Central and West Fife Agricultural Society has enjoyed four dry shows in a row since moving its site to Hilton of Beath at Kelty.
Saturday’s event would have been the fifth had it not been for a heavy and persistent belt of rain which swept across the showground from 3pm onwards.
It was certainly wet enough to spoil the afternoon’s entertainment but at least the morning had stayed bright and breezy, allowing livestock judging to be carried out in perfect conditions.
It turned out to be a great day for the Laird family from Lochhead Farm at Coaltown of Wemyss.
Donald and Billy and Donald’s son Liam have for many years supported their local show with their British Blonde cattle and have had previous successes.
This year, however, they were to go right to the top with their four-year-old cow Whitefield Freya taking not onlythe interbreed beef championship but also the show’s champion of champions award.
Interbreed judge James Cullens, Dollar, said she was “a big stretchy modern cow”.
Freya, which was shown on Saturday with a heifer calf at foot, is by Whistley Dollar and out of Whitefield Susie and was bred by Eric Mutch at Forglen in Aberdeenshire.
“We bought her before the judging at the Highland Show last year where she went on to be reserve champion,” said Billy.
The Lairds have 20 pedigree Blondes and 120 commercial cows.
Mr Cullens placed the British Blue champion, from Ian McGarva, Abington, in reserve place.
Craig Malone and Katreen Millar took reserve slot for an exhibit from withinthe show area with their commercial heifer.
The well-supported dairy section saw the champion of champions from Fife Show two weeks ago taking the honours. Brian Weatherup, Parkend, Crossgates, once again had the second-calver Parkend Jackie Robin looking her best in a competitive field.
Arthur Lawrie and sons James and David, from Cuthill Towers, Milnathort, stood reserve in the dairy section with the Ayrshire junior cow Cuthill Towers Ristourn Bella.
Overall sheep judge Liz Lang, Pitscottie selected a Suffolk two crop ewe from Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston, Glenrothes as her champion. This Rhaeadr Operator daughter was also interbreed at Fife.
The reserve sheep was a two crop Suffolk ewe from John Messenger, Ayton, Abernethy . This one had earlier led the cross breeding sheep section and was home bred out of a home bred ewe. It was her first show outing.
RESULTS
BEEF CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus
Donald Rankin, Kilmalaug House, Skye, with two-year-old in-calf heifer Cardona Yvonne, by Netherallan Peter Pershore. Bought for 10,000 gns at the Cardona reduction sale. Going to Three Counties, Great Yorkshire and Royal Highland.
Reserve: Richard and Carol Rettie, Aberdona Mains, Alloa, with 14-month-old heifer Retties Annie, by Fell Lane Ploughman. Full sister has sold to Blackford Farms.
Any other native breed
Andrew Mylius, St Fort, Newport, with 20-month-old home-bred Lincoln Red bull
St Fort Rock Star, by Wragby Minstrel and out of St Fort Helibore. Champion at Fife and going to Great Yorkshire.
Reserve: Willie and Pauline Wason, Balbuthie Cottage, Leven, with 19-month-old heifer Baldinnie 1 Fly 18th, by Dorepoll 1 Einstiene and out of Baldinnie 1 Fly 5th.
Highland
Donald MacNaughton, Greens Road, Kinross, with four-year- old cow Hayley 5th of Earn, by Brogach of Auchtenny and out of Hayley 4th of Earn. Champion at West Fife last year and first at East of Scotland Club Show.
Reserve: Donald MacNaughton with two-year-old heifer Malda of Drumlossit. First show outing.
Continental and
British Blonde
Lyle Laird & Sons, Lochhead, Coaltown of Wemyss, Kirkcaldy, with the beef interbreed and show champion of champions Whitefield Freya.
Reserve: J and H Campbell, 42 Mannerston Holdings, Linlithgow, with a four-month-old British Blonde heifer calf by Forthview Frankel and out of Brownhill Tina. First outing.
Limousin
John Thomson, Hilton of Beath, Kelty, with five-year-old cow Beath Fantastic, by Goldies Crackerjack and out of Normande Richia. Shown with heifer calf at foot by Marlepark Edward.
Reserve: John Thomson with home-bred two-year-old bull Beath Hercules, by Marlepark Edward and out of show cow Sarkley Carmen. Male champion at Fife last year and breed champion at Fife this year.
British Blue
Ian McGarva, Nether Abington, Abington, Biggar, with 27-month-old heifer Abington Harriet, by Aprilton Arnie and out of Abington Carla.
Reserve: David McKerrow, Nochnary, Freuchie, with six-year-old cow Nochnary Ebony, by Quadruple and out of Solwayview Black Beauty. Being flushed for embryos.
Simmental
James and Angela Mill, Shawsmill, Cardenden, with 15-month-old home-bred bull Shawsmill Elvis, by Shawsmill Archie and out of Shawsmill Wednesday. Reserve champion last year at West Fife as a calf.
Reserve: James Mackay Wightman, Coxhill, Maddiston, Falkirk, with 10-month-old heifer calf Coxhill Emerald, by Curaheen Tyson and out of Coxhill Yasmin.
