The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Argyll breeder celebrates second successive supreme at Glasgow
Highland Cattle: Reserve at international show comes from Queen’s Balmoral fold
A Highland Cattle breeder from Argyll lifted his second successive supreme at the City of Glasgow breed show.
The Queen’s Balmoral fold was reserve at the event, held in beautiful sunny weather and in front of a huge crowd at Pollok Country Park on Saturday.
Lifting the supreme for Michael Poland was Flora 4 th of Mottistone, a 30- month- old heifer by Uisdean of Craigowmill and out of Flora 2nd of Mottistone.
She had earlier won the female championship for Hampshire- based Mr Poland, a retired insurance executive who farms on the Isle of Wight and at Wester Ferlochan, Benderloch, Oban. He has 26 cows at Benderloch and grazes a further 180Highlanders on conservation land on the Isle of Wight.
Flora, brought out by Willie MacLean and his daughter, Lynne, was champion at Appin and second at Dalmally.
Reserve for the Queen was a bull which left many in the crowd in awe at both his scale and length.
Ruaridh 1st of Ubhaidh, a rising five-year-old, is by Torquil of 1st of Ubhaidh and out of Flora 5th of Lagg. He was bred by Roy Tylden- Wright, of The Roundhouse, Uvie Farm, Lagganbridge, and is now the stock bull in the Queen’s Balmoral fold of60 cows.
Ruaridh, brought out by Fergie Ormiston, has had a successful show season already and was reserve interbreed and breed champion at Tarland. He was also Highland champion at Perth and Banchory.
Judge Robert Philip, of Green Farm, Hellifield, Skipton, Yorkshire, pondered long and hard before deciding his supreme.
The heifer just had the upper hand.
He said: “I thought she was a super female. She’s just so well covered. The bull is fantastic, but the female just edged it. The bull is just what we want in the breed – he’s got pure strength and walks well.”
Mr Philip has 80 breeding females in his fold, which runs to 350 Highlanders. The cattle are slaughtered for their beef, but Mr Philip also focuses on produces breeding females.
Junior champion was Susan 17th of Ormsary, a 17month-old heifer by the 5,800 Callum 2nd of Goldenberry and out of Susan 5th of Ormsary, from Sir W.J. Lithgow and Son, of
“The bull is fantastic, but the female just edged it”
Ormsary, Lochgilphead. She was champion at Mid Argyll and won firsts at Lorn, Appin and Dalmally for Sir William, who has 20 cows in the Ormsary fold.
Reserve junior was Heidi of West Edmondsley, a 17month- old daughter of Samson of Dubh Brunnila and out of Suisaidh Ruadh of Killochries. She has this season won two firsts at English shows for breeder Gary Braines, of Mill House, 10 Mill Street, Millfield, Sunderland.
Reserve female was Hayley 5th of Earn, a rising four- year- old daughter of Brogach 1st of Auchtenny and Hayley 4th of Earn from Donald MacNaughton, of 123 Station Road, Kelty, Fife. She was champion at the East of Scotland breed show and a winner at the North of Scotland club event too.
The reserve male championship went to Alexander of Glengorm, a rising eight- year- old bull by Dealbhach Graidhein Dubh of Knockendon and out of Mairina Ial 4th of Glengorm, from Alan Prentice, of 8Westbank, Ravenstruther, Lanark. He was previously reserve at both Biggar and the West of Scotland club show.
The international show, organised by Glasgow City Council, also featured falconry displays, the Drakes of Hazard duck and dog display team, Williamwood Pipe Band, Johnstone Silver Band and a variety of craft and food stalls. The free day attracted by far one of the largest crowds seen at it since it started a decade ago.