Dougie McBeath & Sarah-Jane Jessop, Lower Greenyards Farm, Bannockburn, Stirling, have won the inaugural Scottish Limousin Grand Prix with their January 2012 born bull Ardglasson Highlander. This new event, set up to promote the Limousin breed and to support local agricultural shows in Scotland, was held within the Black Isle Show at Muir of Ord, Ross Shire on Thursday 1st August.
From an entry of some sixty Limousin cattle Ardglasson Highlander took the Male Championship title before being given the Overall Supreme Championship nod by judge for the day Craig Ridley of the noted Haltcliffe herd, Hesket-New-Market, Wigton.
Taking the Reserve Overall was the Female Champion in the shape of the heifer Glenrock Fantastic from Steven & Helen Illingworth, Howgillside, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie.
Ardglasson Highlander was bred in Ireland by Fiona Gilsenan, Kells, Co Meath and was purchased at the Roscrea Sale in March where he had placed Junior Champion under the judging of Dougie McBeath. With no intentions of buying a bull at the time Mr. McBeath said that the bull had just stood out to him as a terrific all-round bull. A deal was duly done! January 2012-born, Ardglasson Highlander is by the noted AI sire Fieldson Alfy, and is out of Ardglasson Daisy who goes back to a Pelletstown bull.
This high profile win follows on from the 2013 Royal Highland Show where Ardglasson Highlander stood as the Overall Reserve Male Champion. The Scottish Limousin Grand Prix is the bull’s second show outing and he is now due to go to Perth Show on Saturday 3rd August.
Commenting on his Champion the judge Craig Ridley said: “This is an outstanding young bull. He’s a typical Limousin type, long and clean with a very good backend, top and width throughout”. Of the inaugural Scottish Limousin Grand Prix, Mr. Ridley went on to say; “It’s been a pleasure to judge this new event held this year within a great show like the Black Isle. There has been a high standard of Limousin cattle forward with some very close classes throughout.”
Glenrock Fantastic, has also enjoyed a terrific show season. The Overall Reserve at the Scottish Limousin Grand Prix followed on from Overall Reserve positions at both the Royal Highland and Great Yorkshire Shows respectively. Interbreed honours were also secured at the Great Yorks. An embryo calf, Glenrock Fantastic is by the 100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount and is out of the noted cow Glenrock Spangle who has bred daughters to 20,000gns and sons to 16,000gns.
The Illingworths also took the Overall Reserve Male Championship with Glenrock Highwayman. April 2012 born, Highwayman is by the noted Sympa and is out of Glenrock Campari. Campari is a Cloughhead Lord daughter out of the aforementioned Glenrock Spangle.
Taking the Overall Reserve Female Championship was the heifer Grahams Foxtrot from R&J Graham, Airthrey Kerse Dairy Farm, Bridge Of Allan, Stirling. Entirely homebred, the Janaury 2010 Grahams Foxtrot is by Grahams Alexander and is out of Grahams Diana. Foxtrot was also a first prize winner at this year’s Royal Highland.
Full report and pics to follow…
