Coming after a week of shorts and T-shirts weather, Saturday’s return to grey skies and raw winds might have dented the profits of ice-cream sellers at Stirling Agricultural Society’s annual show but it didn’t detract from the quality of the stock forward in the judging rings.
In the interbreed titles, top sheep of the day came from the particularly strongly contested Texel lines with the top award going to Gordon Gray’s, Ettrick flock from Sunnycroft, Selkirk for the second year in a row.
This year it was a powerful home-bred gimmer, by Sportsman’s Unimog and out of a home-bred ewe by a Glenside tup, which lifted the top award.
On her first outing of the year, she is likely to form part of the team heading to the Highland later this week.
Overall reserve in the sheep lines went to Stirling show Suffolk stalwart, Robert Bryce of Chalmerston, Stirling, who had also lifted the same title in 2014.
His top-placed animal this year was a home-bred gimmer by Cairnorrie Olympic Bolt and out of a home-bred ewe which had also lifted the breed title at Gargunnock the previous week.
In the cattle lines, the Dick family, from Mains of Throsk, Stirling, lifted the interbreed award this year with a Limousin heifer.
The prize-winner, Ronick Jingo, was an April 2014 heifer by Rathconville Eugene and out of Ronick Bingo.
Reserve in the overall beef title went to the Simmental champion from Richard McCulloch, Overhillhouse, Armadale.
His two-year-old heifer, Woodhall Erica which was by Raceview Allstar and out of Woodhall Apricot 9th was on its first outing this year and will go on to the Royal Highland.
farming@thecourier.co.uk RESULTS
BEEF CATTLE ABERDEEN ANGUS Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir, Guthrie, with Mosston Muir Mr Angus, a four-year-old bull by Hoff First Edition and out of Coldstream Miss Annie, champion at Angus. Reserve: Tom Rennie with Mosston Muir Inga, a heifer by Mosston Muir Innes and out of Mosston Muir Inga.
CHAROLAIS Gerorge Russell, Lesley Park, Denny, with Lesley Park Jasper, a 15-month-old bull by Mandella Dillon and out of Balmaud Emma. Reserve: Tom and Sheila Gatherer, Barnsford, Inchinnan, with Barnsford Jonquil a 14-month-old heifer by Dingle Hoffmeister and out of Alwyn Broom, on its first showing.
LIMOUSIN Ronald Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling, with Ronick Jingo, a 14-month-old heifer by Rathconville Eugene and out of Ronick Bingo. Reserve: Ian Nimmo, Bogside Farm, Wishaw, with Maraiscote Jackal, an 11-month-old bull by Virginia Andy and out of Maraiscote Essex.
SHORTHORN Douglas McMillan, Moneydie Roger, Luncarty, with Coldrochie Hat Trick, a 15-month-old bull by Chapelton Winsome and out of Coldrochie Augusta Blossom. Reserve: CM Williamson, Alvie Farm, Kincraig, with Alvie Lovely Gael, a two-year-old in-calf heifer by Glenisla Zinzan and out of Croxston Park Lovely Oregano.
BRITISH BLUES Stephanie Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling, with Tamhorn Ebony, a six-year-old cow by Ballygrange Alex and out of Gregmour Brandy. Reserve: Richard Nelson, Cuttlehill, Crossgates with Welton Huney, a 31-month-old heifer by Bringlee Blackstar and out of Weltons Fun.
SIMMENTAL Richard McCulloch, Overhillhouse, Armadale, with Woodhall Erica, a two-year-old in-calf heifer by Raceview Allstar and out of Woodhall Apricot. 9th on its first showing. Reserve: Richard McCulloch with Ranfurly Weikle 6th, a five-year-old cow by Raceview King and out of Ranfurly Weikle 2nd.
HEREFORD JRB Wilson, Cowbog, Kelso, with Romany-1-Plum A84, a seven-and-a half-year-old cow with October-born calf at foot, by Baybridge-1-Atlas and out of Romany-1-Plum 41H. Reserve: Harvey Cattle, 100 Buchanan St, Balfron, with Harveybros-1-Lachie, a 13-month-old bull by Venture Nighttime and out of Harveybros-1-Crocus.
HIGHLAND CATTLE Donald and Bryon McNaughton, Centre Street, Kelty, with Conachair of Lagg, a two-year-old heifer by Angus of Linton and out of Conachair of Lagg. Reserve: Glasgow City Council, Pollock Country Park, Glasgow, with Alma 6 of Pollock, a three-year-old heifer by Uallach Dubh 5th of Pollock and out of Lady Alma 6th of Lagg.
