Heavy rain failed to dampen spirits at the Caithness County Show in Wick on Saturday.
Breeders from across the north of Scotland flocked to Westerseat and Riverside for the 176th annual show.
Leading the charge to take home the prestigious show champion of champions title was one-year-old farmer Jenson Gunn, of Mavsey, Farm, near Lybster. Fresh off the heels of winning the same title at Latheron the week before, young Jenson took the award with home-bred two-year-old Simmental heifer Mavsey Golden Pride.
Shown by Jenson’s parents Jonathan and Joanne, she is by Banwy T-Rex and out of Mavsey Pride.
Judge Sandy Mellis, of Miltonduff, near Elgin, then selected the supreme horse champion as his reserve show champion of champions.
This was the Working Hunter champion from earlier in the day – 10-year-old gelding Sterling 4 from Ruth Sutherland, Balnasmurrich, Watten.
Meanwhile, reserve supreme in the beef section went to the commercial cattle champion from Gordon Begg at Vauldale, Nybster, Auckengill. Home-bred mid-January born British Blue cross heifer, Holy Moly, is by Invercharron Diablo. She is destined for sale at the Thainstone Spectacular next month.
In the sheep section, the coveted interbreed champion title went to the North Country Cheviot champion from J. and W. Mackay, Biggins, Killimster, Wick. This home-bred shearling ram , on his first outing, is by Smiddyquoy Ram, and is destined for the breed sale in September.
Reserve sheep interbreed went to the Texel champion from D. N. Campbell and Sons, of Bardnaclavan, Westfield.
The tup lamb is by Knock Yukon – a Tophill Wallstreet-sired lamb bought last year at Lanark for 3,200gn in partnership with Sibmister and Stainland Farms. He is destined for the breed sale at Lanark later this year.
RESULTS
CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus: Michael Tait, Inkstack Farm, Barrock, near Thurso, with March-2016 born home-bred bull Inkstack Eros, by inkstack Prometheus and out of an Inkstack dam by Rawburn Age. She was on her first outing. Reserve – Messrs B. and J. Mackay, Skitten Farm, by Wick, with three-year-old cow Billinge Magic Jenya Erica, by Netherallan Peter Pershore and out of Mosston Muir Jennifer Erica.
Shorthorn: John Campbell, Todholes Farm, Thurso, with home-bred 16-month-old heifer Todholes Daisy Kirsty, by Lowther Godwin and out of Ballylinney Daisy. She was first at Caithness last year and second at Stars of the Future. Reserve – Lesley and Tina Robertson, Inkstack Farm, Barrock, Thurso, with home-bred two-year-old heifer Pentland Tessa, by Tofts Atlas and out of Pentland Tessa C262. On her first outing.
Highland: Morven Coghill, Blingery Farms, Wick, with two-year-old black bull Cameron Dubh of Kelby, by Conan Dubh of Craigowmill and out of Fiona 2nd of Bien Esk. He was bought at Oban in February when he stood champion. Reserve – n/a.
Any other pure breed native cattle: Sandy Douglas, Achnamoine Farm, Watten, with a home-bred March-born Belted Galloway bull calf on his first outing. Reserve – Sandy Douglas with the mother of the champion – Croasdale Cherub.
Charolais: John and Andrew Morris, Olrig Mains, Castletown, Thurso, with home-bred rising three-year-old cow Olrig Jadore, by Dingle Hoffmeister and out of noted show cow Olrig Dubarry, which stood champion at the Highland in 2010. Reserve – John and Andrew Morris with home-bred seven-month-old heifer Olrig Minny, which is an embryo transfer daughter of Blelack Beret out of Blelack Ginny.
Simmental: Jenson Gunn, 1, Mavsey, Lybster, with home-bred two-year-old heifer Mavsey Golden Pride, by Banwy T-Rex and out of Mavsey Pride. She stood champion of champions at Latheron the week before and second at the Highland last month. Reserve – Jenson Gunn and parents Jonathan and Joanne, with home-bred nine-month-old bull calf Mavsey Hurricane, by Mavsey Enforcer and out of Mavsey Bedazzle. He was reserve male champion at Latheron.
Continental: James Manson, Upper Northfields, Hempriggs, Wick, with home-bred 21-month-old British Blue heifer Caithness Krystal, which is an embryo transfer daughter of Drift Domino, out of Caithness Caladonie. She was reserve senior champion at Stars of the Future. Reserve – James Manson with home-bred 21-month-old British Blue Bull, which is an embryo transfer son of Gromit Hof Ter Zilverberg, out of Caithness Caladonie. He was junior male champion at the Highland last year.
Commercial: Gordon Begg, Vauldale, Nybster, Auckengill, with home-bred mid-January born British Blue cross heifer holy Moly. By Invercharron Diablo, which was borrowed from the Munro family at Invercharron, she was overall calf champion at Latheron. She will be sold at the Thainstone Spectacular next month. Reserve – Mark and Debbie Munro, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay, Sutherland, with home-bred 10-month-old British Blue cross heifer Hard To Resist. She was first in her class at Latheron and is destined for the Spectacular next month.
SHEEP
Border Leicester : A. Miller and Sons, Aimster, Thurso, with a home-bred three-crop ewe by Didcot Prim, on its first outing. Reserve – A. Miller and Sons, with a previously unshown home-bred shearling ram by Ditton Hitman, destined for the ram sales at Quoybrae, in September.
