It was a clean sweep for females in the championship at the Royal Highland Show this year, with judge Iolo Prys Jones praising the exceptional quality and strength in depth in the female classes in front of him.
“I was blown away with the standard in the female classes, notably the gimmer and aged ewe classes, with the ewe lambs equally as strong. That is to take nothing away from the males, but the females were the stars of the show today.”
Texel-Champion-3146
Taking the top ticket under Mr Jones was the winner of the gimmer class, Robbie Wilson’s daughter of the 60,000gns Glenside Willy Nilly, LYM1602144. This gimmer is out of a dam by the 60,000gns Teiglum Tornado and was on her first show outing. Mr Jones said she was a truly modern Texel female with a great top and backend coupled with excellent locomotion and balance. “She’s everything a Texel female should be and has flesh in abundance as well as the spark needed in a gimmer. She’s just a stunning example of the breed and I couldn’t ask for more in my champion.”
Standing reserve to her was the top placed aged ewe from Robert Laird and family, LTC1402038. Sired by Strathbogie Usher and out of a dam by Cambwell Laird she is out of a same dam as Cambwell Rob Roy and Cambwell Socrates, with the dam having now bred six Highland Show first prize winners. The ewe herself was reserve champion at Lesmahagow this year, reserve champion at Biggar last year and well as being champion at Abington in 2015.
“She’s another outstanding female and it was a tough call between her and the gimmer. Again she has class, flesh and breed character and is a ewe to grace any flock.”