The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Close call as Limousin edges supreme honour
Cross heifer initially tied with North Blackie for title
It was a close call for the champion of champions title at a sunny Strathardle Show when the points tallied up by the five individual judges resulted in a tie for the title.
With the North Blackface leader and the cattle winner sharing the points, it was back to the drawing board for the judges to decide on the supreme which was finally awarded to the cattle champion.
That was a Limousin cross heifer from Bob Simpson, Mains of Creuchies, Blairgowrie, who was ably helped by children Ruby, Charlie and Lough.
Their four-month-old heifer, Wilma, which first caught the eye of cattle judge Grant Laing, Gaich, is by an Irish-bred Limousin bull bought at Stirling and was landing the family a welcome return to the top of the section.
Just pipped to the post was the North Blackface ewe from David Nicol, Viewmount, Glen Isla. This two-crop ewe on her show debut is by a £9,500 Haughton and out of a ewe by a home-bred £3,500 sire.
Winning the South type Blackie section was another two-crop ewe, this time from Dave and Mark Simpson, Sidlaw, Blairgowrie.
Their daughter of a £1,100 Dullatur has had a good season, winning the championship at Angus as well as reserve honours at both Alyth and Kirriemuir.
Brian Cocker led the shepherd’s Blackie sections, with his supreme coming from the Southie ring in the shape of a ewe lamb by a £600 Dunruchan.
Continuing their winning ways in the cross sheep and prime lamb sections were Davie and Elizabeth Stewart, who took home the top two titles in each section with entries from Mains of Dalrulzion, Glen Shee.
Best of the cross sheep was a home-bred Texel cross gimmer by a Scrogton sire, while two Texel cross lambs by a home-bred tup won the prime lamb championship.