Commercial cattle
Craig Malone and Katreen Millar, Pitcairn, Cardenden, with Mischievious, an 18-month-old Charolais cross heifer by Glenrock Eiger and out of a Limousin cross cow. Bred by Hugh Dunlop, first at Smithfield and second at Winter Fair.
Reserve: Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, Crieff, with an un-named 19-month-old Limousin-sired heifer out of a Limousin cross Aberdeen-Angus cow. Champion at Fife.
DAIRY CATTLE
Holstein
Brain Weatherup, Parkend, Crossgates, with Parkend Jackie Robin, by Weeton Jackson out of Parkend Jerusalem Robin. Eight weeks into her second lactation and is yielding 60 litres per day. Rated VG86 in her first lactation. Champion of champions at Fife.
Reserve: J and I Wilson, Carskerdo, Cupar, with the cow Inch Burns Lilac, by Dudoc Mr Burns and out of Inch Showman Lilac. Rated EX91 in her fourth lactation and giving 50 litres after calving in February. Bought privately in Ireland
Any other dairy breed
Arthur Lawrie, Cuthill Towers, Milnathort, with the reserve dairy interbreed, the 30-month-old Ayrshire cow Cuthill Towers Ristourn Bella by Ristourn. Calved in April and giving 40 litres. First show outing.
Reserve: Arthur Lawrie with the second calver Cuthill Towers Knight Miranda by Cuthill Towers White Knight. Calved in April and giving 50 litres.
SHEEP
Blackface
Stuart McDougal, Mill House, Blairadam, with a home-bred shearling ram by a £2,200 Pole and out of a home-bred ewe by a £1,200 Merkins. Second at Perth and reserve overall at Kinross last year. To be sold at Stirling in October.
Reserve: Stuart McDougal with a suckled gimmer by a £1,400 Auldhouseburn and out of a ewe by a £1,200 Merkins. First outing.
Bluefaced Leicester
Alan McIntyre, Pitlochie, Gateside, with a ewe lamb by a Townhead sire bought at Castle Douglas in partnership with Jimmy Glasgow, out of a Hewgill-bred ewe.
Reserve: Mrs Mary MacNiven, Craigfarg, Glenfarg, with a home-bred four-crop ewe by a Carriehouse sire and out of a home-bred ewe. Champion at West Fife as a suckled gimmer.
Suffolk
Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston, Glenrothes, with a home-bred two-crop ewe by Rhaeadr Operator and out of a ewe by Meikleson Magna. Interbreed at Fife and reserve at Fife as a ewe lamb.
Reserve: Peter Black, Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, with a ram lamb by Birness Bollinger and out of a home-bred ewe. First at Fife.
Texel
David McKerrow, Nochnary, Freuchie, with a home-bred gimmer by Knock Firefly and out of a ewe by Millars Ronaldo. First show outing.
Reserve: David McKerrow with a shearling ram by Etterick You Are A Winner by Knock Topaz. Bought at Lanark with Rodney Blackhall. First at Fife.
Zwartbles
Cameron Cormack,11, Sickle Heaton, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, with a gimmer bought in Carlisle last August from Mr Gammage. Going to Royal Highland.
Reserve: Nicola Henderson, Whitehouse Farm Cottage, Stirling, with Cynefin Willow, a one-crop ewe by Cynefin Tudor and out of a Braides ewe.
Shetland
Alan Hill and Kate Sharp, Eweingston, Humbie, with Island Whiteness Lady, a one-crop ewe by Island Morrison. Bought as a lamb from Geordie Morrison, Shetland. First outing.
Reserve: Rena Douglas, Cedar Cottage, Craigrothie, with the coloured shearling ram Drum Kilbo, by Northdown Copy and out of Brae Hypocrates. First outing.
Cross or half-bred
John Messenger, Ayton Farm, Abernethy, with a home-bred two-crop Suffolk cross ewe on its first show outing.
Reserve: John Messenger with a Texel cross half-bred gimmer by a Cambwell sire.
Any other breed
Mark and Gillian Smith, Barmurrie, Castle Douglas, with a home-bred March-born Beltex tup lamb by a Corra sire and out of a Drumrash ewe.
Reserve: Alan Grant, Innergellie House, Kilrenny, with a North Country Cheviot gimmer by Achalone Adonis and out of a home-bred ewe by a Shoestanes sire. Second at Westmoreland.
Commercial lambs
John Messenger with a pen of three March-born Beltex cross prime lambs by a Cuiltburn sire and out of Texel cross ewes.
Reserve: James Orr, Foodie, Cupar, with a March-born Texel
cross ewe lamb by a home-bred sire.
Goats
Fiona Fairley and Alan Baisden, Avonvale Cottage, Avonbridge, Falkirk, with British second-kidder Ladeside Lady Rula by Ladeside Carrick and out of Ladeside Lady Romilly. Second at Ayr and giving seven litres per day.
Reserve: Fiona Fairley and Alan Baisden with Anglo Nubian first-kidder Ballingall Krystal, by Ballingall Kofi and out of Wayward Magic. Reserve at Highland Club Show at Forfar and giving five litres per day.