirkstead Lea D14. She was also reserve at the Highland in June. Reserve – P Hunter-Blair, Nether Cleugh, Dalry with Foxglove Eyebright. By Nucamp of Balgray, this heifer is out of a home-bred cow. She was reserve junior champion at the Royal Highland Show. Bull, bull calf – W and S McCarthy. Heifer, heifer stirk, heifer calf, group – J and S Ross.
Belted Galloway (Judge: Ms C McMillan). Champion and reserve – K Keiley and Daughters, Carton Croft, Dalbeattie. Champion was the Highland Show supreme, Huntfield Yvette, which was bought as a calf at foot with its dam, Huntfield Uppy. This September 2020-born female was shown with her September-born heifer calf, Croft Elsie. She is a previous Stewartry show champion. Reserve was the heifer calf, Croft Elise. This 10-month-old is by Tobergill Uist and has won calf classes at other shows. All classes – K Keiley and Daughters.
Continental cattle (Judge: Ms G Brown). Champion and reserve – Messrs Oxley, Druchtag, Mochrum. Champion was the Limousin bull, Ronick Rocket Man, an October-2020 born bull bought at Carlisle from Steph Dick. Reserve was the cow, Perth Rosario a rising four-year bought at the Red Ladies sale at Carlisle, shown with her heifer calf at foot. Bull, cow – Messrs Oxley. Heifer – D and E Blackstock.
Store and prime cattle (Judge: Ms G Brown). Champion and reserve – A and R Paterson, Low Three Mark. Champion was the Limousin cross heifer, My Girl, a 17-month-old bred by John and Craig Robertson and bought at the Thainstone Spectacular. Reserve was Mr Softie, a 16-month-old Aberdeen Angus cross bullock. He was bought from Mains of Drumbreck, also at the Thainstone Spectacular. All classes – A and R Paterson.
Beef young handlers. Native bred – 1, Kate Dunlop; 2, Angus McNay. Continental – 1, Max Dunlop; 2, Tom Dunlop.
Holstein (Judge: Mrs J Steele). Champion and overall champion of champions – S Roan, Boreland of Colvend with Colvend Crockett Sunray. Classified Ex91, this third calver calved at the end of February, and is currently giving 50kg. Reserve – B and M Yates, East Logan with East Logan Integral Kiwi, a fourth calver paraded 30 days calved and giving 54 litres. Heifer – RC Gemmell. Junior cow, senior cow, pair – S Roan.
Ayrshire (Judge: Mrs J Steele). Champion – D Armstrong, Milton Farm with Langbarns Tinto 13, a fourth calver giving 43kg on her first outing. Reserve – K Davidson, Halmyre with Halmyre Urr Floralin, an October 2021-born entry by Jeepers Creepers. In-calf heifer, pair – K Davidson. Cow – D Armstrong.
Dairy young handlers. Nine years and under – 1, Isla Davidson, 2, Millie McCormick; 3, Douglas Patterson. 10-15yrs – 1, Lexi McMinn; 2, Andrew Roan; 3, Lucy Roan.
Clydesdale (Judge: Ms C Marshall). Champion – W Gemmell, Holmhead of Boreland, Kirkcowan, with the two-year-old filly, Holmhead April Blossom. A daughter of Dillars Tod Maverick and bred from Holmhead Molly B. Reserve – A Sandell. Gelding, mare, colt foal – A Sandell. Yearling – W Gemmell.
Blackface (Judge: Mrs U Hodge). Champion and reserve – AM Brown, Drumhumphry, Corsock. Champion was a ewe lamb by a Cuil sire, out of a Kirkmabreck-sired home-bred ewe. Reserve was a tup lamb by a Larg of Creetown sire and out of a Muil-bred ewe. All classes – AM Brown.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: Ms E Campbell). Champion – K Smith, Low Arkland, with a home-bred ewe, by a Lowes Fell sire. She was champion at Dumfries as a gimmer. Reserve – AM Brown, Drumhumphry, Corsock with a Woodcroft-bred shearling. Shearling – Messrs Wallace. Tup lamb, group – Earlstoun Livestock. Ewe – K Smith, Low Arkland. Gimmer, ewe lamb – Messrs Jardine, Upper Harland.
Scotch Mule (Judge: Ms E Campbell). Champion – R Ferguson, Craigton Dairy House with a ewe lamb sired by a Barlaes tup used on loan, and out of a Barlaes-bred gimmer. First outing. Reserve – M Ross, Dumfries with a ewe that won here as a gimmer last year. She was bred by the Stewarts at Crookboat and bought in a pen of lambs through United Auctions Stirling. Ewe lamb – R Ferguson. Gimmer, ewe – M Ross.
Suffolk (Judge: Ms J Barbour). Champion – W and M Haining, High Drum, Dunscore with a ewe lamb. She is by Wallace’s stock tup, Middlemuir Marvel, out of a ewe by Lakeview Under the Radar and was on her first outing. Reserve – Rulerview Suffolks with a Lakeview-bred ewe bought at Lanark last November. First outing. Tup, tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – W and M Haining. Ewe – Rulerview Suffolks.
Texel (Judge: Ms J Ballantyne). Champion, overall sheep champion and reserve overall champion of champions – Douganhill Farms with a Coniston Equinox-sired gimmer. She is out of a Westmoy Concord-sired mother and she was taking the top award at her first show. Reserve – A MacTaggart, Rascarrel with a ewe lamb. Tup, ewe lamb – E MacTaggart. Tup lamb, gimmer – Douganhill Farms. Ewe – Bengairn.
Beltex (Mrs H Barclay). Champion – I Bunting, Bridgestone with a ewe by Glan-Y-Moic Crocodile. She is now for Wigtown and Dumfries. Reserve – R Campbell, Carsewalloch with the aged tup, Gyffin GI Joe, bought at Carlisle in 2022 for £4500, he is by Clfry Dumfries and was also reserve here last year. Tup, gimmer – R Campbell. Tup lamb, ewe – I Bunting. Ewe lamb – G Paterson.
Any other breed sheep (Mrs C Fisher). Champion, reserve and reserve overall sheep – F Forsyth, Corra, Castle Douglas. Champion was a Blue Texel gimmer. Home-bred, at her first show, she is by Boyo Elite.
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