A steady downpour which got worse as the day progressed decimated the afternoon attendance at New Deer Show on Saturday.
But show president, Drew Elphinstone, Wester Allathan, New Deer, was far from downhearted as he reflected on a “fantastic” show of cattle, sheep and horses and the showcasing of more than 100 Fordson tractors to celebrate the centenary of the iconic brand’s arrival in the UK.
Leading Aberdeenshire Limousin breeders, Harry and Lynwen Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, landed the champion of champions award with four-year-old Limousin bull, Whiskey Infinity, owned jointly with a consortium of four breeders in South Africa.
He was reserve male champion, part of the reserve interbreed pair and interbreed winning team at the Royal Highland Show.
The reserve beef interbreed championship went to a six-year-old Aberdeen-Angus cow from Graham Willox, Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum. Mosston Muir Ingrid, which was bought for 11,500gn at the Mosston Muir dispersal, stood champion of champions at Keith last year.
A one-crop Texel ewe, by Cowel Vogue, won the interbreed sheep championship for the second year running for the Knox family at Mid Haddo, Fyvie. The Cowel sire is proving a bargain buy at 5,000gn, having already sired a 24,000gn ram lamb.
The reserve sheep interbreed title went to the Bluefaced Leicester champion – a ewe lamb from Jim and Sandy Hunter from Wedderburn, Huntly. She is by the £14,000 J1 Kirkby Redgate and out of a home-bred ewe by Midlock Controversy.
Leading an outstanding show of 420 horses and ponies was an entry from last year’s winner, Fiona Menzies, Myreton, Insch. she won the supreme horse championship with two-year-old Irish Draught gelding, Sheriff Dancer, by Frammassone.
RESULTS
CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus: Graham Willox, Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum, with six-year-old cow, Mosston Muir Ingrid, by Mosston Muir Elgin. Bought at the Mosston Muir dispersal for 11,500gn, she was champion at Echt last week and champion of champions at Keith last year. Reserve – Fiona Willox with two-year-old heifer, Carlhurlie Essence R087, by Balmachie Black Bard, and bought at the Carlhurlie dispersal for 3,000gn.
Charolais: Graeme Leggat, Mormond Prop, New Pitsligo, with yearling bull, Bonnykelly Magnum, by Kersknowe Clansman, sire of last year’s champion of champions. He is destined for Stirling’s autumn sale. Reserve – Graeme Leggat with yearling heifer, Bonnykelly Mabel, by new stock bull, the 10,000gn Gretnahouse Ivory.
Limousin: Harry and Lynwen Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, with four-year-old bull, Whiskey Infinity, by Plumtree Infinity and out of Wilodge Glitzy. Owned jointly with Meridian Genetics, South Africa. Reserve – Craig and Jack Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith, with two-year-old heifer, Powerful Kango, by Haltcliffe Dancer and out of Liscairn Fantastic. She was reserve at Echt.
Simmental: Laura Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth, with six-year-old cow, Corskie Clover, by Pope’s Laird Reserve – Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth, with yearling bull, Corskie Harbro, by Dirnanean Bradley. First at the Royal Highland Show and destined for the Stirling autumn sale.
Highland: Craig Finnie, Richmondhill House, Blackhills, Peterhead, with cow, Heather of Richmondhill, by Connachat of Richmondhill and out of Tearlach of Callachy. Reserve – Veronica Thomson, Clackriach Cottage, Maud, with yearling bull, Alasdair of Clackriach, by Alasdair 4th of Woodneuk.
Cross: Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart, of Huntly and Insch, with 14-month-old Charolais cross heifer, Gold Rush. Champion at Dungannon, Northern Ireland, when purchased for £3,200 in March, she was champion of champions at Fettercairn and reserve overall champion at Echt. Reserve – Mark Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with yearling British Blue cross heifer, Rachel. Bought privately from Alistair Robson, Old Manse, Glass, Huntly, she was champion at the Rising Stars calf show, reserve at the Royal Northern Spring Show and reserve at Echt last week.
