A few showers and a sodden show field failed to dampen spirits at the 125th Mid Argyll show, staged near Lochgilphead, where some vehicles had to be towed onto the field following eight days of rain on the run up to the event.
However, exhibitors and spectators still enjoyed a busy day, including new entertainment from the Eriskay Lilt Ceilidh band, and for the first time, showgoers were invited into the main ring to join Mid Argyll’s longest Strip the Willow.
Overall champion of champions was the sheep inter-breed winner, a two-crop Texel ewe from Sheena Woodrow and family, Isle of Islay. The female by Claybury Dunkirk had already stood champion in her section at Islay, and last year was reserve female at the Royal Highland, and champion of champions at Kintyre.
The reserve overall and supreme confined was a Connemara gelding from Fiona Shaw, Lochgilphead. The four-year-old Ruadh Ramsay was on his first outing.
Reserve confined was a one-crop Blackface ewe from Robert Shaw, Barbrecle, Lochhgilphead. By Peeler, out of a £2400 Pole ewe, she was champion at Kintyre.
Duncan Semple, Dippen, Campbeltown, was again in the overall lineup, this time with Hazel’s Honey, a March-born Limousin cross heifer calf by Norman Realdeal. She was champion of champions on her show debut at Kintyre the previous week.
Another spring-born Limousin cross calf from Sandy Ritchie, Barbreck, stood champion in the confined commercial cattle section and was part of the confined supreme championship lineup.
Leading Awards
Highland cattle (Judge: R Thomson, Newtonmore). Champion – TM Nelson, Achnacloch, with the three-year-old in-calf heifer, Dosan Og 95 of Achnacloich by Exception of Ballymore. Rreserve at Appin last year and second at Lorn this year. Reserve – E McKay, Appin with the yearling heifer Uiseag 2 of Brindle Point, sired by MacSaul of Achnacronish. First outing. Three-year-old heifer – TM Nelson. Yearling heifer – E McKay.
Any pure breed of cattle suitable for breeding (Judge: J McKechnie, Gartocharn). Champion – D Semple with the five-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Hazel’s Honey by Norman Realdeal. Champion of champions at Kintyre. Reserve – R and J Lines, Killacraw with the 13-month-old Limousin cross heifer The GC by Gunnerfleet Omega. Reserve at Lorn and Dalmally.
Commercial cattle – Champion prime, reserve open, champion confined commercial, naturally shown champion bullock, one-year-old and over, a cow with own calf at foot, bull any age, a cow in the calf or in milk, heifer calf suitable for breeding, bullock calf – S Ritchie, Barbreck. Reserve naturally shown, cow in calf or milk, heifer calf – D Anderson, Barnakliell. Best home-bred animal, heifer calf sired by any pure breed, heifer calf born after 1st February 2024, best crossbred animal for breeding – D Semple. Team of three breeding animals – L Morris, Dunlossit. Bullock calf native sire - I Malcolm. Bullock calf sired by any other purebred – J J & C McCallum. Open champion, open reserve champion, yeld heifer – N & D Henderson. Heifer, yeld heifer suitable for breeding – F & D Lyon.
Blackface sheep (confined) (Judge: D Willison, Fintry). Champion and reserve – R and I Shaw with the supreme being a one-crop ewe by Peeler, out of a £2400 Pole mother. Reserve was tup lamb by a son of £160,000 Dyke out of a £125,000 Nunnerie-sired dam. First outing. Shearling ram – Messrs MacLean. Group champion, bred female, ram lamb, ewe, suckled gimmer, gimmer, ewe lamb – R and I Shaw.
Blackface sheep (open) (Judge: D Willison). Champion – R and I Shaw with a one-crop ewe by McCoy Lookalike out of a Spectre ewe, which won Cowal and Lorn shows. Reserve and best opposite sex to the champion – D and E McArthur, Dalmore, Campbeltown, with a tup lamb by a £13,000 Elmscleugh out of a home-bred ewe that was confined champion and reserve open champion at Kintyre. Aged ram – J and J MacPherson. Shearling ram – R andI McKay. Group championship, senior ewe, suckled gimmer, ewe lamb – R and I Shaw. Ewe with lambs, fleece – D Shaw.
