The guys and gals up Killin way are made of hardy stuff.
Their attitude to a cold and wet show morning on Saturday was simply to ignore the weather and get on with it.
The fancy dress and vintage tractor parade through the village led by the Comrie Pipe Band is a traditional way of opening the Killin Show. By the time the participants had reached the Breadalbane Park every one of them, including a well-costumed Wild West team, was truly ‘drookit’ but the enthusiasm remained.
At least their perseverance was partly rewarded later in the day when the drizzle slackened and the sun shone from time to time.
The livestock judging was similarly unaffected by the weather.
Cattle judge Neil McCorkindale, Scammadale, Oban, said he had a good top end to sort out in his search for a champion.
Eventually the tap on the rump went to a mid-March-born heifer calf shown by Hamish McDiarmid of McDiarmid Bros, Ben Lawers, north Tayside.
This well-grown calf, which will likely be sold in Forfar next spring, is by the Limousin sire Oldhouse Dougal and out of a home-bred Limousin cross cow.
The reserve was an April-born bullock calf from Robert Waugh, Croftintygan, north Tayside. Again this was Limousin sired, this time by a Homebyres-bred bull and out of a home-bred Limousin cross cow which was first in its class on Saturday.
Mr McCorkindale said: “The champion is a stylish well-turned out calf. The reserve is a bullock calf with a lot of potential.”
The overall show champion of champions at Killin on Saturday was from the cross sheep section.
A and J Anderson, Tullochcan, Ardeonaig, took the honours with an almost pure Texel gimmer well-shown by Donna McKenzie.
This one is by Cowal Shrek and out of a home-bred Texel cross ewe.
Tullochcan runs 200 Texel cross ewes and 1,200 Blackfaces.
Cross sheep judge Roddy Thomson, of Pitnacree, Strathtay, said: “This is a very correct gimmer smart and strong.”
His fellow champion of champions judges Mr McCorkindale and Blackface judge Ewan Bennie, of Merkins, Alexandria, obviously agreed as there was no need for an umpire.
Reserve in the cross sheep was a Texel cross ewe lamb from Peter McDiarmid, Shenlarich, north Tayside.
The largest judging task of the day fell to
Mr Bennie with, as is usual for Killin, very large classes of Blackfaces all from the confined area of Killin and its surrounding parishes.
His champion was a ewe lamb from Colin Little, Glen Ample, Lochearnhead.
Born at the end of April the lamb is by a £3,500 Nunnerie sire which was last year’s Killin champion of champions and out of a ewe by a £1,600 Pole sire.
The reserve, which according to Mr Bennie was “not far behind” was a shearling ram from Iain McLarty, Glen Tarken, Loch Earn. Intended for use at home rather than for sale this one is by a £2,100 Ben Lomond and out of ewe by a £2,000 Auldhouseburn.
Cattle results were as follow.
Bullock calf by Limousin (2013 born): McDiarmid Bros, Ben Lawers.
Heifer calf by Limousin (2013 born): Ben Lawers.
Bullock calf by Limousin (2014 born): Croftintygan.
Heifer calf by Limousin (2014 born: Ben Lawers.
Bullock calf any other sire: Peter Reilly, Tullochmhor, Balquhidder.
Heifer with calf at foot: Ben Lawers. Cow with calf at foot: Croftintygan.
Sheep results were as follow.
Cross
Pair of cross lambs out of a Blackface ewe: Tullochmor. Pair of cross lambs out of a cross ewe: Shenlarich. Ewe: Shenlarich.Gimmer: Tullochcan. Ewe lamb: Shenlarich. Mule ewe lamb: Tullochmor. Tup: Succoth.
Blackface
Shepherd’s class: Shenlarich. Naturally shown ewe and lambs: Mrs Taylor, Braes of Ardeonaig.
Ram three years and over: Glen Tarken. Ram two years and over: Glen Ample. Shearling ram: Glen Tarken.
Ewe three years and over: Glen Ample. Ewe two years and over: Glen Tarken.
Gimmer: Meggernie Estate, Glen Lyon. Ram lamb: Glen Tarken. Ewe lamb: Glen Ample. Pair of wether lambs: K Taylor, Dall, Ardeonaig.
Young handler: under-11 Iona Little; 11-18 Lewis McKenzie.
Female group of three: Glen Ample. Male group of three: Glen Tarken.
Best wooled sheep: Tullochmhor.
Fleeces
Blackface mattress: Tullochmhor (reserve champion).
Blackface fine: Braes of Ardeonaig (champion).
Natural colour: Braes of Ardeonaig.
Fine medium: Succoth.