French judge praises quality at Royal Highland Show
French judge Yves Lacroix praised the exceptional depth of quality throughout the classes at this year’s Royal Highland Show, Ingliston, saying he has been honoured to judge sheep of such a standard.
“At home in France we rarely see classes as big as these and to have such a good standard of sheep from the top to the bottom of every class proved a real pleasure and made judging an enjoyable challenge.”
For his overall champion Mr Lacroix tapped out Ian Murray’s winner from the shearling tup class, a son of the 18,000gns Allanfauld Rockafella out of a Castleknowe Matchmaker dam. This one, MFZ1300332, was an easy pick for Mr Lacroix with the judge stating he displayed exceptional muscling and great length and correctness throughout. He is now destined for Kelso tup sales in September and carries an index of 318.
Reserve male and reserve overall honours fell to the leading Signet recorded tup lamb from Procters Farm. This son of last year’s Lanark champion, the 11,000gns Tophill Union Jack, is out of a dam by 38,000gns sire Sportsmans Scania and has an index of 245. This lamb, PFD1403483, was described by the judge as a great lamb with a great future ahead of him. “He will make a great ram I’m sure.”
Procters Farm shepherd Jeff Aiken was to the fore in the females too, taking the female championship with the flock’s two crop ewe, PFD1101038. Sired by the 50,000gns Haddo Ringleader she is out of an Annan dam by Ettrick McCoist. She is granddam to the reserve male champion, with her dam being a foundation ewe at Procters Farm.
Gordon Gray then picked up the reserve female championship with the leader from the gimmer class, a Plasucha Tiger daughter. This shearling ewe, GGH1303026, is out of Tima Princess, a Thinacres Grenade daughter which has bred seven progeny sold for 2000gns or more. She has previously been interbreed champion at Stirling and reserve interbreed at Lesmahagow earlier in the season.
Winning the aged tup class was Hugh Jackson with Mellor Vale Top Drawer, a Milnbank Special One son out of a dam by Clougher President.
Then in the open ram lambs the winner was Keith, Allan and Roy Campbell with a lamb from their Cowal flock by Milnbank Ur The Boy and out of a dam by Kelso Pavarotti.
And taking top spot in the ewe lambs was a lamb from the Kermode family’s Isle of Man-based Orrisdale flock. This lamb by Clinterty Unicorn is out of a dam by Millar’s Professor.
Congratulations to Ian Murray and Jeff Aiken on winning the interbreed pairs with their male and female champions, the shearling ram from the Glenway flock and the aged ewe from the Procters flock and further congratulations to Ian Murray for then winning the reserve interbreed championship with his shearling tup.
To see a video of the championship judging click here
For a full gallery of photos from the judging click here
Class results
Aged tups
1- Hugh Jackson’s Mellor Vale Top Drawer
2- Alasdair Beaton’s FPG1200568
3- John McKerrow’s Deveronvale Titan
4- Procters Farm’s Midlock Starsky
Shearling tups
1 – Ian Murray’s MFZ1300332
2 – David McKerrow’s GGH1303105
3- Ian Murray’s MFZ1300348
4- A MacGregor’s LTC1301586
5- J and H Clark’s GAF1300885
Ram Lambs
1 – K A and R Campbell’s CKC1404652
2 – I and L Galloway’s GRN1400014
3 – Procters Farm’s PFD1403508
4 – Messrs Campbell’s CNK1400033
5 – T and I Walling’s TIW1407115
Aged ewes
1 – Procters Farm’s PFD1101038
2- James Innes and Sons’ IJS1100034
3 -K A and R Campbell’s CKC1000206
4- John Forsyth’s FPG1000038
5- W J Knox’s KWJ1200418
Shearling ewes
1 – Gordon Gray’s GGH1303026
2- Clark Farms’ CJN1302191
3- James Innes and Sons’ IJS1300276
4- John Forsyth’s FPG1300641
5- James Innes and Sons’ IJS1300302
Ewe lambs
1 – Messrs Kermode’s KAO1401061
2- Messrs Campbell’s CNK1400021
3- John Forsyth’s FPG1400780
4- K, A and R Campbell’s CKC1403085
5- James Innes and Sons’ IJS1400716
Performance recorded ram lambs
1- Procters Farm’s PFD1403483
2- K, a and R Campbell’s CKC1403090
3- Robbie Wilson’s LYM1401357
4 – W J Knox’s KWT1400802
5- Ian Murray’s MFZ1400466
Male champion – Ian Murray’s shearling tup MFZ1300332
Reserve male champion – Procters Farm’s recorded ram lamb PFD1403483
Female champion – Procters Farm’s aged ewe PFD1101038
Reserve female champion – Gordon Gray’s shearling ewe GGH1303026
