The sun shone on Colmonell Show, as exhibitors and spectators alike enjoyed a strong show of livestock.
John Gilmour, Humeston, has the task of picking the champion of champions and he found his winner from the beef section, in Shona McKinnel of Garrarie’s bullock, Denzil.
Born in March last year, he was also champion at Dumfries, having been bought from Newton of Logierait back in February.
Reserve overall was the Border Leicester leader from David and Ian Walker, Laigh Alticane. Their shearling tup, West Forth Braveheart, is by Kinninmonth Galileo and out a ewe by Mearns Majesty.
In the group overall championship, it was the Blackface team brought out by David Fergusson, Dranandow, that reigned supreme, with a trio of Texels from the Grants of High Croach taking the reserve.
Leading Awards
Dairy (Judge: J Henderson, Craftfood). Champion – A and E Parker, Mekland with Merkland Bill Gem, a cow sired by Cogent Bill. She is giving 49 litres. Reserve – R McColm, High Boreland with Topside Doral O Kalibra, a red and white Holstein that was purchased as a calf. The heifer was parade in calf to Rimrok. Heifer (under one) – J Howie, Wellhouse. Heifer, in-calf heifer – R McColm. Cow, group – A and E Parker.
Beef (Judge: C Wight, Carwood). Champion and overall champion of champions – Mrs S McKinnel, Garrarie with Denzil, a bullock bought at Thainstone in February from Newton of Logierait. March 2023-born, he was reserve at Stranraer, and champion at Dumfries Show. Reserve – Mrs R Patterson, Low Three Mark with the Limousin cross heifer, My Girl, a 17-month-old bred by John and Craig Robertson and bought at the Thainstone Spectacular. Champion at Stewartry. Female (cross) – R Patterson. Male (cross) – S McKinnel. Cow – D Cook, Glendoune.
Blackface (Judge: E Blackwood, Castlehill). Champion – JW Kay and Co, Gass, Straiton, with a home-bred ewe hogg by a £48,000 Midlock. Champion of champions at Straiton in June. Reserve – Drannandow, Minnigaff, Newton Stewart with a £15,000 Dyke tup that was bought at Lanark as a shearling. He is shared with Drumbreddan and stood first at Carsphairn, Stranraer and Straiton and reserve at Wigtown. Tup, ewe, group, shepherd’s – Drannandow Farms. Shearling – Chirmorrie Farms. Tup lamb, pair of tup lambs, ewe lamb – W Stevenson, Balrazzie. Gimmer, pair of ewe lambs – JW Kay and Co.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: I Minto, Townhead). Champion – W Barrowman, Mid-Knockglass. Reserve – DL and S Currie, Pinclanty with a tup. Tup – DL and S Currie. Tup lamb, ewe, ewe lamb, group, bred – W Barrowman. Gimmer – G Allan, Highfield Place.
Border Leicester (Judge: W Semple, Dungiven). Champion, reserve and reserve overall champion of champions – D and I Walker, Laigh Alticane. Champion and reserve champion of champions was the shearling ram, West Forth Braveheart, sired by Kininmonth Galileo and out a ewe by Mearns Majesty. He was bought at Lanark last year. Reserve was a gimmer by Elsricklemains Eyecatcher, out of a ewe by Drennans Double Deal. Tup, ewe, gimmer, group – D and I Walker. Ewe lamb – T Nelson, High Kilphin.
Mule (Judge: I Minto, Townhead). Champion – G McMorland, High Craighead with a ewe lamb by a Flemminghill, Kilmarnock sire, out of a Glenkiln mother. First show. Reserve – J Guild, Laight with a gimmer that won Ayr, New Cumnock and Dalrymple, and was reserve at Fenwick. She was purchased privately from the Walkers of The Tower. Ewe, gimmer, group of three from different classes – J Guild. Lamb – G McMorland. Pen of three lambs – W Barrowman, Mid-Knockglass.
Texel (Judge: F Wight, Carwood). Champion and reserve – AA and O Grant, High Croach. Champion was a ewe lamb that was champion and inter-breed sheep at Stranraer. Sired by Rhaeadr Entrepreneur, she is out of Fachell Dodgy Dave sired-ewe. Reserve was her stable-mate, a tup lamb that is the same way bred, and won his class at Stranraer. Male – J Wilson, Barneil. Tup lamb, ewe lamb, group – AA and O Grant. Ewe – A Clark, Fineview. Gimmer – B and R Westby, Craigenquarroch.
Suffolk (Judge: F Wight). Champion – Glengyre Livestock with a four-crop-ewe by Broomknowes Beachyboys, out of a home-bred ewe. Champion here in 2023, and at Straiton earlier this year. Reserve – J Lamb, Ingleston with a two-shear tup bred that was bred by Jim Logan, Romavale. Sired by a Sandyknowe ram. First show. Male – J Lamb. Tup lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – Glengyre Livestock.
Any other breed sheep (native) (Judge: W Semple). Champion – D and I Walker, Laigh Alticane with the Cheviot tup, Newbank Cookie, a three-shear bought at Lockerbie last year. He is by Hethpool X Factor. Reserve – Mrs G McFarlane, Dalmac Kerryhills, Daldowie with the Kerry Hill ewe lamb, Elegant Lady. She is by a Riggshield tup, out of a home-bred ewe. Tup, gimmer, group – D and I Walker. Tup lamb – E and G Faulds, Pinclanty. Ewe, ewe lamb – G McFarlane.
Any other breed sheep (continental) (Judge: F Wight). Champion – I and R McKnight, Cooriedoon, Glenluce with a Smart Arse Darkhorse-sired Beltex ewe. She is out of Clary Bethany. Reserve – R and J Andrew, Rowanston, Maybole with a Charollais gimmer out of a Tymaen Poundstretcher dam, sired by Foxhill Wyhan. She was continental champion at Straiton. Tup –D Brown, Balignorrie. Tup lamb, ewe, group – I and R McKnight. Gimmer –R and J Andrew. Ewe lamb – L McKie, Drochduil.
Prime lambs (Judge: I Kennedy, Carslaw). Champion – J McFarlane, Daldowie with a pen of three Texel-sired lambs. Reserve – I and C Campbell, Netherton. Pen of three (native sire) – I and C Campbell. Pen of three (Texel sire) – J McFarlane. Pen of three (continental sire) – J Guild, Laight. Single cross-bred lamb – Messrs Dalrymple, Kingsarms.
Commercial breeding sheep (Judge: I Kennedy). Pair of native-sired gimmers – C Cook, Glendoune. Pair of continental-sired gimmers – Bargany Farms.
Young handlers (Judge: I Minto). Cattle and horses – Under 12yrs – 1, T Parker. Under 15yrs – 1, C McKinnel; 2, J Howie.
Sheep – Under 12yrs –1, A Westby; 2, G Hurcomb; 3, E Clark. Under 15yrs – 1, A Clark; 2, P Fergusson; 3, A McKie.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here