More than 140 entries were forward for Cowal Blackface Sheep Breeders’ annual show at Cairndow, judged by Colm McAteer of Drumboy, Co Down, Northern Ireland who had to select the winners in the confined and open sections.

Females led the way, securing the top two awards in both sections with the supreme overall being a Crossflatt-bred suckled gimmer from Robert and Iain Shaw, Acharonich, Ardfern, Lochgilphead, that won the open.

Champion at the breed’s in-lamb show and sale at Lanark at the end of February, she was bought for the top price of 5800gns from her breeder John Murray. Her pedigree features the Crossflatt-bred ram, McCoy Look Alike, and a ewe by Spectre, a home-bred son of a £90,000 Blackhouse.

Reserve was the confined champion, a ewe from Davie and Jock Jackson, Pole. Their senior ewe, by an Auldhouseburn son of a £160,000 Elmscleugh bought privately, bred from a ewe by a £6000 Crossflatt, was champion at Drymen in May and at Dalmally in 2022.

Leading Awards

Confined – Champion – D and J Jackson, Pole, Lochgoilhead with the senior ewe. Reserve – D McVicar, Lephinchapel, Strachur with the junior ewe.

Shearling ram – 1, Drimsynie; 2, Lephinchapel.

Tup lamb – 1 and 2, Pole; 3, Lephinchapel.

Senior ewe – 1, Pole; 2, Drimsynie.

Junior ewe – 1, Lephinchapel; 2, Drimsynie.

Gimmer – 1, Pole; 2, Lephinchapel.

Ewe lamb – 1, Kayleigh Jackson; 2, Drimsynie; 3, Lephinchapel.

Young Farmers – Ewe lamb – Kayleigh Jackson. Tup lamb – Niamh Toner.

Open – Aged ram – 1, Luss Estates; 2, Littleport; 3, Arnicle.

Shearling ram – 1, Arnicle; 2, Overburns; 3, Arnicle.

Tup lamb – 1 and 2, Arnicle; 3, Dalmore.

Senior ewe – 1, Pole; 2, R and I Shaw; 3, Drimsynie.

Junior ewe – 1 and 2, R and I Shaw; 3, Lephinchapel.

Gimmer – 1, Pole; 2 and 3, Arnicle.

Ewe lamb – 1 and 2, R and I Shaw; 3, Dyke.

Group – R and I Shaw

Best opposite sex to the champion – Arnicle tup lamb.