Royal Highland Show – Traditional Type

Highland Traditional Type – Friday 20th June 2025

Under a blue sky and blistering sunshine, the Bluefaced Leicester classes from both sections drew a smashing crowd and some great sheep were on show and the judges had to be on top of their game to concentrate in each class. The quality in all the classes was as good as it has been and once again this spilled over into the interbreed sections too.

The traditional section enjoyed a great show again, with some smart sheep on show in the searing heat. Kim Coleman from the Brague flock kept her cool though as she cast her eye over the sheep in front of her. Her Champion came from the Kirkstead flock once again. This time it was a three crop ewe from the McClymonts which took the top honours. She is by the Ashes L1 bought out of Carlisle for £3000 as a lamb. She is no stranger to the showring standing first as a gimmer lamb and second as a gimmer shearling at the Highland show, as well as being part of the Res Champion team at last years Penrith Progeny show. Coming into the Interbreed she played a blinder and took the Reserve Interbreed place too. She is out of Kirkstead Sasha, who was by Burndale G1 who was twice Highland Champion himself and followed her illustrious grandfathers footsteps the following day, by making up one half of the Interbreed Pairs team.

The other half of that pair was the male Champion from this section, once again from the Kirkstead flock. This time it was a two shear tup bought at Kelso last year from Bo Brown, Madrissa. They paid £12,000 to acquire his services, sharing him with Lisa Fleming, Falnash, with Bo retaining a share too. He is full of Kirkstead breeding again, sired by a son of Sasha, sold at Carlisle for £1000 and out of a Kirkstead bred ewe, by Mendick H16, bought at the Blue Belles sale. The first prize tup lamb was by the Madrissa and out of a ewe they bought from Raymond Baynes Beldhu flock.

It was a good day out for Suzie and Claudia Claydon from the 30 head Clarilaw flock. This mother and daughter team were making only their second appearance in the Highland Showring, despite breeding BFL for 20 years, and took away a hatfull of tickets. The main one was the Reserve male championship ribbons with their homebred tup shearling, Clarilaw T1, which is by the West Bolton P6. He will be heading to the Kelso sales later this year. They also took the red ticket, as well as the blue one, in the gimmer lamb class too. This was by the West Bolton tup again and out of a Leadburnlee bred ewe.

The 1^st prize gimmer shearling came from Alix Gray and her Low Espley flock. This was by Logie Durno N7 and out of a Burndale ewe bought out of Carlisle back in 2023. She only has 4 ewes and 2 gimmers, so this was an excellent result for her small flock.

Well done to all for putting up with the heat and putting on a great show.