Cross heifer Cinnamon takes supreme title at Colmonell Show

Jim Hodge judged the beef section at Colmonell (Image: ROB HAINING)

He had no hesitation in tapping out the commercial cattle champion as his choice of supreme. This was Cinnamon, a 13-month-old home-bred Limousin cross British Blue heifer from Drew Hyslop and Katrina Mailer, Gowlands, Barhill. Sired by Trueman Idol, this previously unshown heifer stood in front of the reserve overall, the any other continental sheep champion, Rowanston Dancing Queen, a home-bred Charollais gimmer from John Andrew, Rowanston, Maybole. She is sired by Logie Durno Ultimatum.

AOB Continental champion from R and J Andrew (Image: Rob Haining)

LEADING awards

Dairy cattle (Judge: M Walker, Barwinnock, Whauphill). Champion – R Buchanan, Laigh Kilphin, Ballantrae, with the Holstein second-calver, Tintoview Marvel Queen. Classified VG88, she is sired by OCD Marvel and out of Tintoview Emilio Queen. Calved in November, she is giving 30 litres per day at 4.3%BF and 3.6%P. Reserve from the same home was the Jersey third-calver, Tintoview Levine Blondie. Classified Ex92, she is by Verjatin Levine and out of the Ex92-classified dam, Tintoview May Blondie. Calved in May, she is giving 36 litres at 5.8%BF and 3.6%P. Reserve at Stranraer Show 2026 and the South West Scotland Dairy Show 2025. Junior heifer – H Howie, Wellhouse, Kirkcolm. Senior heifer, heifer in milk, Holstein Friesian cow, AOB cow, group – R Buchanan.

Dairy champion from Robert Buchanan (Image: Rob Haining)

Beef cattle (Judge: J Hodge, Dykes, Auchinleck). Champion and supreme overall – D Hyslop and Katrina Mailer, Gowlands, with the home-bred 13-month-old Limousin cross British Blue heifer, Cinnamon. She is by Trueman Idol and out of a British Blue-cross heifer. First outing. Reserve – S Vance, Bridgehouse, Newton Stewart, with a home-bred 11-month-old British Blue cross Limousin, Bits And Pieces. He is a son of Harelaw Sparky. Champion calf and junior champion at Stranraer. Female (cross) – D Hyslop. Male (cross), calf (cross), group – S Vance. Junior male (pure) – B Landers, Bargaly. Junior female (pure) – R and J Milroy, Cairnwhin. Cow with calf – D Cook, Glendoune.

The young handler looks like he’s got the judging under control — the heifer, however, remains unconvinced (Image: ROB HAINING)

Cattle and horses young handlers (Judge J Cowan, Brickrow, Ayr). Junior – 1, Scott McKinley; 2, Euan Bell. Senior – 1, Stuart McKinnel; 2, Sam Vance; 3, Jack Howie.

Blackface (Judge: J Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk). Champion – J Mitchell, Little Larg, with a home-bred four-crop ewe. Sired by a Dalchirla son of a £24,000 Connachan. Reserve at Stranraer Show 2025. Reserve – D Ferguson, Drannandow, Newton Stewart, with a home-bred shearling, that was champion at Wigtown. He is by a Peroni-bred sire and out of an Aberuchill-sired dam. Aged tup, tup – D Ferguson. Tup lamb – Balrazzie. Ewe, ewe lamb, group, bred, pair tup lambs – Little Larg. Gimmer, shepherds class, pair ewe lambs – Craig. Fleece – Clanary.

John Murray has some tough decisions in the Black-faced sheep section at Colmonell show (Image: ROB HAINING)

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: J Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Stirling). Champion – A McQuistin, Barshangan, New Luce, with a gimmer sired by the P56 Dawyck. Champion at Stranraer and Wigtown Shows 2026. Reserve – W Barrowman, Mid Knockglass, Stranraer, with a home-bred gimmer. By a Happrew sire and out of a Marriforth-bred ewe. Tup, ewe, ewe lamb, group – W Barrowman. Tup lamb, gimmer – A McQuistin.

Border Leicester (Judge: A Watson, Mitchelston, Galashiels). Champion – D and I Walker, Laigh Alticane, Pinwherry, with a home-bred gimmer. She is by Drennans Del Boy and out of a Drennans Double Deal ewe. Reserve – W and T Nelson, High Kilphin, Ballantrae, with a ewe lamb, sired by Ditton Duke. First outing. Ewe, ewe lamb, group – W and T Nelson. Gimmer, bred – D and I Walker.

