ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW 2024

Team Ramsay, Milnmark, Dalry, not only scooped a record breaking eighth breed championship but also a fifth champion and reserve doubles in 21 years exhibiting. The family who run 650 ewes took the supreme with a previously unshown gimmer by a £30,000 Elmscleugh bought in 2021, out of a ewe by an £11,000 Milnmark that goes back to the £55,000 Happrew.

Their reserve overall was the male champion, a two-shear ram bought last year from the Wights of Midlock for £32,000, in partnership with Danny Hair, Drumbreddan. A son of a £9000 Midlock, he goes back to a £60,000 Dalchirla, and stood second here last year.

Adding to the family success, the duo won the inter-breed pairs on the Sunday. Judge John Murray, Crossflatt, found his reserve female in a gimmer from James Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Blair Drummond. Inter-breed sheep champion at Gargunnock, she is by a £32,000 Dyke sire and out of a home-bred ewe – one of only 40 in the flock.

James had a great show as he was crowned stockman of the year in the Young Farmers’ stockjudging competition. Taking the blue and white sash amongst the males was an Elmscleugh-bred ram bought last year for £14,000 at Stirling, from the Wights of Midlock. He is by a £32,000 Elmscleugh and is owned in partnership with Alastair and David MacArthur, Nunnerie and Robert Cockburn, Hill of Errol.

Class results

Judge: J Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk Supreme – W Ramsay and Son’s gimmer; W Ramsay and Sons’ tup. Male – W Ramsay and Sons’ tup; reserve – J Wight and Sons’ tup. Female – W Ramsay and Son’s gimmer; reserve – J Graham’s gimmer. Bred – W Ramsay and Son’s gimmer. Group – CC MacArthur and Co.

Class 1: Ram, three shear and over

1st W Ramsay, Milnmark, 2nd Colin C MacArthur, Nunnerie, 3rd Aitkenhead Farm, Aitkenhead

Class 2: Ram, two shear

1st J Wight & Sons, Midlock, 2nd S McClymont & Son, Tinnis, 3rd J & J MacPherson, Balliemeanoch, 4th DC & JJ Marshall, Gosland

Class 3: Shearling Ram

1st A MacGregor (Allanfauld) Ltd, Allanfauld,2nd J Wight & Sons, Midlock, 3rd DC & JJ Marshall, Gosland, 4th W Ramsay & Sons, Milnmark

Class 4: Ram Lamb

1st Colin C MacArthur, Nunnerie, 2nd G & S Donald, Windhill, 3rd J & J MacPherson, Balliemeanoch, 4th Aitkenhead Farm, Aitkenhead, 5th A & A Provan, Parkhall, 6th M Hamilton, South Cobbinshaw, 7th Craigendhill, Craigendhill

Class 5: Ewe, above one shear, in milk, with Lamb(s) at foot

1st A MacGregor (Allanfauld) Ltd, Allanfauld, 2nd J Wight & Sons, Midlock, 3rd M Hamilton, South Cobbinshaw, 4th S McClymont & Son, Tinnis, 5th J R MacGregor (Dyke) Ltd, Dyke, 6th W Ramsay & Sons, Milnmark, 7th Colin C MacArthur & Co, Nunnerie

Class 6: Ewe, above one shear, in milk, with Lamb(s) at foot, unshorn (6 forward)

1st A MacGregor (Allanfauld) Ltd, Allanfauld, 2nd J R MacGregor (Dyke) Ltd, Dyke, 3rd Colin C MacArthur & Co, Nunnerie, 4th J Wight & Sons, Midlock, 5th C Caskie, Upper Hindhope, 6th A & L Prentice Maol Fold, Maol

Class 7 Shearling Ewe or Gimmer

1st W Ramsay & Sons, Milnmark, 2nd J Graham, Burnbank, 3rd J R MacGregor (Dyke) Ltd, Dyke, 4th A MacGregor (Allanfauld) Ltd, Allanfauld, 5th S McClymont & Son, Tinnis, 6th M Hamilton, South Cobbinshaw, 7th J Wight & Son, Midlock

Class 8: Ewe Lamb

1st J Wight & Sons, Midlock, 2nd J & J MacPherson, Balliemeanoch, 3rd Colin C MacArthur & Co, Nunnerie, 4th J R MacGregor (Dyke) Ltd, Dyke, 5th A & A Provan, Parkhall, 6th Craigendhill, Craigendhill, 7th J B Pate & Sons, Moorfoot