Perth Charolais breeder Major David Walter celebrated 46 years of breeding by winning his first Highland Show.
A keen advocate of EBVs, his careful breeding programme at Balthayock Farm is proving successful in the show ring, too, as the two-year-old Balthayock Imp by the 20,000gns Blelack Forrester took the tricolour. There are now more than 90 pedigree cows at Balthayock under the stockmanship of Davy and Tracy Nichol, who brought the bull out yesterday and also to win breed and overall champion at this year’s Angus Show.
Reserve in the strong Charolais section were Peter and Allen Drysdale, Middle Drimmie, Blairgowrie, with their home-bred heifer with calf at-foot, Glenericht Hester by Moyness Saltire. She was interbreed cattle champion at West Fife earlier in the month.
Another long-term breeder surprisingly winning his first Highland Show was Alastair Fraser from Idvies Farm at Forfar.
Alastair and son Graeme brought out their five-year-old stock bull Shadwell Black Broughton by Muirhall Total Deal to take the supreme Aberdeen-Angus award.
They bought the bull from Shadwell in a high five-figure deal and he has bred them sons which have been reserve supreme and intermediate champions at Stirling and sold for five-figure prices.
Reserve was a two-year-old heifer with calf at-foot from William McLaren and HW Angus, Netherton, Blackford.
Netherton Evita was by Netherton Big Edition and was champion at the Winter National Show and the Black Beauty Show last year.
The Highland Show is attracting more and more exhibitors from across the water each year.
First-time exhibitor William McElroy, from County Down, took the British Blonde championship with Ivaniskey Denise, a seven-year-old cow in-calf which has been champion at Balmoral two years in a row.
Reserve were Donald and Billy Laird from Lochhead, East Wemyss, with five-year-old cow Whitefield Freya, which was champion at West Fife.
John and Ernest Elliot of County Tyrone won the Saler championship with a home-bred four-year-old cow and calf, Drumlegagh Elise.
The reserve was another first-time exhibitor, better known for breeding Charolais, Murray Lyle.
Murray farms at Mid Cambushinnie, Dunblane, and just bought seven Salers last year to build up a suckler herd for a bit of rough ground.
He said: “They live out and are proving easy to maintain, so the plan is to build up to about 30 and then cross them with Charolais bulls.”
farming@thecourier.co.ukRESULTS
BEEF SHORTHORN
Jamie and Catherine Williamson, Alvie Farm, Kincraig, Inverness-shire, with two-year-old heifer Alvie Lovely Gael, by Glenisla ZinZan and home-bred out of Croxtonpark Lovely Oregano. She was junior champion at Stars of the Future in 2013 and first at Great Yorkshire in the same year. Reserve: MD McMillan, Moneydie Roger, Luncarty, with yearling bull Coldrochie Hattrock, by Chapelton Winsome and homebred out of Coldrochie Augusta Blossom. He was champion at Stirling on his only other outing.
HIGHLAND
Alan Prentice, Hyndford Fold, Ravenstruther, with three-year-old heifer Banrigh 3rd of Hyndford. by Jacobite of Benmore and home-bred out of Banrigh 2nd of An Sidhean. She was champion at Campsie and reserve champion at Drymen. Reserve: The Queen, Balmoral, with four-year-old black bull Prionnsa Dubh of Craigowmill, by Panther 2nd of Vomaigherof and out of Lady Alma Dubh 2nd of Craigowmill. He was bought privately from Ken Brown in 2013 for 4,000gns and was champion at Leys Castle Club Show and reserve interbreed champion at Banchory, both last year.
HEREFORD
Heather Whittaker, Coley Walks, Halifax, with two-year-old bull Sky High 1 Korker, by Dorepoll 1 Nationwide and out of Romany 1 Ishbel. He was first at the Three Counties show last year. Reserve: Ron and Robert Wilson, Cowbog, Kelso, with
an eight-year-old cow and calf, Romany 1 Plum. By Baybridge 1 Atlas and home-bred out of Romany 1 Plum, she was reserve at the Highland in 2013 and champion at the Great Yorkshire the same year.
BRITISH CHAROLAIS
Major David Walter, Balthayock, Perth, with two-year-old bull Balthayock Imp, by Blelack Forrester and home-bred out of Balthayock Christine. He was interbreed champion at Angus show on his first outing. Reserve: Peter and Allen
Drysdale, Middle Drimmie, Blairgowrie, with three-year-old cow Glenericht Hester, by Moyness Saltire and home-bred out of Balmullo Tina. She was supreme champion at West Fife show on her first outing.
