Show season kicks off in style
THE 2024 show season kicked o
in style with some glorious sunny weather for Kilmaurs Show last weekend, ensuring a packed ring of livestock and horses.
This year also saw the first champion of champions award at the event which was presented to the beef supreme, a Charolais cross heifer named Legally
Blonde from Allan and
Susan Campbell, Crawlaw, Galston. Brought out with the help of stockman Taylor Holloway, this August 2022-born heifer was purchased at Dalmally from Duncan Semple, Dippen, having stood reserve senior champion at Stars of the Future last year. It is sired by the French bull, Duracel.
“She hasn’t got many holes, she is full of meat and walks well,” said the beef judge John Cousar, Tarbolton, who teamed up with the dairy and Clydesdale judges, Andrew Struthers and Mr and Mrs Campbell respectively to select the supreme overall.
Mr Cousar added: “My reserve was well grown for her age with plenty of power behind her.”
The runner up came from the same home in the form of the pure Limousin heifer Goldies Taboo, which was purchased at the Red Ladies and weaned calf sale at Carlisle in December. Bred by Bruce Goldie, Dumfries, this October 2022-born heifer is a daughter of Goldies Juggler, out of Goldies Glamour. She was shown successfully last year, landing the champion of champions at Moat Show and reserve inter-breed at Dumfries Show.
Andrew Struthers, found both his dairy champion and reserve in entries from George Borland, Mossbog, Mauchline.
Taking the lead was the second calver, Mossbog Lambda Rachel, which calved in February and is giving 48 litres per day. Classified VG86, she is sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda and bred from Mossbog Flash Rachel.
“She could compete at any show. She caught my eye as soon as I saw her for her dairy quality and balance throughout. She has tremendous depth of body, with an open rib and strong veination. Her fore attachment and udder depth confirm her placing,” said Mr Struthers.
Runner-up was the calved heifer Vetech Rubicon Atlee, paraded two months fresh and giving 32 litres per day. Bought in as a heifer for her bloodlines, she is a daughter of EDG Rubicon and bred from the Ex91-classified dam, Vetech Kingpin
Atlee 2.
Champion Clydesdale was the rising two-year-old Baldowran Regan, from Robert Melvin, Crie.
He is sired by Baldowran Kingsman and bred from Baldowran Darcy, having been purchased from Steven McMillan in Ayrshire.
“My champion was a good upstanding gelding, being well grown for its age. There was a great turnout of Clydesdales overall which was good to see,” said Clydesdale judge Alan Campbell.