Despite intermittent showers, exhibitors and spectators flocked to the Inverlochy Castle showground where a Blackface gimmer was crowned champion of champions.
Overall judge, Andy Smith had to select a supreme from the inter-breed cattle, sheep and horse winners, and said: “That’s as good a Blackie gimmer, I’ve seen in some time. Lochaber may not be a very big show but that animal could easily be shown at the Royal Highland. She made my job as overall judge very easy.”
Shown by Fulton and Lyndsay Ronald, Fidden Farm, Isle of Mull, she is sired by a £4000 Drumbreddan ram and also secured supreme champion at Bunessan Show.
The previously unshown Aberdeen Angus bull calf, Kilmallie Kolisi from Ewen Campbell, took the inter-breed cattle honours. This five-month-old home-bred calf is sired by Morpheus Kodiak.
Leading the horse section was the champion Highland pony, Finches Mockingbird from Allison Blackburn, Fort William. Sired by Finches Principal Boy, this seven-year-old mare has already had quite a show season taking the overall horse title at Oban and District Riding Club show, the breed championship at Black Isle and reserve at Grantown in both ridden sections.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
Leading Awards
Highland ponies (Judge: Jean Connell, Achnacarry). Champion – Alison Blackburn, Fort William with Finches Mockingbird, a seven-year-old mare by Finches Principal Boy that has already taken the overall horse at Oban and District Riding Club show. Champion ridden at Black Isle, reserve ridden at Grantown, fourth at the Royal Highland, and second at Blair Horse Trials. Reserve – D Baywater, Corrour Estate, Lochaber with Joss of Craignetherty, a 12-year gelding sired by Piper of Craignetherty, out of Chapelhill Kate on his show debut. Harness – D Baywater. Senior – Alison Blackburn. Ridden – Claire McLeod.
Highland cattle (Judge: S McKay, Dalmally). Champion and reserve inter-breed cattle – I MacKay, Brindlepoint Croft, Appin with the three-year-old home-bred in-calf heifer Bridget 4 of Brindlepoint. Sired by McSaua of Achnacroish and out of Bridget 5 of Kynder, she was championship at Bute and Lorn Shows. Reserve – Tordarroch Estates, Farr, Inverness with the three-year-old heifer Phiobaidh 142 of Balmoral, sired by Lachlan of Earn and out of Phiobaidh 106 of Balmoral. She was bought from HRH The King’s fold earlier this year, and was reserve at Nairn, and first at the North of Scotland Club show, and Sutherland. Yearling heifer, calf– Tordarroch Estates. Two-year-old heifer – Glen Isla. Three-year-old heifer – I MacKay.
Pedigree cattle (Judge: I Park, Strontian). Champion and inter-breed cattle – E Campbell, Kilmallie Aberdeen Angus, Camaghael with Kilmallie Kolisi, a five-month-old Aberdeen Angus bull calf by Morpheus Kodiak on his first outing. Reserve – Audrey MacDonald, Portnadoran, Arsaig with Shorthorn heifer Portnadoran Tallulah, a 13-month-old daughter of Balnabroich Natasha sired by Portnadoran Nevis. Reserve at Black Isle, first at Grantown and sixth at the Royal Highland. Bull – M and C Cameron, Fort William. Heifer – Audrey MacDonald. Calf – E Campbell.
Cross cattle (Judge: I Park). Champion – R and D Wright, Woodend Croft, Ardgour with Cyberbully, a 17-month Charolais cross heifer by Forsie Jagger, out of a Shorthorn British Blue cross cow. She was bought at the Young Farmers Overwintering sale at Dingwall and was champion at Sunart and Salen, and second at Lorn and Appin. Reserve – R and D Wright with Limousin cross heifer that was supreme here last year. She was bought from John and Craig Robertson of Newton Logierait and is sired by Glenrock Inferno. Breeding cow, bullock, cow with calf, bullock calf, heifer calf – R and D Wright. Pair of calves – E Campbell.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
Blackface (Judge: K Hunter, Nairn). Champion and overall champion of champions – F and L Ronald, Fidden Farm, Isle of Mull with a home-bred gimmer by a £4000 Drumbreddan tup. Supreme at Bunessan. Reserve – T Nelson and R Shaw, Glengorm with a home-bred gimmer. Confined champion at Lorn, she is sired by a son of a £24,000 Connachan. Aged tup, ewe – T Nelson and R Shaw. Shearling, tup lamb, gimmer, group – F and L Ronald. Aged tup (confined), shearling bred by exhibitor, group (confined) – S Mackenzie, Acharacle. Ewe lamb – Rhoda Munro, Isle of Mull. Pair of prime lambs – F Berardelli, Fort William. Shearling (confined), gimmer (confined), ewe lamb (confined) – R MacDougall and H Cameron, Fort William. Tup lamb (confined) – J MacKenzie, Tobermory. Ewe (confined) – N and S MacPhail, Isle of Mull.
North Country Cheviot (Judge: D Smith, Blairgowrie). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – D MacLean, 12 Sconscr Croft, Isle of Skye with a three-shear Keppoch-bred tup bought at Dingwall in 2023. Reserve – J MacLeod, Alt Nan Suibh with a Graham McCraig-bred ewe lamb. Shearling, aged tup, tup lamb, ewe – D MacLean. Shearling (confined), tup lamb (confined), ewe lamb (confined) – Jahama Highland Estates, Spean Bridge. Aged tup (confined) – D Malcolm. Ewe (confined) – Ann MacDonald. Gimmer – C and F Frame, Hawthornbank, Douglas. Gimmer (confined) – Isla MacKechnie, Oban. Ewe lamb – J MacLeod.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Sales section here
Any other pure-bred sheep (Judge: D Smith). Champion – F and L Ronald with a Texel gimmer that was champion here last year. She is the daughter of an Achnaba-bred ewe and sired by a £13,000 Elmscleugh ram. Reserve – C and F Frame, Hawthornbank, Douglas with a three-crop Blue Texel ewe, backed by home-bred genetics on both sides. Tup, gimmer, ewe lamb – F and L Ronald. Tup (confined), ewe (confined), gimmer (confined), ewe lamb (confined) – Chloe Cameron, Corpach. Tup lamb – Messrs Cameron and Miller, Banavie, Fort William. Ewe – C and F Frame.
Cross sheep (Judge: S Mckay). Champion – Messrs Cameron and Miller, Banavie, Fort William with a home-bred Suffolk Texel cross ewe that stood first here last year. Reserve – C and F Frame with a ewe lamb sired by a Black Beltex cross Blue Texel ram and out of a pure Texel ewe. Second at Peebles. Ewe, ewe with single lamb, ewe lamb (confined) – Messrs Cameron and Miller. Gimmer, ewe lamb – C and F Frame. Gimmer (confined) – D Malcolm. Pair of prime lambs – Catherine Urquhart, Inverness. Pair of prime lambs (confined), groomed lamb exhibited by under 16yr-old – H Fitzsimons, Roy Bridge.
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