How long have you had Borders? 55 Years. My father bought his first females and Ram from his good friend Norman Hughes, Tycanol, BL51F having been brought up on the home farm of Corriecravie here on Arran in the 1920s where BL rams were used on Scottish Blackface ewes. We won our first red ticket at Denbigh and Flint show in August 1966 and I’ve been an enthusiast ever since. At Clachaig we use homebred BL rams on many of the Blackface, Cheviot and Lleyn ewes, the resulting female offspring make excellent crossbred ewes and the wedders sell well both store and finished.
What has been your highlight from Selling/Showing?
Bringing out Bosolo Ghali (929949) for son Duncan who was in NZ to make £3000 at Lanark and who went on to win the Royal Highland as a 2 shear for my brother Jim, Eildon,BL44W.
Winning the Individual Interbreed sheep championship at the English Royal show in 1991 with Hillend Major (27447) who also went on to win the Royal Highland in 1993 and to date running the
only flock to have won supreme Championships at the Royal Highland, The English Royal, The Royal Welsh, the National show and breeding the Champion at The Royal Ulster.
What would you say to someone considering using a Border Ram or starting their own flock?
The Border Leicester is a great sheep to work with and handle and is very suitable for crossing with all breeds of sheep to provide good commercial cross bred females and wedders.
For those who have an interest in pedigree breeding and /or showing it is possible to make a start in Border Leicesters without spending the huge sums of money that it takes to get involved in many
other breeds.
Finally, the society is renowned for its friendly and helpful members, competitive at show and sale time but always looking to promote and further interest in the breed.