The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bullock calf rebuffs challenge of Blackies to reign supreme
Impressive line-up of farm stock takes to the field – led by Blackface sheep
In the week running up to Killin Show, the organisers took to social media to make clear the event would definitely go ahead, regardless of the weather, and suggest that anyone thinking otherwise was underestimating the character of its regular exhibitors and visitors, who were avowedly “not afraid of a little rain”.
On the day, this determined attitude paid off, as early downpours receded and the sun split the sky over Breadalbane Park, where a great display of solidly commercial farm stock had been gathered for judging.
The hardest job of the day fell to the Blackface section judge, Colin Cameron, who had to cast his eye over no less than 16 classes dedicated to the breed, and then allocate an equal number of special trophies, all of which attracted a competitive line-up of entries.
Topping this strong show for the Blackface breed were Peter McDiarmid and Co, of Shenlarich, Lawers, with a home-bred three-year-old ewe, attending its only show of the year.
By a tup bred by Ruaridh Kerr of The Glen, that was bought at Stirling as a lamb, Mr McDiarmid’s ewe’s last outing had been Killin Show last year, when she was placed reserve.
Standing in reserve in this year’s Blackface competition was Colin Little of Glen Ample, with a shearling tup, by a £13,000 Gass, that was bought in Fort William as a lamb for £4,200.
However, Killin’s show supreme did not come from its lengthy Blackface section.
That honour, agreed by all four of the show’s livestock judges after some deliberation, fell instead to the commercial cattle champion, shown by McDiarmid Bros of Ben Lawers, Aberfeldy.
This glossy home-bred bullock calf, born last September, was by Irish Limousin sire Oldhouse Dougall, out of a Belgian Blue cross cow, and was on its first show outing.
The commercial cattle reserve also came from the McDiarmid Bros’ 50-strong herd of sucklers, in the shape of another home-bred bullock calf, by a Hornby Limousin bull out of another cow with a touch of BB about her, and again, on its one and only show outing.
Despite the strong field of competition forward, its was also Shenlarich that provided the any other breed sheep section champion.
This Texel cross Beltex gimmer had been to Killin as a lamb and topped its class.
Similarly, the McDiarmids’ flock of 150 Texel cross ewes was the source of the AOB reserve, which was an April-born Texel cross Beltex ewe lamb.
The Swaledale breed was represented by Finlay Macaskill, of Tullich farm, Killin, who topped that section with a home-bred ewe.
By a tup bred by Alan Alderson, of Kirby Stephen, Mr Macaskill’s ewe was shown unclipped, as he explained she’d only come off the hill last month, and she hadn’t dried out yet!