The Stars of The Future pedigree calf show once again lived up to its name with over 300 young animals from eight breeds competing for the honours.
Held on Saturday in the exhibition hall at United Auctions’ Stirling Agricultural Centre this was an action packed three ring event with each breed competing in senior and junior sections with winners from each then competing in interbreed competitions split into native and continental sections.
One addition this year saw pairs competing for The Joe Watson Memorial Trophy presented by DC Thomson, publishers of The Courier and The Press and Journal. Mr Watson, who died last year, was for many years the highly respected farming editor of the Press and Journal.
This competition was judged, as were all the interbreed finals by Orkney farmer and livestock agent Liam Muir.
The winning pair, which had to come from one exhibitor, were Limousins from Allan Campbell, Strawfank, Lanark.
His March 2015 born bull, Stawfank Laird and his heifer of the same age, Strawfank Lucy are both by Goldies Comet, a bull owned by Ian Nimmo.
Mr Muir commented: “They are a great pair of Limousins and looked tremendous on parade.”
The Strawfank duo won out over the native pairs which were Aberdeen-Angus from Scotbeef managing director Robbie Galloway. His bull was Cardona Eventer by SAV Solid Gold and his heifer was the April born calf Cardona Jewel Eric R80.
In the individual interbreeds Mr Muir selected a Limousin from father and son Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth as the senior Continental champion. This was the November 2014 born Allanfauld Jolene by the AI sire Elite Foreverbrill and out of Allanfauld Cortina, a dam which has bred bulls selling to 10,000 gns.
The Continental junior champion also came from the Limousin breed with the win making the long journey north well worthwhile for Michael and Melanie Alford from Collumpton in Devon. Their topper was Foxhillfarm Logan, an April born embryo transfer calf by the French sire Ionesco and out of the 15,000gns Bankdale Alice. Foxhhillfarm Lionking, another embryo from the same flush, was reserve junior male champion.
Moving on to the native breeds, the senior champion was the Aberdeen-Angus bull Brailes Exterminator from Midlands potato importer and exporter Richard Hassle and his partner Rachael Wyllie. Brought out by Roy Crockett, Exterminator stood second at the National Breed Show at Carlisle two weeks ago. He is by Blelack Duke and out of Rawburn Evening Star.
The native junior was also an Aberdeen-Angus, this time from former pig farmer Ben Marsden, of Marsdens Farms, near Sheffield. His January born heifer Liley Kinannie is by Rawburn Mambo Prince and out of Rawburn Kinnanie and was overall champion at the north-east breed show in Thirsk last week.
It is not only the cattle who are billed as Stars of The Future.
Show chairman Adrian Ivory and his committee have always been keen to promote stockjudging with two age classes, 11 to 14 years, and 14 to 18 years, competing in each breed section before a final elimination.
The overall winner on Saturday in the senior age group was Allan Lindsay, West Lothian and the best junior was Graeme Rhind, Kinloss.
Results- British Blue (judge, Boomer Birch)
Seniors – Female and group champion , Kevin Watret, Maulscastle, Annan with Solway View Jitter. Male and group reserve, Ronald Dick, Mains of Throsk, Stirling with Ronick Jagger. Reserve female, W Patterson, Upper Forgie , Keith with Aultmore Jadore.
Juniors – Male and group champion , Kevin Watret with Solway View Kelvin, Reserve group champion and reserve male, D and B Spoures, Twizell, Bleford, Northumberland with Brownridge Kingpin. Female champion, A and C Comrie, Stonebyres, Lanark with Stonebyres Keira.
Female reserve, D and J McKerrow with Nochnary Katie.
Junior stockjudging, Ross Comrie, seniors Lindsay McMorran
Aberdeen- Angus (judge Brian Clark)
Seniors- Male and group champion, Brailes Livestock, Banbury, Oxfordshire with Brailes Exterminator. Male and group reserve, A and K Rhind, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss with Newton Struthers Junerical. Female champion, C Orr, Halbeath, Dunfermline with Keirsbeath Pam.
Juniors – Female and group champion, Marsdens Farms, Penistone, West Yorkshire with Liley Kinannie. Female and group reserve, R Galloway, Cardrona , Doune with Cardona Jewel Eric . Male champion, R and C Rettie, Aberdona Mains, Alloa with Retties Lazy Rascal. Male reserve, B Ronan, Jerusalem Farm, Appleby, Westmoreland with Jerusalem Galileo.
Junior stockjudging, Graeme Rhind. Seniors, Chloe Dunlop.
Highland (judge Stuart Campbell).
