Empire Babs strikes back to take Ayr inter-breed crown

May 14, 2010 | By Vickie Robinson

IT was second time lucky for David Yates’ Holstein champion which, having been breed champion in 2009, went on to take the dairy inter-breed title at Ayr Show this weekend.

Shown by Mr Yates’ nephew Michael, the home-bred, fourth calver Meiklefirth Empire Babs is by New World Empire and is giving approximately 56 litres per day.

She was champion at Dumfries Show as well as reserve champion at the Royal Highland last year, where she will be headed again next month.

The reserve place in the dairy section went to Robert Hunter’s Jersey, Clydevalley Julian Flora by Valleystream Julian.

But, perhaps the biggest triumph of the day was for local farmer Jack Rennie who won the Ayrshire championship with Brocklehill Eaglet. Despite having won numerous titles elsewhere, it was his first championship win at Ayr after 65 years of exhibiting at the show.

In the beef lines, the 2005-born cow Skerrington Rhona 21, from William Young, Skerrington Mains, Kilmarnock, took the inter-breed title. She was shown with her October-born calf at foot, which is by Corskie Proton – also a former Ayr Show inter-breed champion. By Sterling Nelson 2, this was the cow’s first major win and she will now be going to the Royal Highland.

‘Highly impressed’

Tom Arnott, from Kelso, who said he was ‘highly impressed’ by the ‘first class’ quality of the animals on show, tapped out the Commercial champion as his overall reserve.

The Limouisin cross from Leslie Craik, Castle Douglas, was a 21-month-old home-bred steer named Arnie.

A two-shear Beltex ram proved to be a good investment for John Barclay, of Ayrshire, and David and Jane Cruikshank, Castle Douglas.

The ram, which they bought at Carlisle last year for 4,800gns was chosen by judge John Kerr from Maybole, Ayrshire, as the inter-breed sheep winner.

Bred by Mary Dunlop, it was on its second outing, having already claimed victory as reserve inter-breed champion at Catrine Show this year.

Mr Barclay, who showed the ram, said he would be going to the Royal Highland.

Reserve was the Scottish Blackface champion from Robert Kay, of Straiton, which was on its first time out.

Mr Kay, who also had the champion Blackface last year at Ayr, said the single ewe hogg was home-bred by a 4,000gns Greenside ram.

RESULTS

Dairy

Inter-breed (Judge, B. Weatherup jnr., Fife) Supreme, D. Yates, Meiklefirth Empire Babs (Holstein); reserve, R. Hunter, Clydevalley Julian Flora (Jersey).
Ayrshire (J. Gribbon, Lancashire) Sup., J. and K. Rennie, Brocklehill Eaglet; res., A. Woodburn and Sons, Barr Warbler.
Holstein (A. Dennison, Cumbria) Sup., D. Yates, Meiklefirth Empire Babs; res., B. Weatherup and Partners, Parkend Jacob Betsy.
Jersey (J. Gribbon) Sup., R. Hunter, Clydevalley Julian Flora; res., R. and W. Templeton, Skyhigh Ressurection Veronica.
Red and White (J. Gribbon) Sup., A. Woodburn and Sons, Killoch Punch 933; res., A. Woodburn and Sons, Killoch Greta 151.

Beef

Inter-breed (T. Arnott, Roxburghshire) Sup., W. Young (Skerrington Mains), Skerrington Rhona 21 (Simmental); res.; J. and L. Craik, Arnie (Limousin X).
Inter-breed group of three (T. Arnott) Sup., William Young (Skerrington Mains) Skerrington Rhona 21 and Corskie Proton, and David Craig (Kennox) Annick Tara’s Alice (Simmental); res., K.J. Hill, Kenray Darcheville and Kenray Diamond, and J. Kennedy, Lyonpark Evelien (British Blues)
Aberdeen-Angus (N. Wattie, Aberdeenshire) Sup., G.R. Brooke, Lockerkey Primrose; res., J. Gilmour and Co., Belhaven Ruissea.
Belted Galloway (C. Marler, Buckinghamshire.) Sup., T. Rennie, Mosston Muir Punch; res., J. Taylor, Tobergill Katy.
British Blue (S. Pattinson, Cumbria) Sup., K. Watret, Solway View Dexy; res., R. and M. Paterson, Auchenlay El Toro.
British Simmental (R. McAllister, Argyll and Bute) Sup., William Young (Skerrington Mains), Skerrington Rhona 21; res., Hazelden Simmentals, Hazelden Carina 1.
Galloway (W. MacLean, Argyll) Sup., D. and M. Gall, Lady Silverbell 3 of Gall-Way; res., J. and S. Ross, Beauty 704 of Romesbeoch.
Hereford (B. Rimmer, Lancashire) Sup., W. and J. Andrew, Arranview I Regina (P); res., D. and S. Smith and Son, Baldinnie I Cranmore.
Highland (F. Ormiston, Ayrshire) Sup., W. and T. Thomson, Morag 44 of Woodneuk; res., W. and T. Thomson, Bachy 16 of Woodneuk.
Any other continental breed (K. Lawson, Perth) Sup., W.J. and M. Mash, Segala (Limousin); res., R. and S. Kennedy, Newpark Dominique (British Blonde).
Any other native breed (C. Marler) Sup., G.R. Brooke, Holmeere Millicent 4; res., J.P. Ramsay, Millerston Irania Babs.
Commercial cattle (I. Wilson, Inverness) Sup., J. and L. Craik, Arnie (Limousin X); res., J. Nisbet, Rough Diamond (Limousin X).

Sheep

Inter-breed (J. Kerr, Ayrshire) Sup., J.Y. Barclay and Co. (Beltex); res., J.W. Kay and Co (Blackface).
Inter-breed group of three (J. Kerr) Sup., F.H. Kennedy and Son (British Charollais); res., J. Maxwell (Texel).
Beltex (J. Cowan, Ayrshire) Sup., J.Y. Barclay and Co.; res., L. and I. Montgomerie.
Blackface (J. McWhirter, Ayrshire) Sup., J.W. Kay and Co.; res., W. Stevenson and Son.
Bluefaced Leicester (J. Arthur, Lanarkshire) Sup., K. Smith; res., M. and C. Drummond.
Border Leicester (T. Nelson, Ayrshire) Sup. and res., J.E. Taylor.
British Charollais (E. Lawrie, Lanarkshire) Sup., F.H. Kennedy and Son; res., A. Gray and Son.
Jacob (G. Haworth, North Yorkshire) Sup. and res., G. Connor and S. Dalrymple.
Suffolk (J. Young, Aberdeenshire) Sup., I. and J. Barbour; res., A. Bothwell.
Texel (G. Howie, Aberdeenshire) Sup., A.C. Clark; res., R. Pigg and Son.
Zwartbles (J. Baker, North Yorkshire) Sup., M. Campbell; res., C. Scott.
Any other breed (J.P. Guthrie, Ayrshire) Sup., D. and J. Alexander; res., Greenside.
Commercial (J. McWhirter, Ayrshire) Sup., J. Kennedy; res., A. Leggate.