Royal Highland Show – Crossing Type

The morning conditions were perfect for showing, dry with a bit of a breeze. Judge, John Lord, enjoyed some great classes of top quality sheep, with the enthusiasm of the breeders as high as ever. Once again it was a great show for breed stalwart Allan Wight, Midlock, with their flock taking not just the championship, but also the reserve placing too. Their champion was a tup shearling by the £10,000 K1 Highberries they bought out of Kirkby Stephen a couple of years back, and out of an E1 Barf House sired ewe. This tall, stretchy sheep was the male champion as a lamb last year and Midlock will be looking to retain him for their own use. The reserve champion and champion female was a gimmer, the latest of a strong line of sheep. She is by the K1 Shafthill out of Hawes and out of a ewe by G2 Marriforth. Her mother and grandmother were both champions at the Highland in years gone by, and they will no doubt be looking forward to seeing her progeny too! Following close on the coat tails of Midlock was Andrew McQuiston, New Luce, again taking both reserve championship places. The reserve male place went to his tup lamb and his reserve female was his gimmer, which had stood second in its class to the Midlock female champion.