Suffolk: B. Swanson, East Murkle, Thurso, with a January-born ewe lamb by Smithston Superman, a ram bought at Stirling, last year, out of a home-bred ewe by Whitecairn RJ. Reserve – B. Swanson with a home-bred three-crop ewe that stood second here last year. She is by Whitecairn RJ, a tup bought privately from Rob More, and out of a home-bred ewe.
Half-bred: D. Miller, Buckies, Thurso, with a ewe lamb by an Aimster Border Leicester ram, out of a bought-in Cheviot ewe. Reserve – A. Miller and Sons, with a home-bred gimmer.
Prime lambs: John Campbell,Todholes, Thurso, with a pair of April-born Beltex cross wedder lambs by an Overhouse ram bought privately, out of Texel cross ewes by a Cambwell sire. Reserve – H. Sutherland, 1 Drummie Farm Cottage, Golspie, with the second prize pair to the champion, Beltex crosses.
North Country Cheviot: J. and W. Mackay, Biggins, Killimster, Wick, with a home-bred shearling ram on his first outing, and destined for the breed sale in September. He is by Smiddyquoy Ram, which was purchased three years ago and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – K. and R. Sutherland, Sinclair Square, Halkirk, with the small farmers and crofters champion, a ewe lamb by Oldfield Showfield, a ram that goes back to home-bred Hilliclay genetics. She was reserve at Latheron Show and is out of a home-bred ewe by a Durran Mains sire.
Hill Cheviot: Badanloch Estate, Badanloch, Kinbrace, with the three-shear ram, Armadale Seagull, shown by manager, Hughie Mackenzie. He was bought last year at Lairg for £5,000, is by Balnkeil Smart Lad and was on his first outing since. Reserve – A. Campbell, Mill House, Stainland, with a home-bred two-crop ewe by a Longoe sire bought at Lairg, out of a home-bred ewe.
Blackface: S. Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, with a gimmer. Reserve – Mr and Mr Elder, Portormin Road, Dunbeath, with a ewe lamb by a home-bred son of the £100,000 Nunnerie Centurian.
Native sheep: D.A. and K. Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten, with a three-crop Bluefaced Leicester ewe bought at Warick and Caroline Wilson’s dispersal at Dingwall, last year. Reserve – Jan Mackenzie, Langdale, with a South Country Cheviot two-shear ram bought last year from Mount Benger at Lockerbie. He is by a Becks ram and was placed at the Highland.
Lleyn: John Campbell, Todholes, got champion and reserve with the first and second prize ewes. Both are home-bred two-crop daughters of Inchture Nae Limits.
Commercial sheep: W. Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, with a home-bred two-crop Texel cross ewe by a home-bred sire and with twin March-born Suffolk cross lambs by a home-bred sire at foot. The ewe was champion here last year again with Suffolk cross lambs at foot. Reserve – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, with the second prize winner to the champion, a home-bred four-crop Texel cross ewe by a home-bred sire and shown with twin, March-born Texel ewe lambs at foot. They were third at the Highland.
Cross sheep: W. Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, with a three-quarter-bred Texel gimmer by a home-bred sire. Reserve – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, with a seven eighths Texel gimmer by a home-bred sire that was first at the Highland this year and last year was part of the winning commercial ewe pair at the Black Isle.
Texel (MV-acc): D.N. Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield with a tup lamb by Knock Yukon, a Tophill Wallstreet-sired lamb bought last year at Lanark for 3,200gn in partnership with Sibmister and Stainland Farms, out of a home-bred ewe by Didcot United. He is destined for the breed sale at Lanark. Reserve – D.N. Campbell and Sons with a ewe lamb bred the exact same way as the champion.
Texel (non-MV): J. Coghill, Burnside, Huna, Wick, with a home-bred shearling ram by a Lower Reiss ram bought at Caithness, out of a home-bred ewe. He was champion of champions at Canisby Show, last year. Reserve – A. and A. Gunn, The Shiean, Hill of Forss, with a tup lamb bought in utero of a Breedies gimmer bought at Thainstone, last year, and sired by Mitchellhill Vangal.
Continental: Yvonne Spence, Gowanbrae, Skye of Curr, with Benmore Oops A Daisy, a home-bred two-crop Charollais ewe that was first here as a ewe lamb and champion the following year. She is by a Welsh sire and out of a home-bred ewe by Rockvilla Golden Promise. She was placed at the Highland, last month. Reserve – Yvonne Spence with Benmore Sambucca, a January-born Charollais tup lamb by Banwy Moonshine, out of a home-bred ewe. He was placed at the Highland.
NATIVE HORSES
Clydsedale: J. W. Taylor, Aikers Farm, Orkney, with Aikers Lady Charlotte. Reserve – M. W. and J. L. Munro, Gersa Croft, Newlands of Geise, with West Glen Apple Blossom.
Highland: Natalie Macdonald, Bridge Street, Halkirk, with Braehillor King Duncan. reserve – J. Macleod, Upper Dounereay, Thurso, with Alfie of Park View.
Shetland: Lols Shetland Pony Stud, The Brough, Toab, Orkney, with standard four-year-old yeld mare Hools Janet, by Wells Masterclass and out of Merkisayre Poppy. Reserve – E. and S. Dunnet, Lynfield, Lyth, with standard yeld mare Anya of Auckhorn.