2025 Royal Highland Show Report

Royal Highland Show – Edinbrugh

19th  to 22nd June, 2025

 

Judge: Mr Stewart McIntosh,  Borthwickshiels Farm, Roberton, Hawick

 

 

Overall & female champion-  Kirkstead Lea G11 exhibited by J & S Ross, Romesbeoch, Shawhead, Dumfries, bred by RA McClymont & Son, Kirkstead, Yarrow, Selkirk.

 

Reserve female, overall reserve and junior female champion  – Kirkstead Nancy H1 exhibited by Graham and Gall, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond, Stirling bred by RA McClymont & Son, Kirkstead, Yarrow, Selkirk. 

 

Reserve junior female – Kirkstead Quirk H26 exhibited by D & L Watret, Muirfield, Lockerbie bred by RA McClymont & Son, Kirkstead, Yarrow, Selkirk. 

 

Male champion  – Blackcraig Acrobat exhibited by J & A Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock, Castle Douglas. 

 

Reserve male champion – Newton Cracker exhibited by James Campbell, Kypehill, Strathaven, Lanarkshire bred by Messrs Telfer & Claxton, Newton High House, Newton, Stocksfield, Northumberland

 

Kirkstead Lea G11 Crowned Overall Champion at the 2025 Royal Highland Show After a Triumphant 2024 Season

The 2025 Royal Highland Show saw the stylish Kirkstead Lea G11 take centre stage, claiming the  title of Overall Champion to the delight of her exhibitors, Jim, Selina, and Doug Ross of Romesbeoch, Shawhead, Dumfries—going one better than in 2024, when she stood Reserve Champion.

Now 33 months old, this eye-catching heifer impressed this year’s judge, Mr Stewart McIntosh. She is sired by Blackcraig Bugsy Malone and out of Kirkstead Lea D14, a daughter of the prolific Troloss Impeccable.

The Ross family purchased her at the Castle Douglas Spring Sale in 2024 for 2400gns, and she has more than fulfilled expectations. Her 2024 season was highly successful—she took top honours at the Great Yorkshire Show, where she was named Breed Champion in a very competitive Galloway section. She followed this with another Championship title at Moffat Show, and at Dumfries Show, she continued to impress, earning the title of Reserve Champion.

Reserve Champion and Junior Champion– Kirkstead Nancy H1

Standing in reserve and also clinching the Junior Championship was another Kirkstead-bred female—Kirkstead Nancy H1. Born in September 2023, she is a daughter of Kirkstead Commander out of Kirkstead Nancy Y23,  by Penningham Major. Exhibited by brothers John and James Graham of Mains of Burnbank, Stirling, and Dennis Gall of Lockerbie, also known as the 3Gs,  she was purchased privately for the McClymont family. This Stylish heifer was placed Champion at Drymen in May .

Reserve Junior Champion—and making it three in a row for Kirkstead breeding—was Kirkstead Quirk H26, a stylish young heifer purchased privately this spring by David and Lynn Watret of Muirfield, Lockerbie. Sired by Blackcraig Bugsy Malone and out of Kirkstead Quirk A9, a daughter of Troloss Impeccable.

Blackcraig Acrobat Leads the Males

In the male section, Blackcraig Acrobat, from the Finlay family of Blackcraig, Corsock, Castle Douglas, was awarded the title of Overall Male Champion. Now five years old, Acrobat is sired by Blackcraig Xtream and out of Finmac Libby S401, whose sire is the Australian bull Globex Winchester W15.  Acrobat has sired sons to 26000gns 

Reserve Male Champion went to Newton Cracker, exhibited by James Campbell of Kypeside, Strathaven, Lanarkshire. Born in July 2021, Cracker is by Avenger of Kilnstown and out of Parkend Madaleen. He was purchased at the 2025 Castle Douglas Spring Sale for 3500gns from Andrew Waugh, Kilntown.  

In the interbreed teams competition, the Galloways performed strongly against top-level opposition. In the Native Team of Three, comprising Kirkstead Lea G11, Kirkstead Nancy H1, and the bull Newton Cracker, the team secured an impressive third place. For the Team of Four, they were joined by Kirkstead Quirk E22, with the group going on to achieve a commendable fourth place overall—a fantastic result and a real credit to the breed.

New Exhibitor Award

Congratulations are extended to Alan Nixon, this year’s recipient of the New Exhibitor Award, kindly donated by David and Debs Heath. The award recognises a first-time exhibitor  at the show.

 As in previous years, the Galloway Cattle Society was proud to host its exhibition stand at the Royal Highland Show. We are deeply grateful to everyone who volunteered their time to staff the stand, contributed delicious sweet treats, and joined us for the ever-popular after-show drinks reception. Your support, generosity, and good company are very much appreciated.

 

Leading Awards

Champion Medal, Dr William Heughan Memorial Trophy, The Dr Gillespie Memorial Challenge Trophy and cash prize for breed champion.

