Royal Highland Show ’23 – Sheep Champions
Another vintage turnout of sheep at the Royal Highland, saw 28 breeds put on a great show.
Dalchirla’s Iain Hunter had the difficult job of selecting the inter-breed champion on the Saturday, choosing the Cheviot winner as best overall. This three-crop ewe came from Upper Hindhope and was picked out as part of the flock’s show team by Gavin Douglas, just two days before he sadly passed away. Shepherd Callum Caskie, assisted by his wife Ema, did a great job of bringing out and showing the ewe to perfection.
The Charollais champion, Loaningfoot Abracadabra, a gimmer from Ben Radley, finished reserve overall. This is the second year in a row that Ben has secured the breed title, with his winner last year going onto take the overall sheep award. Second reserve went to the Blue Texel, a gimmer from Northern Ireland’s Sam Allen and Allen Short.
The inter-breed pairs contest, judged by Keith Brooke, was won by the Charollais duo – Ben Radley’s gimmer and a three-shear-ram from the Ingram family. Stepping into reserve, were the traditional Bluefaced Leicesters, a two-shear ram from Sir Strang-Steel, Philiphaugh, and a three-crop ewe from Hazel Brown, Leadburnlea.
Below are pictures of the breed champions, followed by a few of the generals. To see the full selection of images taken, or to purchase any – head to our Photo Sales.
Overall sheep champion, the Cheviot – WJ Douglas and Son, Upper Hindhope, Jedburgh, with a home-bred three-crop ewe by Stirkfield Willie Wastle
Reserve overall sheep – the Charollais from Ben Radley, Dumfries. Loaningfoot Abracadabra, a gimmer by Foxhill Vavavoom
Second reserve – the Blue Texel from Sam Allen and Allen Short, Co Tyrone. A gimmer by Sunnybank Exchange
Ryeland champion – a home-bred gimmer from Tom Wright, Tenbury Wells, sired by Juggis Asteroid
North Country Cheviot Park type – a four-crop ewe from Willie Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso, by Synton Vespa
Suffolk champion, a gimmer from Finn Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Inverurie, sired by Howgill Footsniper
Blackface champion – a home-bred ewe by £30,000 McCurdy, from Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth
Border Leicester champion – a two-crop ewe from Sandy and Alex Watson, Mitchelston, Stow, sired by Didcot Diamond
Commercial sheep champion – John Messenger, Ayton Farm, Abernethy, with a home-bred Beltex cross gimmer, by a Cultburn sire and out of a Texel cross ewe
Lleyn champion – Colin Crawford, Teuchitfauld, Maud, Peterhead, with a home-bred gimmer on her first outing, sired by a tup bred by Ian Walling
Hill Cheviot champion – David Douglas, Whitehope, Yarrow, with a home-bred shearling ram by Whitehope Batman
Bleu du Maine champion – Sally Shone, Sheriton, Cheshire, with Maximum Treacle, a two-crop home-bred ewe by a Perdi sire
Jacob champion – Mairi Connor and Scott Dalrymple, Dun-mor, Linlithgow, with Luruha Randan, a shearling ram bought at Skipton last year
Dutch Spotted – Robbie Jackson, Rigghead, Dumfries, with a gimmer bred by M and R McCornick, Barquhill, by Westbroad Diego
Berrichon champion – Francess Barbour, Newark, Sanquhar, with a home-bred gimmer
Swaledale champion – JE and DJ Hutchinson, Hebblethwaite Hall, Sedbergh, with a two-crop ewe in wool, by a Shepherds Lodge sire
Traditional Bluefaced Leicester – Sir Strang-Steel, Philiphaugh, Selkirk, with P3 Towdypotts, a two-shear ram by an Ashes sire
Hampshire Down – Eilidh and Innes MacKinnon, Walterstead, Ladykirk, with a ewe lamb by Thornfalcon Odyssey
Texel champion – Procters Farm, Lancashire, with Hexel Four Square, a shearling ram bought last year for 32,000gns, sired by Rhaeadr Entrepreneur
North of England Mule – Philip and Denise Elliot, Musgoisdale, Penrith, with a one-crop ewe that also won her section last year, this time shown with her March-born Texel cross lambs at foot
Hebridean champion – Jack and Morna Cuthbert, Ardoch House, Fossoway, with Ardoch Jangle, a one-crop ewe by Ardoch Excaliber
Crossing Bluefaced Leicester – Alan Shennan, Farden, Girvan, with a home-bred ewe lamb sired by P1 Coulter Muir
Rouge champion – Ian Teasdale, High Farm, North Yorkshire, with a two-shear ram, bought privately from S and J Kerr and sired by Glenkeen Viper
Shetland champion – Kate Sharp, Ewingston, East Lothian, with a gimmer by last year’s champion, Ewingston Jack Frost
Scotch Mule – Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, with a home-bred ewe lamb by a Firth-bred tup, shown by John’s wife, Bryony
Valais Blacknose – Ricky McLean, Hardens View, Duns, with Hardens Jasmin, a home-bred gimmer by Beatties Harrison, a tup used on loan
Zwartbles champion – the Henderson family, Whitehouse, Stirling, with Aquila Jitterbug, a home-bred one-crop ewe by Janetstown Hallmark
Beltex champion – Liam Swinnerton, Lipley, with a ram lamb by Ardstewart Fred Flinstone
Overall sheep young handler, Finlay Barclay
Reserve sheep young handler, Bruce Guild
Best junior young handler, Neil Barclay, with judge, Hannah Jackson
Inter-breed sheep presentation
Inter-breed pair presentation
To see the full selection of images taken, or to purchase any – head to our Photo Sales.
To see the full selection of images taken, or to purchase any – head to our Photo Sales.