RAIN didn’t deter the crowds turning out for the popular Wigtown Show at Bladnoch Park on Wednesday, with a crowd estimated at more than 5000.
The show was a triumph for the McCornick family from Boreland Farm, Kirkcowan, who were celebrating after their five-year-old Angus cow won the Native Any Other Breed section before going on to be crowned supreme champion of champions.
Martin McCornick’s champion with a May-born calf, has only been shown once before in 2019 but she made her mark on the show, beating off the challenge from the champions in all the cattle, sheep, goat and horse classes.
She was picked out by supreme champion judge James Warnock from Lanark to the delight of Gemma McCornick, who led the cow, and her sister Kate, who was leading the calf.
Gemma said: “I’ve been coming to Wigtown Show every year of my life and always dreamed of winning this championship. It’s absolutely great to win and we’re all delighted.
“She’s five-years-old and the only other time she’s been shown was in 2019, so this is just great for her to win today.”
The reserve champion of champions was the seven-year-old champion Clydesdale mare Collessie Flash Girl shown by Charlotte Young from Hall Farm, Ayr.
The rain went off and the sun came out for the highlight of the day when all the champions lined up in the main ring for the judging of the champion of champion and the presentation of the awards by Wigtownshire’s Lord Lieutenant Aileen Brewis who was accompanied by Wigtown Agricultural Society chairman David Templeton, who is in his last year in the post.
He said: “This show means everything to the local community. People come back year after year from all over where they meet family, friends and have a fun day out.”
The overall champion in the horse section was Samantha Cloy’s Landsdowne Road. She comes from Heathhall, Dumfries, and was riding her horse which was champion at Stewartry Show on Saturday.
Taking reserve honours in the strong horse section was N&N Gwynnne’s Chesterman Holly from Castlewigg, Whithorn, which was ridden by Anna Christie.
There was disappointment that there were no Galloway cattle exhibited at the show but there was a strong entry in the Belted Galloway classes where the championship went to Mochrum Estate, Old Place of Mochrum, Port William with their 26-month-old heifer Mochrum Cora, which was breed champion at the Great Yorkshire earlier this year and the Stewartry Show last Saturday.
Other championship wins included:
AO Pure Breed Continental – Amy Vance, Bridgehouse Farm, Whithorn. Commercial Cattle – A&E Vance, Bridgehouse Farm, Whithorn. Dairy – Louise Craig, Barlae Farm, Kirkinner with a Holstein cow.
Heavy Horse driving, Millisle trophy – Hugh Ramsay, Millisle, Garrison. Light horse in hand N&N Gwynne, Castlewigg Farm, Whithorn. High horse ridden – Samantha Cloy, Heathhall. Donkey – Susan Cook, Shallochmill, Girvan.
Sheep: Suffolk – Brian Vance, Mid Skeog, Whithorn. Beltex – Glenturk Farming Company, Wigtown. Texel – Kerrin Forsyth, Baltier Bungalow, Whithorn. Zwartble – Gillian and Mark Smith, Barmurrie, Balmaclellan. AOB Continental – A D Brisbane, Little Tongue, Castle Kennedy. AO Pure Breed native – Gemma McCornick, Boreland Farm, Kirkcowan. Rare and Minority Breed – C Adams, Clugston Farm, Kirkcowan with a Shetland. Blue faced Leicester – William Murray, High Ersock, Whithorn. Scotch Mule – William D Barrowman, Mid Knockglass, Stranraer. Ryeland – Andrew Hunter Blair, Nether Cleugh, Dalry. Blackface – Drannandow Farms, Newton Stewart. Commercial – HS Mactier & Son, Boghouse Farm, Mochrum. Sheep Young handler – Ewan Clark, Meikle Glengyre, Leswalt. Goats – W&I McCreath, Polquhanity, Carsphairn, with Polquhanity Lavender.