CROSS CATTLE Lindsay McKay and Stewart Bett, Castleton, Plean, with Moonstone, an 18-month-old British Blue cross Limousin by Valdes. Reserve: Gillian Scott, Gateside, Linlithgow, with a bullock by a Haltcliffe bull and out of a Limousin cow on its first showing.
SHEEP SECTION BLACKFACE Archie McGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, with a one crop ewe by a £60,000 Dalchirla tup and out of a £17,000 Netherwood sired dam. Reserve: Duncan McGregor, Burnhead, Queenzieburn, with a ewe hogg by a £26,000 Crossflat and out of a home-bred ewe.
BLUEFACED LEICESTER Jamie Pirie, Blairnavaid, Stirling, with a ewe lamb by an £11,000 Firth. Reserve: D and L Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Blair Drummond, with a gimmer by Dalpeddar Buzby and out of a home-bred ewe.
SUFFOLK Rober Bryce, Chalmerston, Stirling, with a home-bred gimmer by Cairnorrie Olympic Bolt and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve: John Millar and Ashley Mitchell, Gargunnock, with a gimmer by Middlemuir Messi and out of a Middlemuir ewe by Forkins Figo.
TEXEL Gordon Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk, with a home-bred gimmer by Sportsman’s Unimog and out of a ewe by a Glenside tup on its first showing. Reserve: K, A and R Campbell, Drimsynie, Lochgoilhead, with a two-crop ewe by Cambwell Socrates and out of an Ettrick Jackpot ewe on its first showing.
ANY OTHER CONTINENTAL BREED Robert Paterson, Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane, with a Parkgate-bred Charollais gimmer by a Carnew sire on its first outing. Reserve: R Paterson with a home-bred onecrop Charollais ewe by a Southfield tup and out of a homebred ewe.
SHETLAND Joan Brunton, Fieldview, Haddington, with Fieldview Pierot, a two-year-old grey tup by Fieldview Lucas and out of Fieldview Columbine. Reserve: Joan Brunton with Tabatha, a white gimmer by Fieldview Barney and out of Fieldview Twinkle.
ANY OTHER BREED I and M Davidson, Balnacree, Westbonton Road, Avonbridge, with a two-crop North Country Cheviot by Allanshaws Majestic, bred by Willie Thomson and bought at Lockerbie. Reserve: M Burks and J Pettigrew, Eastbank Farm, Lenzie, with a Border Leicester gimmer by Kilkeddan Dandy Boy, bred by Duncan Whyte.
SCOTCH MULE D Gray, Drumnessie, Glenhead, Banton, with a home-bred gimmer by a Minty tup and out of a Glenfernie ewe. Reserve: Andrew Campbell, Drimsynie, Lochgoilhead, with a gimmer by Mariforth Batman.
HAMPSHIRE DOWNS Jane and Roy McFarlane, West Lecropt, Bridge of Allan, with Thorbeck Chieftain, a two-shear tup by a Podhole tup and out of a Thorbeck ewe on its first showing. Reserve: R Brand and Son, East Fortune Farm, North Berwick, with a gimmer by East Fortune Angus and out of a home-bred ewe on its first outing this year.
BELTEX Andrew Morton, Lochend, Denny, with a gimmer by Whitehill Too Hot to Handle and out of Dooley Roselee on its first outing. Reserve: A Morton with a tup lamb by Damian and out of Dooley Roselee.
ZWARTBLES G Smith, Barmurrie, Balmaclellan, Castle Douglas, with Barmurrie Barbara, a home-bred gimmer by a Broomhillbank tup and out of East Middle Whisper. Reserve: Kaleem Shaikh, Hamilton Road, Uddingston, Glasgow, with Brotherton Crawter, a tup lamb by Wolfclyde Nimbus and out of Pen-llyn.
CLYDESDALE HORSE John Adamson, Easter Glentore, Upperton, with Bencannon Emerald, a five-year-old mare by Bogton Flying Scot and out of Collessie Venus. Reserve: Iain Johnston, Kirkton, Bothkennar, Falkirk, with Roughlands Jubilee Princess, a two-year-old filly by Dillars Scottie Boy and out of Barlauchlan Jubilee Princess.