Prime pair take supreme title

Loch Tay lambs picked out by the judges at Killin

Killin Show’s champion of champions title went to a pair of Texel-sired prime lambs from Loch Tay breeders Peter and Maj McDiarmid and their children Anna, Duncan, Tessa and Fiona, of Shenlarich.

The group of four judges awarded the champion of champions title to a twin set of wedders which were full of home breeding, being by a home-bred Texel sire and out of Texel cross mothers.

“They were a very good pair of butchers’ lambs and ready to go,” said sheep judge, Willie Stevenson, from Coilavoulin, Pitlochry.

Also forward for the supreme title from the sheep rings were the winners of the Blackface and Swaledale sections.

The former was a home-bred ewe from Iain McLarty and family, Glentarken, who were aided by shepherd’s sons, Alan and Lewis MacKenzie.

This unshown two-crop ewe is by an £850 Auldhouseburn tup bought as a shearling at Lanark last year, and out of a ewe by a £2,600 Ben Lomond.

She was nursing a pair of twins to the male champion, a two-shear Livet tup bought for £9,000 at Dalmally.

Heading up the Swaledale section, which was in its second year at Killin and is the first affiliated show to the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association in Scotland outside the Royal Highland, was an aged ram from Grant Jolly, Ben More, which was brought out by shepherd Anna Nicholson.

Bought from Roro Estate, Glenlyon, this five-shear was bred by the late Joe Bainbridge, Ettersgill House.

There was a welcome return of the cattle section, which had been put off in previous years due to ground conditions. This saw Roddy Kennedy finally take his turn as judge.

He picked out a stylish red heifer from Donald and Hamish McDiarmid, Ben Lawers, as his champion.

This October-born Limousin cross is by Lingland Hornby and out of a Limousin cross Angus cow.

The fleece competition was led by two entries from Helen Taylor, Braes of Ardeonaig, with her short, fine Blackie fleece claiming the top spot.

During the afternoon’s fun and games, an entry from the Killin Drama Club won the fancy dress competition, and Allana Cairns’ daughter Bella won the bonnie baby section, before a family team competition, shearing demonstration and terrier racing entertained the crowds.

This heifer from Ben Lawers was voted champion in the cattle section.