24 June 2025

Royal Highland Show ’25 – Sheep

From the 28 champion animals in the sheep inter-breed contest it was the commercial team, a three-crop Beltex cross ewe, out of a pure Texel ewe, and her two Beltex cross ewe lambs at foot, from Andrew Baillie and family, Callacrag, Carstairs, which most impressed the judge Kenny Sutherland, of Sibmister and Stainland Farms, in Thurso.

“They really stood out to me; she is a tremendous ewe and has produced two excellent lambs. She’s a hard-working, productive sheep, but also has star quality that catches the eye,” said Mr Sutherland.

Reserve overall was the traditional Bluefaced Leicester champion, a three-crop ewe from Alan McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow, sired by Ashes L1, with the Suffolk champion, a gimmer from Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly, taking second reserve.

The McClymomts had more to celebrate in the inter-breed pairs, when judge Jimmy Thomson, of Hownam Grange, Kelso, selected their traditional Bluefaced Leicester duo as best overall. Their champion ewe teamed up with their male champion, a two-shear ram, bought at Kelso last year from Madrissa and shared with Lisa Fleming, Falnash.

Taking reserve position were the Charollais pair, both from the Ingram family’s Logie Durno flock at Inverurie, a home-bred gimmer by Foxhill Va Va Voom, and the male champion, Cavick Cracker, a shearling ram that had been bought at Worcester. The Shetland pair, a ewe and a ram both from Kate Sharp, finished in third position.

Below are pictures of the breed champions – to view the full selection of images taken, or to purchase any, head to our Photo Sales gallery.

Overall sheep champions, the commercial team from the Baillie family, Callacrag, Carstairs, a three-crop Beltex cross ewe by Wannops Firecracker and out of a pure Texel ewe, and her two ewe lambs at foot, by Callacrag Khrist

Reserve overall sheep, the Traditional Bluefaced Leicester from Alan McClymont and family, Kirkstead, Yarrow, a three-crop ewe by Ashes L1, out of a ewe by the £6800 D17 Shrewbridge

Second reserve in the sheep was the Suffolk winner from Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly, a gimmer by the 30,000gns Rempstone Gambler, out of a home-bred ewe by Muirton One Direction

North Country Cheviot champion from DN Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, Thurso, a home-bred gimmer on her first show outing, by Soutra Cannonball, out of a home-bred ewe

Blackface champion, from W Ramsay and Sons, Milnmark, Dalry, a home-bred one-crop ewe that also won last year, as a gimmer. She is by a £30,000 Elmscleugh sire and out of a ewe by £11,000 Milnmark

Charollais champion from the Ingram family, Logie Durno, Inverurie, a gimmer on her first show outing, by Foxhill Va Va Voom, out of a home-bred ewe that also bred last year’s first prize ewe lamb

Blue Texel champion from David and Clare Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk, winning their first ever championship at Ingliston, with a gimmer that had been bought at the Northern Supreme sale at Carlisle from Ty Gwyn, by Matts Hitman

Ryeland champion from Annette and David Mitchell, Wellhill, New Cumnock, was Wellhill Elizabeth, a home-bred gimmer by Bryncaffo Celt

Border Leicester champion from Sandy and Alex Watson, Intock, a three-crop ewe by Didcot Diamond, out of a ewe by Eildon Eager

Jacob champion from Adam Christie, Midtown of Glass, Huntly, was Adamski Quantum, a ram lamb by the home-bred sire, Adamski Leonardo

Cheviot champion, James Common and Son, Crossdykes, Lockerbie, with a three-crop ewe on her first outing, by Becks Revolution, out of a home-bred ewe

Lleyn champion, Farmstock Genetics, Over Whitlaw, Selkirk, with Whitlaw Nicki Minaj, a home-bred gimmer, by a Norman Lawrence sire, on its first show outing

Dutch Spotted champion from Robbie Jackson, Rigghead, Dumfries, was Rigghead Hottie, a home-bred gimmer by Dutchman, out of the Triple Crown winner, Barquhill Faith

Bleu Du Maine champion from Neil Millar, Joyfield, Dumfries, Joyfield Abeauty, a ewe lamb by the male champion, Joyfield Zipitydoodah, out of the past Royal Welsh and Great Yorkshire winner, Aviemore Ruby

North Country Cheviot Hill champion, Andrew Campbell, Mill House, Thurso, with a gimmer by an East Lodge bred ram, out of a home-bred ewe

Zwartbles champion, Ally Baird, Greystone, Doune, with Greystone Lady Gaga, a one-crop ewe by Greystone Hero

Bluefaced Leicester Crossing type champion from Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, a home-bred gimmer by S36 Midlock, a £6000 Hawes purchase, shared with the Speyside flock. The dam is by P5 Blairnavaid

Swaledale champion from S and P Brogden, Helbeck, Kirkby Stephen, a shearling ram by a Roachburn sire that was bought two years ago at Kirkby Stephen. He is out of a home-bred ewe

Hampshire Down champion, John Grossick, Rockhall, Dumfries, with Rockhall Ellie, a ewe lamb by Rockhall Boaby

Hebridean champion, Larry Cowper, Newbridge, Threlkeld, winning on his first year exhibiting at the Highland, with the two-shear ram, Newbridge Jet, by Skipwith Viking

Texel champion from Robbie Wilson, Milnbank, Turriff, a home-bred gimmer by the 30,000gns Clanfield Golden, out of a ewe by Sportsmans Cannonball, shown by Fletcher Renwick

North of England Mule champion, Martyn Archer, Carry House, with a ewe lamb by the £25,000 Midlock Magic, which is shared with The Steel. She is out of a ewe bred at Wanwoodhill

British Rouge champion, Neil Millar, Joyfield, Dumfries, with a Grassknop-bred gimmer that was bought at Carlisle, by Bennachie Avatar

Valais Blacknose champion, Tom and Joan Blackwood, Stewarton, with the three-year-old ram, Ayrshire Kessler, by Prendwick Invictus, out of the imported ewe, Biosphere Allesia

Kerry Hill champion, Sophie McCarlie, Shotts, winning her first championship with a home-bred gimmer by a Lowlands sire

Shetland champion, Kate Sharp, Humbie, East Lothian, winning her eighth breed championship at the show with Ewingston Rose, a two-crop ewe by Island Geordie, out of a home-bred ewe

Scotch Mule champion, Jamie Pirie, Blairnavaid, Drymen, with a gimmer bred at Shitlington and bought in a pen of 25 ewe lambs. She is sired by M25 Cottage