Any other continental breed: Alison Watt, Birkenburn, Keith, with two-year-old British Blonde in-calf heifer, Strathisla Lavender, by Strathisla Hero and out of Strathisla Brandy. Champion at Echt. Reserve – Alison Watt with eight-year-old British Blonde cow, Strathisla Ellen, by Super, and out of Strathisla April.
Any other native breed: S. G. Mair and Sons, Kinnermit, Turriff, with two-year-old Beef Shorthorn heifer, Alvie Lovely Jemima, by Alvie Excalibur. Reserve – Rattray Estate, Home Farm, Rattray, with bull, Coldrochie Judicious 2nd.
SHEEP
Suffolk: Graeme Christie, Newton of Balquain, Inverurie, with a gimmer by 10,000gn Deveronside Doodlebug and out of a home-bred ewe by Strathisla Stiffler. Reserve interbreed champion at Angus and champion at Echt. Reserve – Craig Paterson, Cranna Brae, Aberchirder, with ewe lamb by Redbrae Real Deal and out of home-bred ewe by Strathisla Spielberg.
Cheviot: Fiona Cruden, Upper Kirkton, Dyce, with tup. Reserve – H and K Kelman, East Thunderton, Peterhead, with ewe.
Cross (pens): W. and J. Brown, Hilton of Culsh, New Deer, with Texel cross gimmers by a home-bred Culsh tup. Reserve – Moir Livestock, Home Farm, Cairness, with Texel cross ewes with Beltex cross lambs by Woodies sire.
Cross (singles): Moir Livestock with Suffolk cross ewe lamb by Cairness sire and out of a home-bred Texel ewe. First at the Highland.
Texel: W. J. Knox, Mid Haddo, Fyvie, with one-crop ewe by 5,000gn Cowel Vogue, sire also of a 24,000gn ram lamb. Interbreed sheep champion at the show last year. Reserve – Robbie Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff, with ram lamb by Strathbogie Yes Sir.
Beltex: Grant Ireland and Laura Murray, Blackhillock, Cairnie, with gimmer by Glenisla sire. Reserve – J. and J. McLean, Mains of Culsh, New Deer, with ewe, Culsh Ballerina, by Orkney Too Hot To Handle.
Any other breed (accredited): Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Braemuir, Auchnagatt, with Charollais gimmer by Foulrice Olef and out of home-bred ewe. Reserve – Eilidh and Erin Duncan with Cannahars-bred Charollais shearling ram by Lowereye Nevis.
Any other breed (non-accredited): Raymond and Beth Aitken, Beech Cottage, Newton of Fetternear, Inverurie, with home-bred Ryeland ram, Fetternear Viking, by Fetternear Tickety Boo. Reserve – Allan Milne, 45 Woodside Road, Banchory, with home-bred Ryeland shearling ram, St Ternan Wowser, by Wellfield Stuart.
Zwartbles: Faye Wilkie, Whitestone, Skene, with home-bred January-born ewe lamb, Whitestone Emerald, by Speyside Buzz and out of Chapelpark Briony. Reserve – Faye Wilkie with home-bred ram lamb by same sire.
Jacob: J. Milton, Newton of Auchindachy, Drummuir, with three-crop ewe, Cairnswood Millie, by Burnside Evril and out of Mount Coffer ewe. Reserve – Adam Christie, Birchfield, Glass, with shearling ram, Hope Knock Out, by Hyndshaw Highland Laddie.
Bluefaced Leicester: Jim Hunter, Wedderburn, Glens of Foudland, Huntly, with ewe lamb by Kirrby Redgate J1. Reserve – M. Seed and Son, Home Farm, Auchry, with ewe.
Small or horned minority breed: Jim and Diane Gibb, Shoemakers Croft, Techmuir, Fraserburgh, with three-crop Dalchirla-bred Blackface ewe by Valley Blacknose. Reserve – Andrew Leek, Greenhill, Lonmay, with ewe.