Suffolk (open) (Judge: R Close, Langbank). Champion – N and J McDonald, Howgillfoot, Islay, with a Finn Christie-bred ewe bought in Carlisle. Champion and reserve inter-breed at Islay. Reserve – J Rowntree with a Fireball tup lamb. Ram, ewe, ewe lamb – N and J McDonald. Ram lamb – J Rowntree. Gimmer – E MacKay and K McKellar.
Texel (confined) (Judge: R Close). Champion – D Anderson, Barnaliss with a two-crop ewe bought as a gimmer at the Logie Durno sale and on her first outing. Reserve – G McLean, Lochgilphead with a ewe lamb by a Cowal ram on his first outing. Aged ram, ewe – D Anderson. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – G McLean.
Texel (open) (Judge: R Close). Champion – S Woodrow and family, Newmains, Islay with a two-crop ewe by Claybury Dunkirk that was champion at Islay two days previous and reserve female at the Highland show and champion of champions at Kintyre last year. Reserve – J Pirie, Campbeltown, with an ET Plasucha-bred gimmer bought at Rob Bennett’s dispersal in 2022. Breed champion and reserve inter-breed at Kintyre. Aged ram, gimmer, ewe lamb – J Pirie. Ram lamb, ewe – S Woodrow.
Bluefaced Leicester (open) (Judge: A MacKellar, Benderloch). Champion – J and M Turner with a ewe lamb by a Belgrave sire whose mother was of Toddypots breeding. First at the Highland show. Reserve – J Pirie, Campbeltown with a two-crop ewe out of a Marriforth dam and on her first outing. Aged ram – E and C Wragg. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – J and M Turner. Ewe – J Pirie. Gimmer – N Milton.
Any other pure breed continental (open) (Judge: F McIntyre, Kinloch Rannoch). Champion – D Currie, Bellevue, Isle of Arran with a home-bred Beltex tup lamb out of Faughill-bred female. Champion at Arran and first at Kintyre. Reserve – S Woodrow and Family with a Beltex gimmer on her first outing. Aged ram – F and D Lyon. Ram lamb, ewe – D Currie. Gimmer, ewe lamb – S Woodrow.
Any other pure breed native (open) (Judge: F McIntyre). Champion – E Bevis with a North Country Cheviot ewe lamb by a Hethpool sire and out a home-bred ewe. Reserve – S Herraty with a Dorset gimmer by Ranachan Enigma. Aged ram – A Bevis. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer – S Herraty. Ewe lamb – E Bevis.
Cross-bred sheep (open) (Judge: A MacKellar, Benderloch). Champion and reserve – M and C Ralston with a Mule ewe lamb and two-crop ewe, respectively. Ewe in milk, ewe lamb – M and C Ralston. Three ewe lambs out of Blackface ewes – J and M Turner. Gimmer – T McNeish
Prime lambs. Champion – S Herraty. Reserve – Balliemore Farm. Single prime lamb – Balliemore Farm. Three prime lambs off any other Sire than a Texel – S Herraty.
Young handlers – 11yrs and under – 1, T McNeish; 2, I Murdoch; 3, A Shaw; 4, E Bevis. 12-18yrs – 1 and champion – A Currie; 2, J Rountree; 3, L Ralston; 4, E Wragg; 5, J MacPhee; 6, M Charlton.
Clydesdales (Judge: A Craig, Coylton). Champion – L Bastow, Campbeltown, with yearling gelding Corran Farm Charlie, a home-bred son of Eskechraggan Ernest that was first at Kintyre. Reserve – M Mayberry, Campbeltown, with the 16-year-old mare Mountcairn Winnie shown with her five-week-old foal Jimmie at foot. Brood mare, foal, colt or filly – M Mayberry. Filly, colt or gelding under three years, yeld mare or gelding – L Bastow.
Shetland ponies – Champion – Niamh Campbell, Achnamara with Dryfesdale Echo, sired by Browntop Triumph. Reserve – Laura Nelson, Ardrishaig with Tweedside Toonto, a 15-year-old gelding by Tawna Sherbert on his first outing this year.
Highland ponies – Champion – Jenny Livinston, with Erray Cypress, a six-year-old gelding by Nashend Buzzard that was second at the breed show. Reserve – J Tidster with Merlin of Ballygowan by Ritchie Dene.
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