Dalmally Show receives the ladies’ full approval
Women had the final say at this year’s Dalmally Agricultural Show with an all-female line-up of judges.
The move, which included inviting a Highland Cattle judge from Finland, was in celebration of the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote.
Marjorie Walker of Carloonan Farm, Inveraray, was 2018 show president taking the reins of what is the last of Argyll’s agricultural shows of the calendar year.
Despite torrential downpours earlier in the day, hardy competitors and visitors turned out on Saturday to show their support and were eventually rewarded when the sun came out.
A ewe reared by Sandy and Tommy Paterson of Auchloy near Crieff kept her title of Blackface champion after winning for three years’ running as a gimmer last year and as a lamb the year before that.
Meanwhile, in the equally hotly contested cattle ring, the Duchess of Grace, a yearling homebred by Grace Noble of Banchory, was crowned the champion Highlander.
The Duchess then vied against The Captain, the champion commercial breed, for the overall cattle champion.
In the end the judges agreed the Captain, a Limousin cross calf bred by father and son Ewen and Ewen MacGillivray of Home Farm, Barcaldine, deserved the sash. The fivemonth-old animal, by Lodge Hamlet out of a homebred Belgian Blue cross cow, won the supreme title at the Mid Argyll Show and then the Appin Show.
A ‘delighted’ Ewen senior said: ‘You never know if you are going to win. He is a decent calf. He has been something special since the day he was born.’
Compere Angus Mackay said, despite the cattle numbers being down this year, the high standard was maintained.
One of the most popular contests, the dog show, was won by one of the smallest entries - a black terrier called Cilla, owned by Iain McKay of Appin.
It was also a good day for smiley seven-year-old Laura Sharp from Dalmally, who impressed judges with her cardboard creation of a traditional castle which won her the children’s section shield.
Organisers of the show said: ‘Thank you to everyone who came to Dalmally Show today, and to our lovely judges, competitors and stall-holders. See you next year.’
The huge field was packed with plenty to see and do from animals being judged to cheering on terrier races, watching shinty games, listening to bagpipes, marvelling at handicrafts and home-made cakes in the home industries tent. Birds of prey, vintage cars from Oban and District Classic Vehicle Club and a pair of Clydesdale horses attracted lots of admirers. Sand art, fabulous face-painting and a toddlers’ play space were just as popular.
It was the last gig of the summer for Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun Pipe which posted on Facebook, ‘A great day out and a nice crowd’ and Galcantray Clydesdales which brought along horses Storm and lightening posted ‘Storm and Lightening pleased the crowds as always. Was lovely to meet so many people and to see the smiles on everyone’s faces when they got to get up close to our gorgeous boys.’
In the shinty, Glenorchy picked up the Jackey Matheson trophy against Taynuilt. It was a hardfought game which finished 0-0. Glenorchy won 2-1 on penalties with Andrew Smith making four saves and Scott MacIntyre scoring the winning penalty.