Interbreed cattle judge John Dykes, South Slipperfield, had plenty of good candidates in front of him at Fife Show but ultimately his supreme champion was a black-coated Limousin bull from Katherine Lawson and her father William from Windsole, Auchterarder.
The two-year-old Windsole Black Indigo is an AI son of Tamarvalley Bocastle and is out of Windsole Siobhain.
Mr Dykes said: “I had a good line-up to choose from today but I thought this Limousin stood out because he was tremendously well-fleshed and walked well.”
Champion of champions judge, immediate past show president Mike Logan obviously agreed, putting Black Indigo into top spot against competition from the light horse, sheep and dairy sections.
Back in the beef ring Mr Dykes stuck with the bulls, selecting an Aberdeen Angus from Rae Grieve, Carhurlie, Leven, as his reserve.
This is actually the second year in succession the now five-year-old Skaill Dido has stood as overall reserve at Fife.
Dido was reserve supreme at Stirling Bull Sales in 2012 where he was bought for 13,000gns from Colin Davidson.
Mr Grieve, who has had health problems in recent months, would also be undoubtedly cheered by collecting a reserve championship in the commercial section.
The beef pairs contest gave Mr Dykes plenty to ponder but he chose a Beef Shorthorn heifer duo from Highland Wagyu, Dunblane, as his champions.
“There were a lot of tremendous individual cattle in the ring but the Shorthorns were beautifully matched and very feminine,” he said.
The two yearling heifers were Mohmar Heathermade-Irania and Mohmar Henrietta-Broadhooks.
Supreme sheep was the Charollais from Peter and Linda Wood for the second year in succession.
This time it was a previously unshown, Logie Durno-bred two-shear ram from their 25-ewe Knockhill flock, which is part owned with the Ingrams at Logie Durno and bought privately, last year.
Reserve sheep was the Bluefaced Leicester leader from Alan McIntyre’s CKC flock, named after his two sons, Callum, Keiran and daughter Chloe, from Glenfarg.
This was a home-bred tup hogg, by a Townhead sire bought at Castle Douglas, from Iain Minto, out of a home-bred ewe, one of only 10 in the flock.
RESULTS
BEEF SHORTHORN Highland Wagyu, Burnside of Balhaldie, Dunblane, with rising three-year-old bull Quoiggs Freud by Quoiggs Cracker and out of Quoiggs Irania. First at RHS 2014, reserve male at Great Yorks 2014 and reserve at Ayr this year. Reserve John Redpath, Knowehead, Kilry, Alyth, with a two-year-old heifer in-calf to Balmyle Zeus. By Glenisla Dr Who and out of Knowehead Irania Bell. First outing.
ABERDEEN ANGUS Rae Grieve, Carhurlie, Leven, with five-year-old Skaill Dido by Nightingale Proud Jake. Reserve supreme champ at Stirling Bull Sales 2012 where bought for 13,000gns. Reserve supreme, Fife 2014. Reserve WD McLaren and Highland Wagyu, Netherton, Blackford, with two-year-old in-calf heifer Netherton Evita N734 by Netherton Big Edition and out of a previous Evita.
AOB (Continental) Robert Aitken, College Tce, Methven, with 26-monthold heifer Lourie Ideal by Clyth Diplomat and out of Lourie Fay. In-calf to Ben Hur. Reserve Robert Aitken with 14-month-old Lourie Jethro by Goldies Eddie and out of Lourier Eclipse.
AOB (Native) Andrew Mylius, St Fort, Newport-on-Tay, with 21-month-old Lincoln Red bull St Fort Saxon by 2012 Newark champion Beverley Noble and out of St Fort Hundleby Thora. Reserve Robert Brown, Rose Cottage, Radernie, Cupar, with six-year-old Belted Galloway cow Ashness Dreama by Creamline Ike and out of Netherwood Delia. Champion at Fife in 2010 as a calf and shown with heifer calf-at-foot.
SIMMENTAL Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, with five-year-old cow Drumsleed Adalucia by Blackford Vivaldi and out of Drumsleed Primrose. Shown with a September-born bull calf-at-foot by Grangewood William. Reserve Gerald and Morag Smith with 18-month-old heifer Drumsleed Evita by Ravensdale Chopper and out of Drumsleed Valtina.
HIGHLAND CATTLE Alun and Angela Garton, 4 Kildinny Cottages, Forteviot, with 15-month-old bull Dura 2nd of Thaggnam by Fear Cinnidh of Ardura and out of Julie 13th of Craigowmill. Half brother sold to Estonia for 4,500gns. Reserve Alun and Angela Garton with yearling heifer Julie 3rd of Thaggnam by the same sire as the champion and out of Julie 11th of Thaggnam.
LIMOUSIN Katherine Lawson, Windsole, Auchterarder, with two-year-old bull Windsole Black Indigo by Tamarvalley Boscastle and out of Windsole Siobhain. Reserve James and John Thomson, Hilton of Beath, Kelty, with eight-year-old cow Sarkley Carmen by Nobel Prospect and out of Sarkley Melody. Champion at Fife twice previously and shown with a heifer calf-atfoot by Lodge Hamlet.
BRITISH BLUE James Orr, Baldastard, Leven, with five-year-old bull Stainsforth Budge. Reserve Richard Nelson, Cuttlehill, Crossgates, with 30-month-old in-calf heifer Welton Huney by Bringlee Blackster and out of Welton Fun. Bought Carlisle in May 2014 for 2,000gns.