J & S Ross                                                       Kirkstead Lea G11

Rosette for best Junior Female

Graham & Gall                                                            Kirkstead Nancy H1

 Junior Champion Prize of £25, Rosette for best Junior Animal, 

Graham & Gall                                                            Kirkstead Nancy H1

Rosette for reserve Junior Animal 

D & L Watret                                                  Kirkstead Quirk H26

The Francis Gourlay Galloway Cattle Society Memorial Challenge Cup, Rosette for best Female

 J & S Ross                                                      Kirkstead Lea G11

Rosette for reserve Female

Graham & Gall                                                            Kirkstead Nancy H1

The Galloway Cattle Society 100^th Show Perpetual Silver Challenge Cup, Rosette for best Bull

J & A Finlay                                                    Blackcraig Acrobat

Rosette for best reserve bull

J Campbell                                                      Newton Cracker

Bronze Medal for Breeder of best Bull

J & A Finlay                                                    Blackcraig Acrobat

Rosette for herdsman in charge of best Animal.

Mr Doug Ross

 Rosette for best Animal bred by Exhibitor

J & A Finlay                                                    Blackcraig Acrobat

The Reid- Walker Perpetual Challenge bowl for best Group, consisting of one Bull and two Females all being the property of one Exhibitor

No entries          

The Tordarroch Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Exhibitor gaining most points in the Galloway Classes

  Graham and Gall

New Exhibitor Prize of £100 kindly presented by David and Debs Heath, Yorkshire Show   - Allan Nixon 

 

 Class Placings

 

 FEMALE born on or after 1st January 2024         

 1^st Dexter & Carolyn Logan, Greenhead, Alva, Clackmannanshire - Lottie C1 of Castlegore, dob 28/02/24,  sire; Fionn MacCumhaill of Castlegore, dam; Emy P2 of Castlegore,  bred by  B Douglas, Ireland

2^nd James Campbell, Kypehill, Strathaven, Lanarkshire – Kypehill Baton Rouge, dob 16/05/2024,   Sire; Clerkhill Ranger,  dam; Nerys 2249 of Romesboech 

 

FEMALE born on or between 1st September and 31st December 2023             

 1^st Graham & Gall, Mains of Burnbank, Blair Drummond, Stirling – Kirkstead Nancy H1, dob 14/09/23 sire; Kirkstead Commander, dam; Kirkstead Nancy Y23, Breeder RA McClymont & Son 

2^ndD & L Watret, Muirfield, Hightae, Lockerbie–  Kirkstead Quirk H26, dob 14/09/23 sire; Blackcraig Bugsy Malone, dam; Kirkstead Quirk A9. Breeder RA McClymont  & Son 

3^rd J & S Ross, Romebeoch, Shawhead, Dumfries – Lady Diana 2773 of Romesboech, dob 18/10/23 Sire; Strathurr Yogi, dam; Lady Diana 1244 of Romesbeoch. 

4^th D & R Cornthwaite, Balgray, Lockerbie – Ufemia of Balgray, dob 05/09/23, sire; Blackcraig Kodiac dam; Sarafia of Balgray

            

 

FEMALE born on or between 1st September 2022 and 31st December 2022 (New for 2025 show – split class)

1^st J & S Ross – Kirkstead Lea G11, dob 23/09/22, sire; Blackcraig Bugsy Malone, dam; Kirkastead Lea D14, breeder RA McClymont & Son

2^nd Catherine MacGregor, South Road, Aberdeen – Blackcraig Libby E1474, dob 07/10/22, sire; Nucamp of Balgray, dam; Blackcraig Libby Z809, Breeder J & A Finlay

3^rd William MacLean, Inverglen, Barcaldine, Argyll – Kirkstead Lea G32 dob 23/10/23, sire; Blackcraig Bugsy Malone, dam; Kirkstead Lea A22, breeder RA McClymont & Son

 

FEMALE born on or between 1^st January 2023 and 31^st August 2023  (New for 2025 show – split class)

1st Miss J A Cowie, Gatehouse of Fleet - Clerkhill Thyme, dob 19/03/23, sire; Outlook of Trolosse ,dam; Clerkhill Ohio, breeder Eskdaleuir Forestry Ltd

2nd A & A Nixon, Nunscleugh, Carlisle– Barlaes Katie 133rd dob 16/03/23, sire; Troloss Magnum, dam; Barlaes Katie 86th    breeder Mr RJ McTurk

 

FEMALE, in Milk, born before 1st September 2022                     

1^st Graham & Gall – Kirkstead Quirk E22, dob 28/10/20 sire; Troloss Impeccable, dam; Kirkstead Quirk X10, breeder RA McClymont & Son 

2^nd J & A Finlay – Blackcraig Blondchen A898 , dob 03/08/21 sire; Blackcraig Xtreme, dam; Blondchen 3^rd of Auchenhay

 

 

 BULL born on or after 31^st December 2022 

1^st J & A Finlay – Blackcraig Acrobat, dob 11/09/2018,  sire; Blackcraig Xtreme, dam; Finmac Libby S401

2^nd James Campbell – Newton Cracker, dob 03/07/21, sire; Avenger of Kilnstown, dam; Parkend Madaleen, breeder Messrs Telfer & Claxton.