Sheep entry numbers reach second highest in a decade

Crowes of Angus take both champion and reserve tickets in the Jacob section

With entry numbers hitting their second highest in a decade, at 2,029 head, and bright and breezy weather conditions proving perfect for showing, the sheep rings were busy both inside and out on day-one of the Royal Highland.

It was a day to remember for Angus arable farmers Willie and Edith Crowe, who took both the champion and reserve tickets in the Jacob section. Having won the championship several times over the years, this was the first time the couple had secured the top two accolades at the same time.

Their Rowanbank flock was established around 30 years ago and now consists of just seven ewes.

Leading the way for them this time was the shearling ram, Rowanbank Hector, which had stood champion at Angus Show earlier in the month, while their reserve was a Hope-bred gimmer, which Willie bought last year as a present for Edith.

The inter-breed sheep champion from Angus Show went on to lead the way in the Charollais section for Gregor and Bruce Ingram, Logie Durno, Pitcaple. That was their one-crop ewe, Loanhead Riverdance, one of 30 ewes in the boys’ flock, which runs alongside the family’s Logie Durno flock.

Falkirk-based Iain and Arabella Johnston celebrated another championship in the Berrichon ring.

Their superstar this year was the home-bred ram, Kirkton Rhodium, bred from their 50-ewe flock.

And, in a busy Ryeland section, Eddie Henderson, of Milnathort, secured the reserve overall award, with a home-bred gimmer from the family’s 12-ewe Landriggs flock.

The Blackface ring proved popular as ever with spectators – they saw a twoshear tup from the Wights of Midlock, take the champion ticket. He had been bought at Dalmally last year from Lurg, for £22,000.

For the second year in a row, Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly, took the lead in the Suffolk section, which had its highest entry in 10 years, of 110 head. He won this time with Strathbogie Madonna, a home-bred gimmer from the 12-ewe Strathbogie flock.

Pictures: Macgregor Photography. Top left: The Jacob champion, Rowanbank Hector, a shearling ram by Hope Laddie, was shown by Willie and Edith Crowe, Heughhead Farm, Friockheim, near Arbroath. Top right: Gregor and Bruce Ingram, Logie Durno Farm, Pitcaple, showed the Charollais...