Royal Highland Show – Traditional Type

Royal Highland Show – Friday 21st June 2024

Traditional Report

It was a cracking show for the Blue Faced Leicester teams in both sections, with some great classes full of quality, which spilled over into the interbreed sections, with the single interbreed overall champion coming from the Crossing Type and the Traditional pairs, going on to take the reserve overall championship, quite some achievement for the breed

In the traditional ring, following the Crossing type, it was Scott Thomason in the middle, and boy, did he have some great classes to preside over. Probably the strongest class was the gimmer class which saw 22 great sheep for him to cast his eye over, and a great spectacle for those watching on.

Taking the overall champion was the impressive aged tup from the Kirkstead flock, shown impressively by Sam and Ollie in the absence of Father Alan who was unfortunately under the weather. This giant of a tup is the record breaking R1 Espley they bought as a lamb out of Carlisle for £23,000 in 2022. He is full of great breeding too, by N7 Logie Durno and out of a daughter of the great F2 Ashes. The reserve male also went to the Kirkstead flock with a strong homebred tup shearling by the N11 Bonvilston who himself was no stranger to the showring, scooping the reserve interbreed title back in 2022.

The reserve Champion went to Sophie Harding, ably assisted by daughter Skye, with a ewe by the Ashes tup. This lovely sheep is out of the Shrewbridges best breeding ewe, with her full sister taking 2^nd prize in the massive gimmer class. Their trip all the way from Shrewsbury was made even better when, along with the Kirkstead tup, they went on to claim the Reserve Interbreed Pairs title on the Sunday.  The reserve female champion went to the second prize ewe in the class from the Kirkstead flock. This one was by L1 Ashes and out of the flocks old show ewe by the G1 Burndale. She was the reserve female at last years show, before going on to win the Penrith progeny show.

The 22 strong gimmer class was won by Dewi and Meinir Parry making their debut at the show, travelling all the way up from deepest darkest Wales. This sharp gimmer is by Leadburnlea M3, who also coincidently sired the first prize gimmer at the Highland two years back for Falnash, so he is proving to be a consistent breeder! She is no stranger to the show ring, having won at Anglesey and the Welshpool progeny shows as a lamb.

The tup lamb class was won by Michael and Nicky Gray, Espley with a lovely sweet tup lamb by the N7 Logie Durno, the same as the Champion and the gimmer lamb winner was from the Kildalloig flock. She was by a £1500 Belgrave and out of a Towdypotts ewe.

Once again, a big well done to all involved over the whole course of the Show.