Seniors – Female and group champion, D MacNaughton, Station Rd, Kelty with Hayley 1st of Rannoch. Female and group reserve, HM The Queen, Balmoral Estate, Ballater with Bhadiar Ruadh 64th of Balmoral. Male champion, HM The Queen with Coimeal of Balmoral. Male reserve, A and A Garton, Kildinny Cottages, Perth with Jura 2nd of Thaggnam.
Juniors- Female and group champion- S and R Hunter, Barlhill, Shotts with Subhlair of Hunters. Male champion and group reserve, A Prentice, Ravenstruther, Lanark with Alexander 2nd of Hyndford.
Reserve female, S and R Hunter with Fiochaig 2nd of Hunters. Reserve male, A and A Garton with Callum Dubh of Thaggnam.
Junior stockjudging, Beth Noble, seniors, Laura Hunter.
Limousin (judge, Paul Rainey)
Seniors- Female and group champion, A MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth with Allanfauld Jolene. Female and group reserve, Ronald Dick with Ronick Jessie J. Male, Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor, Penrith with Whinfellpark Jarhead. Male reserve, G Patterson, Upper Forgie , Keith with Aultside Jacobite.
Juniors – Male and group champion, M Alford, Foxhill, Collumpton, Devon with Foxhillfarm Logan. Male and group reserve, M Alford with Foxhillfarm Lion King. Female, A Campbell, Strawfank, Carstairs with Strawfank Lucy. Female reserve, R Dick with Ronick Lucy.
Senior stockjudging, Allan Lindsay, juniors Richard Davidson.
Hereford (judge, Boomer Birch)
Seniors- Male and group champion, W and P Eccles, Carlaverock, Tranent, East Lothian with Rockness Maelstrom. Male and group reserve, JM Cant, Easter Knox, Arbroath with Panmure 1 Munchkin. Female, W and P Eccles with Rockness Matilda.
Juniors- Female and group champion, W Andrew, Oaklea, Auchincruive, Ayr with Annanview Regina. Female and group reserve, T and D Harrison, Eltringham, Northumberland with Moralee 1 Madonna. Male, Harvey Bros, Buchanan St, Balfron with Harveybros 1 Madonna. Male reserve, T and D Harrison with Moralee 1 Maximus.
Junior stockjudging, Beth Harvey, seniors, Drew Ritchie.
Simmental ( Judge, Iain Green)
Seniors – Male and group champion, WS Stronach, Berrieleys, Keith with Islavale Fendt. Male and group reserve, WS Stronach with Isalvale Fiddler. Female, WS Stronach with Islavale Deborah 2nd. Female reserve, WS Stronach with Islavale Viva 2nd.
Juniors- Male and group champion, W MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, Inverness with Blackford Geronimo. Female champion and group reserve , D Craig, Kennox, Stewarton, Ayrshire with Kennox Deva’s Gena. Male reserve, W MacPherson with Blackford Geronimo. Female reserve, R McCulloch, Overhill House, Armadale, West Lothian with Overhill House Gretal.
Junior stockjudging, Frank Gwynne, seniors, Emma McAlister.
Shorthorn ( judge, Iain Malcolm)
Seniors- Male and group champion, E Paterson, Barncroft, Auchlyne, Killin with Benmore Andrew. Female champion and group reserve, M McMillan, Moneydie Roger, Luncarty, Perth with Coldrochie Princess Royal. Male reserve, J Frame, Little Galla, Biggar with Galla Hercules. Female reserve, Highland Wagyu, Burnside of Balhaldie, Dunblane with HW Tulip.
Juniors- Male and group champion, J Ramsay, Millerston, Mauchline, Ayr with Millerston Jester. Female champion and group reserve, Highland Wagyu with HW Gretta Free. Male reserve J Ramsay with Millerston Jukebox. Female reserve, M McMillan with Coldrochie Catriona Rosebud.
Senior stockjudging – John McCulloch.
Charolais (judge, Bruce Groat)
Seniors- Female and group champion, Redhead and Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick-on-Tweed with Tweeddale Jazzylady. Male champion and group reserve, A Hornall, Falleninch, Stirling with Falleninch Jeroboam. Female reserve, McMurrich Partners with Formakin Juniper. Male reserve, C Wight, Carwood, Biggar with Carwood Jagerbomb.
Juniors – Female and group champion, C and E McCombie, Auchincrieve, Huntly with Auchincrieve Lavender. Male champion and group reserve, A Hornall with Falleninch Landslide. Female reserve, J and M McMillan, Farnell, Brechin with Dunesk Lulu. Male reserve, JM Cant with Panmure Lincoln.
Senior stockjudging – Stephen Taylor.