Sunshine and showers failed to dampen spirits at Lorn Show where a pure-bred British Blue heifer calf from Alastair and Iain MacInnes, Ruaig, Tiree, was crowned supreme champion.
Their 19-month-old Ruaig Stella is bred from Ruaig Lucy and sired by Almeley Mahrez.
Pure and cross-bred cattle judge Mark Robertson, Fodderletter, Tomintoul was most impressed by the calf: “She was really correct throughout. She had a good head, stood, walked and moved well. It was a great show of cattle overall which were all fantastically turned out.”
Highland cattle judge Archie MacArthur, Kilberry, was also a fan of the heifer: “The beef champion was very good on her legs with meat in all the right places. It is good to have a leg in each corner but she also knew what to do with them.”
Reserve inter-breed beef champion was Iain McKay, Brindlepoint Croft, Appin with the home-bred three-year-old Highland heifer, Bridget 4 of Brindlepoint. She is sired by McSaua of Achnacroish and out of Bridget 5 of Kynder.
Supreme sheep was the Blackface champion, a Crossflatt-bred suckled gimmer from Robert and Iain Shaw Acharonich, Barbreck, bought at Lanark in March for £5800. She is sired by McCoy Lookalike and out of a ewe by Spectre.
Blackface judge David McArthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot, Biggar said: “She has outstanding character. Very well shown and a hardworking ewe.”
Reserve champion was a cross-type Bluefaced Leicester gimmer from Nick Milton, Four Kiel Crofts, Benderloch. She is sired by a R30 Hewgill bred from a MacQueston ewe.
Leading Awards
Blackface (Judge: D MacArthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot). Champion and inter-breed sheep – R and I Shaw, Acharonich, Barbreck, Lochgilphead with a gimmer bought for £5800 at an in-lamb sale at Lanark from Crossflatt. Sired by McCoy Lookalike and out of a ewe by Spectre. Reserve – N and D Shaw, Innisaigh, Ardtern, Lochgilphead with a Dalchirla-bred suckled gimmer on her first outing. Bought at Stirling for £1600 in a pen of six and sired by a Dalchirla-bred son of £160,000 Dalchirla. Confined champion – A and M Buchanan. Achnaba, North Connel with a ewe lamb on its first outing out of an in-lamb Lepinchapel gimmer and sired by a £4500 Upper Wellwood tup. Confined reserve – T Nelson, Glengorm, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, with a gimmer by a son of a £24,000 Connachan and out of a Glenrath-bred ewe. Shown by Ross Shaw and Craig O’Donnell. Young farmers champion – Hollie Cameron, Hillside with a ewe lamb. Three-shear tup open and confined, confined ewe, confined gimmer – T Nelson. Confined two-shear tup – S MacKenzie, Acharacle. Open two-shear tup – J and J MacPherson, Balliemeanoch, Dalmally. Confined and open shearling tup, confined and open tup lamb – R and I MacKay, Millpark, Oban. Open aged ewe, open two-shear ewe, open gimmer – R and I Shaw. Confined two-shear ewe – D Cameron, Inion Farm, North Connel. Confined ewe lamb – A and M Buchanan, Achnaba, North Connel.
Suffolk (Judge: S Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly). Champion and reserve – J Campbell, Achnacreebeag, North Connel with a home-bred two-shear tup. Reserve was a tup lamb. All classes – J Campbell.
Texel (Judge: S Hunter). Champion and reserve – E and L MacGillivray, Home Farm, Barcaldine with a gimmer by Teiglum Dancing Brave out of a home-bred ewe by Milnbank Dancer. Reserve was the shearling tup Knap Glenmorangie bought at Carlisle for 1500gns, sired by New View Electrifying. All classes – E and L MacGillivray.
Beltex (Judge: S Hunter). Champion – E Shaw, Acharonich, Barbreck, Lochgilphead with the home-bred gimmer Josephine, sired by Mortons Frankie out of a ewe by Mortons Bennie. Reserve – J Campbell, Achnacreebeag with a one-crop ewe bought as an in-lamb gimmer from J Cowan at Carlisle. Ewe – J Campbell. Gimmer – E Shaw. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – E Shaw.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: S Hunter). Champion, reserve and reserve inter-breed sheep – N Milton, Four Kiel Crofts, Benderloch with a crossing-type gimmer on its first outing. Sired by R30 Hewgill and out of a MacQueston ewe. Bought at Carlisle as a ewe hogg. Reserve was a tup lamb out of the gimmer that was champion of champions here last year and sired by J2 Lunesdale. All classes – N Milton.
Cheviot (Judge: S Hunter). Champion – I MacKay and C Simonetta, Torloisk, Mull with a four-crop ewe on its first outing. Sired by a St John’s Kirk tup bought for 600gns which has been champion at Dalmally and Lochaber show. Reserve – D Malcolm, Greenfield Duror, with a home-bred two-shear tup. Sired by a Buchtrigh tup and out of a Torloisk ewe. To be sold at the Oban tup sale. Tup, gimmer – D Malcolm. Ewe, tup lamb – I MacKay and C Simonetta. Ewe lamb – A Bevis, Braefoot, Balvicar.
