A beautifully turned out Clydesdale brood mare and her foal from Kirkcowan in Wigtownshire claimed the overall champion of champions ticket at the show.
Holmhead Mollie and Holmhead Blossom were always going to be contenders for the title after winning best brood mare in show at Stranraer and Wigtown.
And when judge David Sloan drew the pair forward in the main ring as one of his shortlist picks expectations grew that the Clydesdale duo would get the nod.
With the crowd on tenterhooks Mr Sloan walked up and down the line of champions several times before singling out Mollie and her foal as best in show.
It was a proud moment for Wullie Gemmell and nieces Arlene and Laura McKie who have faithfully kept up the Holm Farm tradition of keeping and showing Scotland’s native breed of heavy horses.
Speaking to the News after the presentation, Wullie was “chuffed” to be taking the Bank of Scotland Trophy back to the ‘Shire.
He said: “It’s the first time we’ve won a supreme championship.
“It feels great and it doesn’t get any better than this.”
Arlene added: “It’s nice to see when all our work pays off.
“Mollie’s pretty laid back about it – motherhood has been the making of her.”
The Gemmell and McKie families have been showing for more than 20 years and currently have five Clydesdales at the Holm.
Four-year-old Mollie and Blossom, aged just three-and-a-half months, took the show in their stride with Blossom enjoying a sleep on the grass before final judging.
And for Wullie bringing the pair over the Cree to claim a first ever overall championship was extra special.
“It’s great coming to the Stewartry and stealing their silverware,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“I think it was Mollie’s colour that caught the judge’s eye.
“She’s nearly all chestnut brown with very little white on her and is registered as a bay.
“That’s the kind we like and that’s the kind my father liked.
“Hopefully the young one will go on and emulate what the old one has done.”
With decades of experience of working with Clydesdales behind him, Wullie is modest about his role in Holm Farm’s showing successes.
“I’m only the driver,” he said, slightly disingenuously.
“It’s been very much a family effort.
“There’s an awful lot of work involved – especially in cleaning their feet and keeping them that way.”
The reserve champion was a Texel from the MacTaggarts of Douganhill Farms, Orchardton, Palnackie.
Sired by Proctors US President, it is out of a ewe by Douganhill
Youngun.
