Royal Highland Show - 2025 - Suffolk Sheep Society

Strong and powerful Strathbogie gimmer takes Supreme Champion at the RHS 2025

Date: Thursday 19th June 2025

Judge: J Gibb, Cairnton Flock, Fraserburgh

The start of the show on the Thursday of the Royal Highland Show was a little delayed as a presentation to well-known breed stalwart Jimmy Wilson took place very appropriately in the Suffolk Show ring. The Sir William Young Award award for outstanding contribution to livestock breeding was presented in fine style. A great occasion and a very popular choice watched by a large crowd and a fitting testimony for the commitment of James to the sheep industry.

Jimmy Wilson and family receiving his award at RHS 2025

Making it a bit special in 2025 a party of American breeders were over on a tour of the Scottish Borders taking in the Highland Show to see the best sheep that Scotland had to offer on show. They were suitably impressed and thank you to the branch for hosting them at lunch time for a “meet the breeders” from which one or two deals were struck!

Judging started on a blissfully warm and dry day, and a keen and enthusiastic crowd surrounded the ring continuously through the judging which is again a sign that the Suffolk breed is on its way back to former glory. John Gibb was given the honour in 2025 of presiding over the classes as judge, executing his duties in fine fashion throughout and eventually coming to a decision on his top table of sheep presented before him. Ably assisted by the best dressed ring stewards at the show!

Judge John Gibb (Cairnton) along with steward team

The Overall Champion came from the exceptional class of Gimmers put forward which was just shy of 30 sheep packing the tight ring at the Highland and what a spectacle that was. Strong numbers of females forward is a good sign the breed is in a good place. Aberdeenshire breeder Jim Innes (Strathbogie) taking top honour with his entry, a strong and powerful sheep sired by the 30,000gn purchase Rempstone Gambler by a home bred ewe. The Gimmer went on to the Sheep Interbreed and took second reserve, completing a cracking day for Strathbogie.

Champion Presentation L to R: Judge J Gibb, Champion J Innes, Strathbogie and Reserve F Christie, Maidenstone

It was a day of the females again with another from the strong Gimmer class taking Reserve Overall Champion. Entered and shown by Finn Christie (Maidenstone) the Gimmer was sired by 28,000gn Castleisle Blackadder and was on her first outing in the ring. She is an ET sister to last year’s Scottish Champion at the Lanark sale that went on to make 15,000 gns at the sale and out of a ewe by Howgillfoot Sniper that stood Champion at the Highland in 2024. Blackadder has stood Finn proud, and has also bred the National Show Champion, Sheep Interbreed Champion and Champion of Champions at Angus Show in Scotland.

For the third year in succession Stewart Lathangie (Pyeston) took the honours in the Ram lamb class and being tapped out by John Gibb as his first place Ram Lamb, going on to be picked out as Male Champion. The January born lamb is sired by Claycrop Cadillac a 7000gn purchase from the Scottish Branch sale at Lanark in 2024 bred by James Wallace (Claycrop) and bred from a ewe by Limestone Limited Edition which has bred sons to 11,000gns.

Graham Christie (Balquhain) took reserve Male Champion making it a great day and show for the family with the ram lambs holding sway in the male classes. Again, sired by Castleisle Blackadder the ram lamb was on his first outing and will feature at the Society sale in Lanark in July.

Congratulations to the winners and to all the breeders who took the time out to attend and show at the Royal Highland Show in 2025 making it a huge success at what is one of the breeds most special of shop windows.