BRITISH SIMMENTAL
Michael Barlow, Littlewood Hall, Leyland, with two-year-old heifer Auroch Eve, by Auroch Ace and out of Auroch Wave, bred by David Wall. She was reserve champion at the English National show and reserve at Three Counties. Reserve: Gerald Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, with seven-year-old stock bull Grangewood William, by Popes Laird and out of Grangewood Sundial. He was interbreed champion at Fettercairn and reserve male at the Scottish National show, Turriff, last year.
BRITISH BLONDE
William McElroy, Dromara, Co Down, with seven-year-old cow Ivaniskey Denise. By Doncombe Aga Khan and home-bred out of Ivaniskey Vanessa, she has won Balmoral two years in a row and won nine interbreed championships last year. Reserve: Lyle Laird & Sons, Lochhead, East Wemyss, with five-year-old cow Whitefield Freya by Whistley Dollar and out of Whitefield Suzy. Reserve female champion two years ago and champion at West Fife this year.
SALERS
John and Ernest Elliot, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, with four-year-old cow Drumlegagh Elise. By Blason and home-bred out of Venise, she was champion at Balmoral. Reserve: Murray Lyle, Mid Cambushinnie, Dunblane, with three-year-old cow Seamore Heffalump by Whitebog Dancer and out of Valise. Bred by Seamore Farming and being shown for the first time.
ABERDEEN-ANGUS
Alastair Fraser, Idvies, Forfar, with five-year-old bull Shadwell Black Broughton, by Muirhall Total Deal and out of Shadwell Blackbird. He was interbreed champion at Kirriemuir last year. Reserve: William McLaren and HW Angus, Netherton, Blackford, with a three-year-old heifer with calf at-foot, Netherton Evita by Netherton Big Edition, out of Dunira Eudora. She was champion as a yearling at the Winter National show and the Black Beauty show.
GALLOWAY
Jim and Selena Ross, Romesbeoch, Dumfries, with rising three-year-old heifer Beauty of Romesbeoch, by Kirkmabreck Nimrod and home-bred out of Beauty of Romesbeoch. She was junior champion last year and also at Great Yorkshire and the National Galloway show. Reserve: David and Rosemarie Cornthwaite and Alan McClymont, Balgray, Lockerbie, with two-yearold bull Troloss Impeccable by Blackcraig Rasputin and out of Troloss Frances. He was bought at Castle Douglas in February for 9,200gns when he was champion and shown for the first time.
BELTED GALLOWAY
Bill and Jane Landers, Bargaly, Newton Stewart, with rising two-year-old bull Cairnsmore Hamish by Ryhills Elliot and out of Lullenden Apple Dumpling. He was reserve at Ayr and male champion and reserve overall at Straiton. Reserve: Joe and Zan Kirk, Low Kirkbride, Dumfries, with a rising five-year-old cow with calf at-foot, Huntfield Opal, by Broadmeadows Lennie and home-bred out of Huntfield Good Friday. She was second at Straiton.
COMMERCIAL
Jacalyn Dunlop, Holehouse, Ayr, with 13-month-old Limousin cross British Blue heifer Doolally. This home-bred heifer is Jacalyn’s YFC Rally calf and this was her best result so far. Reserve: Rae Grieve, Carlhurlie, Leven, with 19-month-old three-quarter Limousin steer Hashtag. Bred by Gavin Scott and bought privately, he was reserve champion at Fife show.
BRITISH BLUE
Kevin Watret, Northfield Park, Annan, with yearling bull Solway View Jackpot by Solwayview Firecracker and home-bred out of Bringlee Evadine. He was champion at Ayr and male champion at Northumberland and Cumberland. Reserve: Edward and Andrew Haste, Stoneleigh, Devon, with two-year-old bull Cromwell Ironman, by Solway View Firecracker and home-bred out of Cromwell Ella. He was champion at Devon County and Royal Cornwall.
BRITISH LIMOUSIN
Mike and Melanie Alford, Foxhill, Collumpton, Devon, with 18-month-old bull Foxhillfarm Jasper, by Loosebeare Fantastic home-bred out of Bankdale Alice. He was champion at Carlisle in May and sold for 35,000gns with the proviso the Alford could keep him until after the Royal Welsh show. He was interbreed champion at Devon, Cornwall and breed champion at Bath and West. Reserve: Mike and Melanie Alford, with two-year-old heifer Foxhillfarm Ivy, by Wilodge Fantastic and home-bred out of Bankdale Alice. She was reserve champion at Cornwall and Bath and West.