Saturday’s Stars of the Future show at Stirling Agricultural Centre turned out to be a first-class day for Limousin breeders Ian and Wendy Callion from Bolfornought near Stirling.
By the end of the day they had secured not only the senior Continental championship but also the top accolade in the junior Continental championship for their Lodge herd.
This is believed to be the first time anyone has managed ‘the double’ in the five years that Stars of the Future has been run.
As a multi-breed showcase for young pedigree stock, the event has steadily gained in popularity and has a tried-and-tested formula of awarding senior championships for 2013-born calves and junior championships for 2014 calves.
Continental and Native breeds have separate championships in each age group.
There were 409 entries catalogued on Saturday
The Callions’ triumph in winning both championships in the Continental section came after they had won their way through strong competition in the Limousin section. Their September 2013-born heifer Lodge Indie collected the senior award, with the March 2014-born heifer calf Lodge Jalise taking junior honours.
Indie is an AI daughter of well-proven sire Loosebeare Fantastic and out of Lodge Evita. On her only show outing this summer she collected a first-prize ticket at Perth.
Indie was also selected as the best heifer born in 2013 in the Scottish Limousin club competition.
Lodge Jalise is an AI daughter of Ronick Gains and was breed champion at Doune and Dunblane in July.
To keep up with her herdmate she was selected as Scottish Limousin Club best heifer born in 2014. Her dam Balise is an import from France and is by Jacot.
Interbreed judge Brian Will, 1 Meikle Coull Cottages, Tannadice, said: “I thought the overall standard of the show was the best yet.
“The cattle were very well presented. I was looking for correctness, style and presence that ‘look at me’ factor.
“I know there was no overall show champion but, if there had been, it would have been between the junior Limousin and the Shorthorn senior champion.”
This was the Native senior champion from the Gordon Brooke Trust, Upper Huntlywood, Earlston.
On its first show outing, the August 2013 born Lintonpriory Millicent 5th is by Stonehill Pearls Perfection and out of the late Gordon Brooke’s successful show cow Holmeere Millicent 4th
The Native junior champion was the April 2014 Aberdeen-Angus calf Tonley Jose Ebanks-Blake from father and son Neil and Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford.
This emerging star has already been bull calf champion at the Expo at Carlisle. He is by Blelack Evor, originally sold at Stirling for 18,000gns and then bought by the Watties at The Wall dispersal.
*Reserve interbreed champions were as follow.
Continental senior reserve: October 2013-born Charolais bull Elgin Isaac from the Milne family, Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, Elgin. Unbeaten all summer he is by the 12,000gns Caylers Gladiator and out of Elgin Electra, a full sister of the noted sire Elgin Davinci.
Continental junior reserve: the April 2014 born Charolais heifer Inverlochy Julianne from John and Raymond Irvine, Inverlochy, Tomintoul, on her first outing. She is one of the first crop by the 10,000gns Blelack Giggsey and out of Redheughs Fanfare.
Native senior reserve: February 2013 born Highland heifer Frangag Dubh of Cladich from Ian and Mary Adams, 24 Beech Tree Rd, Banchory. Bought in Oban in October for 2,400gns as a foundation heifer for the seven-strong Brathens fold, she is by Seonaidh Mor of Ardura and out of Frangag Donn 10th of Torloisk.
Native junior reserve: March 2014 Shorthorn heifer Alvie Melba Hermione from Cathryn Williamson, Alvie, Kincraig. This one is by Chapelton Duke and out of Alvie Melba Cleopatra.
* Breed champions were as follow.
HIGHLAND
Judge: Iain Mackay,Torloisk, Mull.
Senior: Ian and Mary Adams with Frangag Dubh of Cladich. Reserve: M Middleton, Barna, Mid Mains of Balfour, Fettercairn, with the bull Archig of Barna.
Junior: Dexter Logan, Greenhead, Alva, with the heifer Solas Emma 1st of Blairlogan. Reserve: A Prentice, Ravenstruther, Lanark, with the heifer June 15th of Hyndford.
Aberdeen-Angus
Judge Iain Campbell, Kedzlie Farmhouse, Galashiels.
Senior: William McLaren, Netherton, Blackford, with the bull Netherton Kelso. Reserve: A Parke, Artigarven, Starbane, Co Tyrone, with the heifer Coolermoney Rochell.
Junior: Neil Wattie with Tonley Jose Ebanks-Blake. Reserve: Hamish Sclater, Denhead, Turriff with the bull Deveron Frost.
Charolais
Judge: Alasdair Houston, Gretna House, Gretna Green.
Senior: Roy Milne with Elgin Isaac. Reserve: Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Co Londonderry, with the heifer Coolnaslee Ivette.
Junior: John and Raymond Irvine with Inverlochy Julianne. Reserve: Ian Millar, Lochend, Port of Menteith, with the bull Lochend Jura.
Limousin
Judge: Chris Penney, Llandyssil, Montgomery.
Senior: Ian and Wendy Callion with Lodge Indie. Reserve: Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor, Penrith, with the bull Whinfellpark Impressive.
Junior: Ian and Wendy Callion with Lodge Jalise. Reserve: M and F Burns, Glenside, Maybole, with the heifer Shaws Josie.
Shorthorn
Judge: Mrs Sally Horrell, Pode Hole, Peterborough.
Senior: Gordon Brooke Trust with Lintonpriory Millicent 5th. Reserve: R McAllister, Langalbuinoch, Isle of Bute, with the heifer Langalbuinoch Gladys.
Junior: Cathryn Williamson with Alvie Melba Hermione. Reserve: Cathryn Williamson with the bull Alvie Hedwig.
Simmental
Judge: Hector MacAskill, Woodhall, Dunbar.
Senior: Jim Goldie, Newbiemains, Annan, with the heifer Newbiemains Elegance. Reserve: W MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, Inverness, with the heifer Blackford Echo.
Junior: Jim Goldie with the heifer Newbiemains Fancy Pants. Reserve: W Patterson, Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith, with the heifer Drumpark Rosebud.
Hereford
Judge: William McMordie, Ballygown, Newtonards.
Senior: John and Margaret Cameron, Balbuthie, Leven, with the heifer Baldinnie 1 Kay 28th. Reserve: J Cant & Partners, Easter Knox, Arbirlot, with the bull Panmure 1 Leo.
Junior: JRB Wilson, Cowbog, Kelso, with the heifer Romany 1 Lucy. Reserve: J Cant & Partners with the heifer Panmure 1 Plum.
British Blonde
Judge Ian Neish, Craigeassie Cottage, Forfar.
No senior classes.
Junior: A Walker, Armour Vet Centre, Mauchline, with the heifer Glennifer Jazmine. Reserve: J Frame, Little Galla, Biggar, with the bull Gala Jackpot.
British Blue
Judge: Keith Belfield, Buxton, Derbyshire.
Senior: Sam Robinson, Crossgar, Co Down, with the heifer Rahoon Holly. Reserve: R & M Paterson, Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane, with the heifer Auchenlay IO.
Junior: D Spours,Twizell, Belford, with the bull Brownridge Blues Jackpot. Reserve: A & C Comrie, Stonebyres Mains, Lanark, with the heifer Stonebyres Jessie.