Royal Highland Showcase ’21 – Sheep
The Royal Highland Showcase provided a welcome return to the show-ring for breed enthusiasts and the sheep pens boasted fantastic quality stock across the two days of judging.
Day one was the turn of the MV accredited breeds, with inter-breed judge Blair Cockburn given the task of selecting an overall winner from the 10 breed champions. He went for the Charollais winner from the Ingram family of Logie Durno, Pitcaple. Their leader was a one-crop ewe by Loanhead Talisman and out of a Nympton-bred ewe that had been bought at the Wedderburn dispersal.
Reserve overall sheep was the Texel champion from Robbie Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff. A home-bred gimmer from his Milnbank flock, she is by Knock Yardsman and out of a ewe by Strathbogie Yes Sir. She follows in the footsteps of her grand-dam, which was champion at the Royal Highland in 2017 and went on to sell for £20,000.
In the pairs championship, Charollais once again came to the fore, with the Ingrams’ ewe teaming up with their reserve breed champion, Foxhill Vavavoom, to secure the title.
Reserve pair were the Beltex duo – Lurg Fern, a home-bred gimmer from Inverurie-based Alan and Ellie Miller, and Clary Forkout, a shearling ram shown by Jane and Ross Campbell.
The non-accredited breeds took to the stage on day two, with Jim Robertson judging the inter-breed contest between eight breeds. His choice of overall champion was the winner from the crossing type Bluefaced Leicester section, a ewe lamb by G34 Midlock from Andrew and Euan McQuistin’s Barnshangan flock at New Luce. It’s a first overall breed title at the show for the McQuistins, who run 20 ewes in their flock.
Reserve overall went to a three-crop North Country Cheviot ewe from Roderick Runciman and son Lewis, Allanshaws, Kelso. Sired by Allanshaws Triple Twenty, she is one of 600 ewes in the family’s flock.
The Runcimans had more to celebrate, when they secured the top pair accolade with their champion ewe, teaming up with the two-shear ram Allanshaws Amarillo, which was bred by the Runcimans, but shown by George Milne, who had bought him at Lockerbie.
Reserve pair were the traditional Bluefaced Leicesters – a gimmer from Kate and Alan Smith’s Low Arkland flock and a Whinnyhall-bred two-shear ram from Lindsay and Robert Currie, Braegarrie.
Below are pictures of the champion and reserve winners in each section. To view the full selection of photographs taken, head to our Photo Sales.
Beltex
Beltex champion from Alan and Ellie Miller, Midmar – Lurg Fern, a gimmer by Baileybrook Chief
Reserve Beltex, Jane and Ross Campbell’s Clary Forkout, a shearling ram by Smart Ass Dark Horse, bought at Carlisle last year
Alasdair Maclean judged the Beltex section
Border Leicester
Border Leicester champion, Mary Laidlaw, Kennel Mount, Galston, with a two-crop ewe by Kilfin Kipling
Reserve Border Leicester – John Barrowman, Knockglass, Stranraer, with the champion from 2018’s Royal Highland, a four-crop ewe by Eildon Epic
Bleu Du Maine
Bleu du Maine champion was Laine Daff, Greenside, Uplawmoor, with Greenside Trina, a home-bred gimmer that was born a quad, by Maximum Obama
Reserve Bleu du Maine was Kenny O’Connor’s Skye Terminator, a shearling ram by Maximum Obama, which will be for sale at Carlisle in August
Mike Black judged the Bleu du Maines
Blue Texel
Blue Texel champion went to Kevin Watret, Moffat, with Solway View Baby G, a three-crop ewe by a Corra sire
Reserve Blue Texel, Fraser Forsyth, Corra, Castle Douglas, with a home-bred gimmer by a Derg sire
Hamish Currie judged the Blue Texel
Berrichon
Champion Berrichon was Criffel Venus, a home-bred gimmer by a Marshland sire, from Ewan Burgess, Maryfield, New Abbey
Reserve Berrichon, Gynin Taff, a three-shear ram by Statesmans Solomon, from Bryan Evans’s Janos flock
Charollais
Charollais champion and MV-accredited overall champion, a one-crop ewe by Loanhead Talisman, from the Ingrams of Logie Durno
Reserve Charollais, the Ingrams’ Foxhill Vavavoom, a shearling ram bought at Worcester last year
John Andrew judged the Charollais
Hampshire Down
Hampshire Down champion was Lecropt Heather, a three-crop ewe by Lecropt Fraser, from Roy and Jane McFarlane and Lorna Rennie, West Lecropt, Bridge of Allan
Reserve Hampshire Down, Andrew Goldie and Louise Forrest, Lockerbie, with Maesglas Maestro, a two-shear ram by Maesglas Basil
Judith Galbraith judged the Hampshire Downs
Suffolk
Suffolk champion came from Roy Hiddleston, Shawhead, Dumfries, with a home-bred gimmer from the family’s Irongray flock, by Eringal Hard Rock
Reserve Suffolk was the Hiddlestons’ ram lamb, by the 3500gns King Bally Crashball
Mike Black judged the Suffolk section
Texel
Texel champion, Robbie Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff, with a home-bred gimmer by Knock Yardsman
Reserve in the Texels was a home-bred gimmer by Procters Chumba Wumba, from Alan Clark, North Garngour, Lesmahagow
Andrew Johnstone judged the Texels
