The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dream comes true as James wins Livescot
Astrong show of primestock cattle from across Scotland and beyond, descended on Lanark Market for the Scottish National Fatstock Club’s annual Livescot event on Saturday, with the heifer champion going on to secure the supreme accolade, winning the King George V Cup.
Top spot went to 22-month-old Limousin cross, Moonlight, a Gallaber Leo daughter, out of a pure British Blue dam, which realised a lifelong ambition for owner James Nisbet, Sorn Mains.
James began showing primestock cattle 22 years ago, at the Scottish Winter Fair, as it was known then, in Perth.
His champion – picked out by judge Neil Lloyd, Herefordshire – had been bought at Pateley Bridge in March, from Mark Ewbank.
Now weighing 724kg, she went on to sell for £7,800 at the post-show auction, going to Allan Butchers, Stewarton.
Reserve supreme was the reserve heifer, Martha Mae, a home-bred Limousin cross from Hugh and Stewart Dunlop, Holehouse, Ochiltree.
This 19-month-old is an AI daughter of Huntershall Nutcracker, out of a Limousin cross cow bought from John Mcallister at UA Stirling.
Securing the overall steer championship was Andrew Ireland, Braeside, Darvel, with another Limousin cross, Buckaroo.
Bred by Andrew Marston, this one sold weighing 638kg, for £3,600, to Briggsy’s Butchers, Jedburgh.
The calf championship was won by Stewart and Lynsey Bett, Boquhan, Stirling, with their Marchborn Limousin cross heifer, Phoenix – also bred by Balfour Baillie.
Bill Mackinnon, West Dron, Bridge of Earn, judged the sheep classes and selected the butcher’s champions as best overall.
That was a pair of threequarter Beltex ewe lambs from Andrew Baillie, Carstairs Mains, weighing 44kg each.
Sired by Clary Dumfries, they sold at £380 per head to Scotbeef.
The hill championship was won by the Blackface winners from the Dickie family, Spango, Sanquhar.
The pair, a ewe lamb and a wedder lamb, weighed a combined 97kg.
They made £172 per head, knocked down to Messrs Ballard.