Stirling farmer Andrew Hornall is celebrating a memorable treble at the Royal Highland Show.
His two-and-a-half-year-old Charolais bull Falleninch Tommy was named supreme cattle champion.
And his 14-month-old heifer Falleninch Valentina took the overall junior cattle title.
It’s an astonishing achievement – no-one can remember if this particular double has been done before.
And to cap an astoundingly successful day for the Falleninch herd, Stephen Taylor, who normally shows the cattle in the ring, was named Young Farmers’ stockman of the year.
Andrew last won the supreme championship at the Royal Highland in 2003. He’d previously won it two years running, in 1996 and 1997.
Speaking as he celebrated his latest success, following a 22-year wait, he said: “It’s been an amazing day.
“I did not expect this at all and it’s made me very happy.”
Andrew started attending the Royal Highland as a child and, according to his mum, he’s never missed a show in 58 years.
He now runs a herd of 15 Charolais cows on his 180-acre farm at Falleninch. He also runs a butchers from there.
Rugby star says cattle stockmen ‘a credit to the industry’
The supreme judge this year was Kelso farmer and former Scotland rugby star John Jeffrey, who said it was a thrill to be invited. He praised all the stockmen who brought out cattle for their dedication and skill and described them as a credit to the industry.
Speaking about his choice of champion, the judge said: “The power, presence and poise of this Charolais bull really shows the public the best of Scottish beef and gives them something to remember.”
The Highland cattle champion was from Dexter and Carolyn Logan, of Alva.
Sell-out crowd
Prize-winning cattle, sheep, goats and heavy horses took centre-stage on day three of the Royal Highland Show.
There was a sell-out crowd in the grandstand in Ingliston, Edinburgh, to see lots of different breeds at one time. More than 150 animals took part in the grand parade.
Reserve in the interbreed cattle championship went to a ringside favourite, a red Angus cow, with bull calf at foot, from George and Nikki Taylor, of Bathgate.
Mosshall Red Essence, by Galcantray Red Samson and out of Mosshall Red Essence, was brought out by stockman James Reid.
James looks after the 130-strong herd at Mosshall, of which 90 are red.
He said, “George and Nikki came out of dairying. When they went into beef, they looked for something different and settled on red Angus. This is only the fourth year we have shown at the Highland.”
Junior interbreed judge Jonathon Watson, of Berwick, said he noticed his winner’s “presence” as soon as she came into the ring.
Junior reserve title comes to Moray
And he described Falleninch Valentina as a “credit to the breed”.
Reserve went to the Irvine family of Anside, Keith, in Moray, with young homebred Limousin bull Anside UFO.
This one had won junior and overall honours in its breed class on Thursday.
UFO is by Gunnerfleet Lion, while the dam, Anside Owena, was described by Martin Irvine as one of the best cows in the Anside herd.
Interbreed teams of four were judged by John Jeffrey, who last chose winners in this category 30 years ago.
The rugby Grand Slam winner said: What a change we have witnessed in the cattle industry in that time. Today, we are seeing the cream of the cream of Scotland’s cattle.”
Prize-winning cattle quartets
John’s champion team were Limousins. The quartet included Redpath Farms’ senior bull Maraiscote Sherlock, SR Mitchell’s four-year-old cow Petteril Sugababe, Craig Johnston’s two-year-old heifer Crajan Unison, and Robert and Jean Graham’s young heifer Grahams Umandy.
Reserve went to a team of Salers. This foursome included Farmstock Genetics’ champion bull Sauveur, Lewis Ralston’s four-year-old cow Kaimburn Raquel, Rednock Estate’s 15 month-old heifer Rednock Togo and Farmstock Genetics’ yearling heifer Cumbrian Jaconde.
Conversation