Starlets take to the ring

Limousins lead the way at Stars of the Future show in Stirling

Potential celebrities of the beefbreeding world were presented to a discerning audience at Saturday’s Stars of the Future show at Stirling mart.

It was just the beginning of a showing career for the beefy young starlets which were paraded around the three judging rings, but the event brought Scotland’s pedigree showing season to a glittering end.

The Limousin breed stole the show, taking the overall continental senior championship for Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith, with his August 2016-born bull, Aultside Meanmachine by Wilodge Cerberus.

Meanmachine was reserve male champion at Turriff Show this summer and is a full brother to a sire which sold for 55,000gns at Carlisle. His dam was female champion at the Stirling bull sales in 2011.

In reserve place was a Charolais bull, Falleninch Mars, from Andrew Hornall, Falleninch, Stirling.

The continental junior champion was also a Limousin and came from the Graham family from Bridge of Allan.

She was the 10-month-old heifer, Grahams Natalie, which went on to shine in the interbreed pairs competition with her full brother, Grahams Nashville.

They are by the sire, Claragh Franco and dam Grahams Coffee, and will both go to the Limousin Red Ladies event at Carlisle next month.

The native senior champion, a Shorthorn, came from Northern Ireland breeder Duncan McDowell. She was the 14-month-old heifer Castlemount Matrix Zipy whose full brother was a junior champion at the Stirling bull sales.

An Aberdeen Angus heifer from Stephanie Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling, took reserve place in the native senior award.

The Aberdeen Angus breed also won the native junior championship. Eight-month-old heifer Tonley Equidora came from Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford.

In reserve place was Shawhill Leroy, the Shorthorn from Thomson, Roddick & Lawrie of Lockerbie.

The native pairs competition was won by Aberdeen Angus heifers. Retties Lady Rose came from Richard and Carol Rettie, Deveronside, and Swordale Evergreen was from Messrs Watt.

In the young handler competition, the overall and junior awards were won by Jack Graham, and the senior award was won by Graham Rhind.

Stephanie Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling, with her Aberdeen Angus senior champion, Crew Lady Jasmine, at the Stars of the Future show in Stirling.

Pictures: Ron Stephen. Judge Alan Bosomworth, from Lochgilphead, looking over the senior Highland male class.

Limousin junior champion, a heifer Grahams Natalie, from R&J Graham, Airthrey Kerse Farm, Bridge of Allan.

Limousin continental senior champion and reserve female champion from Garry Patterson, Aultmore, Keith.

A young handler looking to catch the eye of the judge.