It was the South Country Cheviot champion from David Douglas and family’s Catslackburn flock, Yarrow, which took the supreme sheep championship at Border Union Show, Kelso, as the event returned to the calendar for the first time since 2019.
Tasked with judging the impressive championship line-up this year was Blair Cockburn, Biggar, who found his champion in the Douglas’ home-bred two-crop ewe, Catslackburn Sophie.
By Mainside Yarrow and out of a home-bred ewe, it also stood female and reserve overall in the breed judging at this year’s Royal Highland, with the win coming after the family previously took the title in 2013 and at the last show 2019 with their Lairg type Cheviot champion.
Reserve inter-breed
The reserve inter-breed sheep sash went to a home-bred Blue Texel gimmer from David Gray’s Ettrick flock, Selkirk.
By Pistyll Dynamite and out of one the flock’s foundation ewes, its full sisters have sold to 3,000gns twice, with a full brother selling to 2000gns.
Judge Mr Cockburn described his champion as eye-catching in a fantastic line-up of sheep, adding that his reserve was an excellent example of the breed with fantastic conformation.
National shows
The show also hosted the Zwartbles Scottish National Show, with the champion ticket going to a ewe from Ally Baird, Dunblane, and Hebridean National Show, which was won by a shearling ram from David Brathwaite, Newcastleton.
Beef inter-breed
Taking the inter-breed beef championship for the team at Gordon Brooke Estate, Earlston, was their home-bred 15-month old heifer, Gordon Black Cherry.
By Rawburn Luthor T495, which has bred bulls to 25,000gns, and out of Linton Gilbertines Black Cherry S048, the heifer was later crowned champion of champions at the show and will be among 40 2021-born heifers from the herd forward for sale at the Stirling October sale later this year.
Reserve beef
The reserve inter-breed ticket went to the Limousin champion, Derriaghy Oscar, from Redpath Farms, Kelso.
Bought out of Carlisle two years ago, September 2018-born Oscar, by Mereside Godolphin, has previously been shown at the Royal Highland Show where he stood second to the breed champion in his class this year.
He will head to Duns show next.
AA
Lim
Sheep results
Inter-breed (B. Cockburn, Biggar) Sup., W. N. Douglas (Cheviot); res., D. Gray (Blue Texel)
Beltex (G. Maxwell, Kelso) Sup., N. Harvey; res., J. Green
Lleyn (N. McGowan, Blairgowrie) Sup. and res., T. and I. Walling
Suffolk (J. Mauchlen, Kelso) Sup. and res., M. Walton
Texel (R. Laird, Lanarkshire) Sup., F. Bell; res., D. Gray
Zwartbles (L. Campbell, Co. Antrim) Sup., A. Baird; res., C. Rae
Any other breed MV (G. Sinclair, Heriot) Sup., D. Gray (Blue Texel); res., A. and J. Guthrie
Blackface (J. Kay, Lauder) Sup., S. McClymont; res., Burncastle Farming
Bluefaced Leicester (H. McNee, Dundee) Sup., J. Herdman; A. Ainslie
Cheviot (M. Cockburn, Biggar) Sup., W. N. Douglas; res., A.J. Warden
Hebridean (D. Cassie, Lutterworth) Sup., D. Braithwaite; res., L.J. Cowper
Jacob (R. Price, Powys) Sup., E. MacMillan; res., M. Munro
Kerry Hill (D. Steen, Moffat) Sup., K. McIntosh; res., R. Innes
Lairg Type Cheviot (W. Elliot, Wooler) Sup. and res., R. Rennie
North Country Cheviot (A. Pate, Midlothian) Sup., R. Runciman; res., W. and J. Thomson
Scotch Half Bred (N Hamilton, Roxburgshire) Sup. and res., G.D. Pate
Shetland (A. Hill, Newark) Sup. and res., P.M.L. Playfair
Non MV Suffolk (C. Pate, Galashiels) Sup., H. Brown; res., G.S. Shaw and Co.
Non MV Texel (S. Sandilands, Lauder) Sup., R. Rennie; res., J. and P. Anderson
Non MV any other breed (G. Sinclair) Sup., I. Clark (Texel cross); res., A. and P. Glennie
Prime lambs (G. Sinclair) Sup. and res., R. Rennie
Beef results
Inter-breed (R. McNee, Dundee) Sup., Gordon Brooke Estate, Gordan Black Cherry X638 (Aberdeen Angus); res., Redpath Farms, Derriaghy Oscar (Limousin)
Aberdeen Angus (T. Arnott, Kelso) Sup. and fem., Gordon Brooke Estate, Gordan Black Cherry X638; res. and male, A. Hodge, Rulesmains Pegasus X489; res. fem., A. Hodge, Rulesmains Elegant X527; res male, Gordon Brooke Eatate, Gordon Ellanin X639
Limousin (R. Neill, Jedburgh) Sup., Redpath Farms, Derriaghy Oscar; res., Redpath Farms, Redpaths Sugar; res. male, G.P. Hamilton; Ramrig Sinatra
Any other native (R. Bell, Kelso) Sup., E. Hodge, Coley 1 Liley (Hereford)