Any other breed (Judge: S Hunter). Champion – A and I MacInnes, Ruaig, Isle of Tiree with the Blue Texel gimmer Ruiag Highlife, sired by Cairnrock Eyecatcher, out of a Millside ewe bought for 1000gns. Reserve – J Love, Drissaig Farm, Lochavich Taynuilt with a Badger Faced Texel tup lamb. Ewe, ewe lamb – J Love. Gimmer – A and I McInnes. Tup lamb – E Smith, Etive Swartles, Goirtean Beag Croft, Brolas, Taynuilt.
Mule (Judge: S Hunter). Champion – A and G MacPherson, Saulmore, Connel with a ewe lamb sired by a Rory Steele tup and out of a seven-crop Castles ewe. Reserve –Balliemore Farm, Kilmichael Glassary, Lochgilphead with a home-bred gimmer. Ewe, gimmer – Balliemore Farm. Ewe lamb – A and G MacPherson.
Cross-bred (Judge: S Hunter). Champion – J Campbell, Achnacreebeag with a Suffolk cross Mule three-crop ewe. Reserve – A MacKellar, Seaview, Benderloch, with a home-bred gimmer. Ewe – J Campbell. Gimmer – A MacKellar. Ewe lamb – P Ferguson, 13 Kiel Crofts, Benderloch.
Young handlers (Judge: P Kennedy, Glendaruel). Primary age, 1=, Ella Bevis, Braefoot, Seil. 1=, Charolotte MacGillivray, Home farm, Barcaldine; 2, Archie Cameron, Hillside, North Connel; 3, Carrie MacKay, Gilli-air, Kilmore; 4, Isla Murdoch, Braefoot, Seil. Secondary age, 1, Calum McKay, Gilli-air, Kilmore; 2, Hollie Cameron, Hillside, North Connel.
Highland cattle (Judge: A MacArthur, Kilberry). Champion and reserve inter-breed beef – I McKay, Brindlepoint Croft, Appin with the three-year-old home-bred heifer, Bridget 4 of Brindlepoint, sired by McSaua of Achnacroish, out of Bridget 5 of Kynder. Reserve – D Buchanan, Shenavallie, Oban with the two-year-old bull Hamish of Cawthorn, sired by Ted of Cawthorn and out of Solas Emma 3 of Blair Logan. Bought at Oban for 1000gns Two-year-old bull – D Buchanan. Cow, calf, calf, group of three – R D Schuster, Glenkinglas. Three-year-old heifer – I McKay. Two-year-old heifer – T Groves, Stonfield Farm,Glenmassan Fold, Dunoon.Yearling heifer – W MacLean, Sguir Mor Fold, Benderloch. Pair – L Nelson, Achnacloich.
Galloway (Judge: M Robertson, Dufftown). Champion and reserve – W MacLean, West Ferlochan, Benloch with an eight-month-old bull calf, by Hamish of Ashfield out of Zara of Ashfield. Reserve was a seven-month-old bull calf, by the AI sire Blackcraig Kodiac, out of Rose of Ashfield. All classes – W MacLean.
Continental (Judge: M Robertson). Champion, inter-breed beef and champion of champions – A and I McInnes, Ruaig, Isle of Tiree with the 19-month British Blue heifer Ruaig Stella. Beef champion at Tiree in 2023 and champion British Blue at Livescot 2023. Sired by the AI bull Almeleny Mahrez out of Ruaig Lucy. Reserve – E MacGillivary, Home Farm, Barcaldine with the Limousin heifer Creran Trudy. Champion of champions at Dalmally in 2023. Sired by Gunnerfleet Nato and out of Breconside Jane. All classes – A and I McInnes.
Cross-bred cattle (Judge: M Robertson). Champion – R and J Lines, Killocraw, Campbeltown with the home-bred Limousin cross heifer The G C, sired by Gunnerfleet Omega and out of the British Blue cross cow Georgie Ezra which was champion of champions at Kintyre show in 2018. Reserve – D Wright, Woodend, Ardgour. Cow – D Wright. Senior heifer – R and J Lines. Bullock/heifer – A and AB Campbell, Achnacreebeag, North Connel
Cross-bred calves (Judge: M Robertson). Champion – D MacDonald, Tyree, Benderloch, Oban with the spring-born British Blue cross Limousin heifer Hey Honey. She is sired by Ruiag Islander and out of a home-bred Limousin cross British Blue cow. First outing and bound for Oban Christmas sale. Reserve – D Wright, Woodend, Ardgour. Bullock born autumn 2023, calf born 2024 – D MacDonald, Tyree, Benderloch. Autumn 2023-born heifer, Limousin cross calf born 2024 – D Wright, Woodend.
Young Handers (Judge: D MacDonald, Tyree, Benderloch). Primary age - Isla Shevlin, Shenavallie, Benderloch . Secondary age - 1, Iona Park, 3 Dalmhore, Strontian. 2, Fraser Lines, Killocraw.
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