The Allan Family's Mule champion (Image: Rob Haining)

Mule (Judge: J Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Stirling). Champion – Diane Allan, Highfield Place, Ochiltree, with a gimmer purchased privately from M Walker, Tower. She is by a Cairn Smiddy tup. Champion and reserve overall sheep at Dalrymple, and reserve at Stranraer. Reserve – A McQuistin, with a home-bred ewe lamb. Reserve at Wigtown. Gimmer – Diane Allan. Lamb – A McQuinstin. Pen of three lambs – W Barrowman.

William Heads took on the judging of the Cheviot section at Colmonell (Image: Rob Haining)

Texel (Judge: Mrs M Gibb, Rusham, West Calder). Champion – M Grant, High Croach, Cairnryan, with the home-bred gimmer, Aurlas Ice Queen. She is by Rhaeadr First Choice and out of a Fachell Dodgy Dace ewe. Champion at Stranraer and reserve at Ayr. Reserve from the same home was a February-born tup lamb by Bradleys Indoraptor. His dam was the champion of champions here last year. First outing, he is destined for sale at Carlisle in September. Tup – J Wilson, Barneil, Girvan. Tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – M Grant. Ewe – A Clark, Fineview.

Suffolk (Judge: Mrs M Gibb). Champion – S Tait, Cullinaw, Castle Douglas, with a December-born tup lamb by Strathbogie Showman and out of a Cairnton ewe. Reserve – Rhianna Bodle (18), High Borland, Craigie, with a January-born ewe lamb. First outing. Tup – A Clark, Glengyra. Tup lamb – S Tait. Ewe, gimmer, group – P Wilson, Spoutwells. Ewe lamb – Rhianna Bodle.

Cheviot champion from the Walkers (Image: Rob Haining)

Cheviot (Judge: W Heads, Greendale Cottage, Galston). Champion – D and I Walker, with a home-bred three-crop ewe. She is by Attonburn All Night Baby and out of a Hownam Grange-sired dam. Reserve – A Marshall, Eastlands, Crocketford, with an April-born tup lamb. He is by £1000 Hislop Gunner and out of a Skelfhill ewe by Becks Tank. Tup, gimmer – Collielaw. Tup lamb – A Marshall. Ewe, group – D and I Walker. Ewe lamb – F McMillan, Shallochpark.

AOB native sheep (Judge: A Watson). Champion – E and G Faulds, Minuntion, Pinmore, with a home-bred Hampshire Down gimmer. Reserve – Glenda McFarlane, Daldowie, Pinmore, with an April-born Kerry Hill ewe lamb. She is by Hassockrigg Everest and out of Dalmac Beauty. Tup, ewe lamb – Glenda McFarlane. Tup lamb, ewe, gimmer, group – E and G Faulds.

AOB Native champion from E and G Faulds (Image: Rob Haining)

AOB continental sheep (Judge: Mrs M Gibb). Champion and reserve overall – R and J Andrew, Rowanston, with the gimmer Rowanston Dancing Queen. Sired by Logie Dunro Ultimatum and out of a Cairn View Warlord sired ewe. Reserve – A McKie (16), Droughduil, Dunragit, with a home-bred two-crop Dutch Spotted ewe, Sandybank Gloria. Sired by Lochlad Florencio and out of an import ewe. Tup – A Clark, Glengyra. Tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – R and J Andrew. Ewe – A McKie.

A sheepdog keeps a close eye on proceedings as the sheep take centre stage in the show ring (Image: ROB HAINING)

Prime lambs (Judge: S Anderson, Old Walls, Galston). Champion – A Young, Daljedburgh, with a pen of three continental sired lambs. Reserve - D Cook, Glendoune, with a pen of three Texel sired. Pen of three (native sire) – F McMillan, Shallochpark. Pen of three (Texel sire) – D Cook. Pen of three (continental sire) – A Young. Pen of three (Greyface/Mule) – M Logan, Pinminnoch. Single cross-bred lamb – A and J McFarlane.

The look of panic says it all as this young handler tries to keep hold of his Blackface tup after it decides to make a move! (Image: ROB HAINING)

Commercial breeding sheep (Judge: S Anderson). Pair native-sired gimmers – A Sturgo. Pair continental-sired gimmers – G McMorland.

Sheep young handlers (Judge: J Cowan). Junior – 1, Seth Mitchell; 2, Otto Cross; 3, Aurla Grant. Senior – Logan Baillie; 2, Max Robinson; 3, Alender Clarke.