Alyth champion shows others his winning Way

Just half a point separates the interbreed winners in the champions final

The final dress rehearsal for this week’s Royal Highland Show took place at Alyth on Saturday when the best of Perthshire, Fife and Angus cattle, sheep and horses lined up to be judged on a day of challenging conditions.

It was the first heavy rain to fall at any of this summer’s local shows and while many competitors welcomed the moisture for thirsty crops back home, the weather saw most spectators sheltering in marquees as the interbreed winner was selected in the main ring.

Show president Stuart Knox said Alyth had been lucky with a series of great weather days in recent years so was probably due a difficult day.

With only half a point between the interbreed winners in the champion of champions final, the cattle and sheep winners were just pipped to the post by the horse champion, a 10-year-old Tobiano-coloured gelding from Judy Bruce of Balmyle farm, Meigle.

Indian Way, which was the coloured champion at West Fife and Fife shows, was shown by Morag Snow.

The cattle interbreed winner was the commercial beef champion from Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, in his first interbreed title at Alyth in 30 years.

He led Lion Bar, a three-quarters Limousin cross Belgian Blue which has already taken a second prize at Fife and a fourth at Angus. Lion Bar is now destined for the Highland along with a previously unshown animal.

The reserve interbreed champion was the Highland breed winner from John and Jenne Singer of Kintore Castle fold, Auchenblae.

She was the three-year-old heifer Ailsa Emma Dhubh of Kintore Castle who was repeating her championship success at Angus show.

In the sheep ring the interbreed title was taken by the Texel champion from Ali and Tom Greenhill, Westhall Farm, Kellas, by Dundee.

It was the three-shear tup, Tophill World Cup’s second interbreed award at Alyth and followed his reserve award at Angus.

The Zwartbles breed produced the reserve interbreed champion in the first year of having a dedicated section at Alyth.

The gimmer from David Miskelly Corrybrae, Kildrummy, Alford, is by Liverton Dominator. She was first in her class at Banchory show last year.

The Shetland pony, Eynhallow Dew from Eynhallow Stud in the Carse of Gowrie won the native horse championship, and in reserve interbreed place was the Clydesdale champion from Scott Greenhill, Leuchars Lodge, Fife, with the yearling filly, Fordelhill Hannah by Eskachraggan Ernest and out of Fordelhill Heather Mairi.

Pictures: Kenny Smith. Judy Bruce, left, with her Alyth Show champion of champions, the coloured gelding Indian Way, which was shown by Morag Snow, right.

Vintage tractors featured at the event outside of the show ring.

Wilson Peters from Monzie won up his first interbreed championship at Alyth with commercial beef champion Lion Bar after more than 30 years’ competing at the show.

Ali Greenhill with his interbreed sheep champion, the three-shear Texel tup, Tophill World Cup.