Zwartbles
Zwartbles champion went to Neil Millar, Woodhouse Mains, Lockerbie, with Joyfield Havanna, a gimmer by Milburn Sam, out of a Cynefin ewe
Reserve Zwartbles, NR and S Henderson, Whitehouse Farm Cottage, Stirling, with Aquila Jitterbug, a ewe lamb by Janetstown Hallmark
Colin Rae judged the Zwartbles
Blackface
Stuart and William Heads, Aitkenhead, Fenwick, won the Blackface championship, with a home-bred gimmer, by a Lurg loan son of £22,000 Dalchirla, out of a ewe by £13,000 Gass
Reserve Blackie was this five-crop ewe from the MacArthurs of Nunnerie, by £20,000 Auldhouseburn, out of a ewe that was first at the Highland in 2015, by £50,000 Pole
James Hamilton judged the Blackfaces
Bluefaced Leicester – Crossing Type
Bluefaced Leicester crossing type champion and overall non-accredited sheep, Andrew and Euan McQuistin’s home-bred ewe lamb by G34 Midlock, out of L21 Barnshangan
Reserve crossing type Blue, Andrew and Euan McQuistin’s ram lamb, by Highberries Golden Boy, out of Highberries M43
Bill Hedley judged the crossing type Blues
Bluefaced Leicester – Traditional Type
Traditional BFL champion – Kate and Alan Smith, Low Arkland, Castle Douglas, with a home-bred gimmer by a Kelso-bought Lowesfell ram, out of a Kirkstead-bred ewe
Reserve in the traditional Blues, Lindsay and Robert Currie, Braegarrie, Girvan, with a two-shear ram that was bought at Hexham for £7000, bred at Whinnyhall
Rodney Blackhall judged the traditional Bluefaced Leicesters
Commercial Sheep
The Mortons of Lochend, Denny, won the commercial section, with a pair of 41kg Beltex lambs, sired by Gyffin Dexter and out of three-quarter Beltex ewes
Reserve commercial sheep, Robert Bryce, Chalmerston, Stirling, with a Suffolk cross gimmer, sired by a home-bred Chalmerston ram and out of a Beltex cross ewe
Bill Hedley judged the commercial sheep
Hebridean
Champion Hebridean came from John and Caroline Mosley, Blyth Bridge, with Brightside Wiay, a 2016-born ram bought at Lanark. He is by Cinderhill Jotun
Reserve Hebridean, Jack and Morna Cuthbert, Kinross, with Ardoch Indiana Jones, a home-bred shearling ram by Sycamore Kknight Errant, out of Ronasvoe Quitaria
Gordon Johnston judged the Hebridean section
North Country Cheviot
North Country Cheviot champion and reserve overall non-accredited, Roderick Runciman and son William, Allanshaws, Galashiels, with a three-crop ewe on her first outing, by Allanshaws Triple Twenty
Reserve NCC, the Runcimans’ gimmer, by a £3000 Sebay ram, out of Allanshaws Sweet Pea
Richie Strawhorn judged the North Country Cheviots
Ryeland
Ryeland champion, Raymond and Beth Aitken, Newton of Fetternear, Inverurie, with a home-bred gimmer by Fetternear Yoffie, out of a bought-in ewe. Reserve in the Ryelands was Annette and David Mitchell, Wellhill, New Cumnock, with Bryn Caffo Zac, a two-shear ram bought at Worcester as a lamb
Susan Bryden judged the Ryelands
Shetland
Shetland champion, Denise, Patrick and Alex Playfair, Kaimknowe, Kelso, with Kaimknowe Sorrel, a four-crop white ewe, by Kaimknowe Gold Plated and out of Galtress Sorrel
Reserve Shetland, David Alcorn, Annavale, Biggar, with Annavale Amelia, a home-bred three-crop ewe, by Rigg Apache, out of Stoneheap Amelie
Bryden Nicholson judged the Shetland section
Goats
The overall goat championship went to Gordon Webster and Gordon Smith, Guildy Den Farm, Monikie, with Guilden Erin, winning her fourth championship at Ingliston. She is by Guilden Blue and out of Toddbrook Elentari. Reserve was Gordon Webster and Gordon Smith’s Guilden Glory 8th, by Guilden Beckham
Boer goat champion was Balmedie Garva from M and M Ross
Interbreed Winners
MV accredited inter-breed judge Blair Cockburn picked out the Logie Durno Charollais ewe as his champion
Champion pair – the Charollais duo from the Ingrams
Reserve inter-breed pair in the accredited section were the Beltex, Lurg Fern and Clary Forkout
Non-accredited inter-breed winners, the Bluefaced Leicester ewe lamb and North Country Cheviot ewe, with judge, Jim Robertson
Champion pair in the non-accredited section, the Cheviots from the Runcimans and George Milne
Reserve pair, the traditional Bluefaced Leicesters, from Low Arkland and Braegarrie
Young Handlers
The accredited young handlers section was won by 14-year-old Finlay Shone, of Cheshire, showing a Bleu du Maine. He is pictured with judge, Carol-Anne Warnock
Reserve place in the accredited Young Handlers went to Gregor Milne (12) of Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, showing a Suffolk from his Uncle Sam’s Grampian flock
Non-Accredited young handlers champion – Joanna Dale (13), showing a Gosland Blackface gimmer. Reserve was Alexander Clark (9), showing a home-bred commercial ewe lamb. They are pictured with judge, Carol-Anne Warnock and Jimmy Warnock, representing sponsors RHET
To view the full selection of photographs taken, head to our Photo Sales.
To view the full selection of photographs taken, head to our Photo Sales.