COMMERCIAL CATTLE Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, Crieff, with Hooraeffr, a 19-month-old homebred Limousin cross heifer by Kype Elliot and out of British Blue cross dam. Champion at Kirriemuir as a calf. Reserve Rae Grieve, Carhurlie, Leven, with Hashtag, an 18-month-old Limousin cross bullock by a Haltcliffe sire and out of a Limousin cross dam. Bred by Gavin Scott, Linlithgow, and bought privately.
DAIRY James and Andrew Wilson, Carskerdo, Ceres, with the second lactation Holstein cow Enchanted Razzle Lead by Willsbro Red Razzle. Calved in October and yielding 44 litres. Classified VG 88 in her first lactation. First time shown. Reserve Basil and Adam Lawson, North Cassingray, Largoward, with British Friesian heifer Lismulligan Lucy 22 by Lismulligan Mufasa and out of a previous Lismulligan Lucy. Calved in early March and yielding 33 litres.
BORDER LEICESTER Champion and reserve Sandy and Alex Watson, Muthill, with home-bred sheep. Supreme was a one-crop ewe by Didcot Drambuie, out of a ewe by Eildon Eager which is a former reserve overall champion at the Highland. Her full brother sold for £1,100 at Kelso, as a shearling Reserve A gimmer by the same Didcot sire and out of another ewe by Eildon Eager. She was placed as a ewe lamb.
SUFFOLK Mrs Caroline Nelson, Trows Cottage, Kelso, with a Conveth-bred two-crop ewe bought at the Conveth dispersal as a ewe lamb for 1,300gns. Unshown last year, she was first here as a gimmer, and second at Northumberland the same year. Her breeding includes Whitestone Footprint on to a Conveth ewe by Cairness Achievement. Reserve Ronnie, Mike and Peter Black, Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, with a ewe lamb by Solwaybank Speculator, a tup bought last year at Stirling, out of a home-bred ewe by Ardlea Champion.
TEXEL Keith, Allan and Roy Campbell, Drimsynie, Lochgoilhead, with a homebred three-crop ewe brought out by Chris Toner. She is by Kelso Pavarotti, out of a dam by Muiresk Northern Dancer and is a full sister to the Stirling Show champion in 2013 and 2012. Reserve David McKerrow, Nochnary, Freuchie, with a ewe lamb by the 11,000gns shared purchase, Stainton Vigilante, out of a home-bred ewe by Knock Firefly and former show gimmer.
AOB Peter and Linda Wood, Knockhill, Strathkinness, with two-shear Charollais ram of which a half share was bought privately from his breeders, William and Carole Ingram. He is by Logie Durno Laird and out of a Riverdale ewe. Reserve Ali Jackson, Maulscastle, Cummertrees, Annan, with an end-of- January-born Beltex ewe lamb from his Tip Top flock. She is by Woodies Whats Up Doc and out of a home-bred ewe and former reserve female champion at the Royal Welsh, by the imported sire, Wonderboy.
BLUEFACED LEICESTER Champion and reserve Alan McIntrye, Devol, Main Street, Glenfarg. Supreme was a home-bred tup hogg by a Townhead sire bought at Castle Douglas from Iain Minto, which is a full brother to his show-winning Kate ewe. He is out of a home-bred ewe and was used last year on his small flock of 23 Blackface ees. Reserve A ewe lamb by the same sire but out of a Hewgill ewe.
NCC George Milne, Kinaldy, St Andrews, with a homebred four-crop ewe that was third at the Highland in 2013. A daughter of Carruthers Crusader and out of a home-bred ewe, she was shown with twin lambs by a Pengroes sire. Reserve John McClymont, Wemyss Castle Home Farm, with a March-born ram lamb by Smiddyquoy Peter, out of a home-bred ewe by Smiddyquoy Commander.
HALF-BRED Champion and reserve James Smith, Priestfield, Pitlessie, Cupar. Champion was a two-crop ewe bought as a pen of 50 as a ewe lamb from Adderstonshiels. She was paraded with twin born lambs at foot. Reserve A Stobshiels Mains gimmer bought last year at St Boswells.
COMMERCIAL SHEEP Kenny Robertson, Over Baldinnie, Cupar, with a home-bred one-crop Suffolk cross ewe out of a Cheviot Mule. She was shown with a Texel ewe lamb at foot. Reserve James Messenger, Ayton, Aberargie, Abernethy, with a Suffolk cross ewe with Texel cross lambs at foot. She was champion at West Fife last year and second at the Highland.
PRIME LAMBS James Orr, Foodie Farm, Cupar, with a pair of Texel lambs by a Kininmonth sire. These February born lambs, a wedder and a tup lamb, are out of home-bred Texel cross ewes.
SHETLAND Kate Sharp, Cedar Lodge, Ewingston, with the coloured champion, a home-bred moorit shearling ram. Ewingston Muckleflugga is by Island Priest, a ram bought at the Shetland flock book sale from John Priest, out of Ewingston Cheryl. Reserve Wull Bryce, Carnwath Road, Forth, with the white champion Ivydene Ella, a home-bred one-crop ewe by Rigg Gareth out of Rench Iolanthe. She is a former wool champion and Shetland class winner.
JACOB Paul Murray, Kirkland Howe, Arlecdon, with the home-bred two-shear ram, Inside Hype Draggonfly. He is by Barbara Webster’s Carrochy Juniper and out of a Dun-mor ewe bred by Gordon Connor and Scott Dalrymple, bought in 2010. Reserve Gordon Connor and Scott Dalrymple, Bridgend, Linlithgow, with home-bred gimmer Dun-Mor Azealia, by the 3,000gns Dun-Mor Xerox sold to Switzerland. She is also a half sister to the 2013 Great Yorkshire show champion. Young handlers 1 Faith Miskelly, 2 L Wilson.