SCOTTISH REGION
Regional Contact Member – Melanie Harper
Ewen MacMillan’s Luhura Hillbilly at home near Glasgow
The dark mornings and dark nights mean only one thing, we are fast
approaching winter again, my ewes are all marked and by the time you read
this hopefully will all be scanned. I used my stock ram, Hugh Hefner, and I was lucky enough to borrow a very old stock ram from Wales for daughters of
Hefner. I’ve managed to pull my lambing date forward a week and hope to see my first lambs around the second week of January, with the majority of my ewes lambing within a week of each other. I have used only minerals, a drench and then buckets. My old ewe “Big L” once again kick started the tupping off and the other ewes followed behind her always a good sight to see marked backsides and even better when they remain the original colour. I’m always nervous at scanning day but should have faith in my ewes and rams.
The Scottish Show and Sale
Once again, another successful sale, the move to Carlise continues to prove it was a great idea. A packed ringside at judging along with a lot of buzz around the pens turned into a great sale. Thanks to Paul Colhoun from Ireland who kindly agreed to judge for us, Paul took his time to go over every sheep before making his final cut, he had some big classes to judge a credit to our exhibitors. The champion came from the Hope Team, their ewe lamb may have taken the top prize slot, but it was the reserve champion who hit the headlines, Beiliau Lancaster, a shearling ram from the Trumper family left the sale ring with a new centre record of 4200gns, what a day for Lyndon and his family, still makes me smile even now writing it in my report. Thanks to our sponsors Scott Robertson, Crystalyx and Life -Gard (I will certainly be using my Life – Gard paste in my lambing shed), thanks also to Scott and Robert who are always at the end of a message when I need advice or help. The three of us have since met and have gone over the sale to discuss where changes and improvements can be made, I’ve fed back to Anna at H&H, and they have agreed to try to implement these in the 2024 Sale (Friday 2nd August). As RCM I wish to extend my gratitude to everyone who supported our sale, it’s a lot of work behind the scenes but makes it all worthwhile to see so many people on the day. There is a full sale report in this Journal from Howard Walsh.
The National Show
Connor & Dalrymple’s champion shearling ewe and Barbara Webster’s reserve champion tup lamb at the Scottish National Show, Grantown, with the judge, Kay Carpenter.
This year the National Show headed to Grantown Show, the sun shone down on a great turnout of Jacobs for our judge, Kay Carpenter from Central Region. Some big classes forward, sheep had travelled from south of the Forth Road Bridge to attend, but it was a sheep from the Dunmor team that Kay picked for her champion, their shealing ewe no stranger to wining she had taken female champion at the RHS 2023 earlier in the season, so she ended her show season as she started it a champion. A strong ram lamb from Barbara Webster’s Carochy Flock took the reserve champion ticket. Thanks to Scott Robertson who helped co-ordinate the national and seek sponsorship from a local firm. also thanks to our judge, Kay, and to everyone how exhibited at the show. Next year’s National Show will be held at Fife Show.
Stephen Dodsworth judging at the Black Isle Show
Scottish AGM Weekend 2025
We have found a hotel in Elgin and have the visits roughly planned out, along with one or two other attractions, and a grand malt whiskey or two I’m sure will make an entrance. Thanks to Barbara who kindly made the trip north to meet up with the northern ladies and sourced the hotel, I know the northern
members are keen to put on a fantastic weekend for everyone. Watch this space for more info.
Scottish AGM Meeting 2023
Our Scottish AGM meeting will be held on the 5th of November, thanks to Mike Munro for kindly agreeing to have a visit on his Kinloch Farm before the meeting. By the time you read this the meeting will be past tense, anything to report will be in the next Journal.
Final Word
My daughter Stephanie and I travelled to Ireland to assist at the Young Handlers day and trimming workshop led by Scott Dalrymple. Details in the Ireland Region report.
Stephanie Crozier with her champion tup lamb at the Border Union Show with the judge, Clive Richardson
Some of you will remember Frank Leithead, he was married to the late Marion Leithead, Frank passed away peacefully at home on Saturday 23rd September. Frank was often seen at the ringside on show days.
All that’s left for me to say is Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2024, good luck to everyone in their lambing sheds, and I say this every year let’s hope for that show champion.
My thanks to my Scottish committee for their continued help and support.
Kinloch Louis, shearling ram, and Kinloch Maverick, ram lamb, at Mike Munro’s flock in Fife.