Continental breeds came to the fore in the beef and sheep interbreed championships at yesterday’s Keith Show.
Farmers and horse enthusiasts were blessed with good weather for a morning of competitions in the beef, sheep and horse rings.
Leading the charge in the sheep rings was a Charollais gimmer from sisters Eilidh and Erin Duncan, from Barnyards Farm, Clola, Peterhead,
Their winner is by Foulrice Olaf and out of a ewe by Ffrwd Lord of The Ring.
Prior to yesterday’s success, she stood champion at New Deer and was part of the reserve interbreed winning group at Echt last month.
Standing reserve interbreed in the sheep section and flying the flag high for native breeds was a Blackface gimmer from Gemma McIntosh and Charlie McIntyre at Upper Croft Na Garn, Boat of Garten.
Their gimmer was bought at the Highland Sheep event in May. She is aptly named DFS as the couple were originally planning to buy a new sofa, but Charlie bought the gimmer instead.
His investment has paid off as she previously stood reserve champion of champions at the Sutherland Show last month and crofters champion at the Black Isle last week.
She is by a £35,000 Dalchirla and out of an £11,000 Auldhouseburn ewe.
Over in the cattle rings the supreme title went to the leader from the Simmental family, put forward by the Stronach family at Berryleys, Grange, Keith.
They took the top title with home-bred 16-month-old bull Islavale Hogan.
He is by Wolfstar Exclusive and out of Islavale Danielle.
Prior to his Keith Show win, he was reserve breed champion at the Perth Show on Saturday and part of the winning interbreed pair at the fixture.
The Stronach family plans to offer him for sale at the Stirling Bull Sales in October. The reserve beef interbreed title was awarded to the Limousin champion from brothers Craig and Jack Hendry at Heads of Auchinderran, Keith.
Their winner was two-year-old heifer Powerful Kango, by Haltcliffe Dancer and out of Liscairn Fantastic.
She was bought as a six-month-old calf for £3,300, and previously stood champion at Nairn, and reserve at Echt, New Deer and Turriff. The brothers also took her to the National Limousin Show in Dumfries where she stood reserve senior champion.
In the beef interbreed contest, as judged by retired Aberdeen-Angus breeder Tom Rennie of Mosston Muir, Forfar, the top title went to a trio of black cross cattle from Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart of Huntly and Insch.
Reserve went to a group of Simmentals from the Green family at Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers, Moray.
RESULTS
CATTLE – Highland – J. and L. Fraser and Son, East Tilbouries, Maryculter, Aberdeen, with three-year-old heifer Eilidh 5th of Dunach, by Bentala of Mottistone and out of Sith Nollaige 3rd of Dunach. She was champion at the Black Isle last week and reserve female champion at the North of Scotland Show and New Deer. Reserve – Veronica Thomson, Clackriach Cottage, Maud with seven-year-old cow Heather 8th of Tordarroch, by Craig of Tordarroch and out of Heather 11th Innisard.
Aberdeen-Angus – Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, with home-bred 15-month-old heifer Tonley Princess, by Blelack Evor and out of Tonley Princess. She was reserve female champion at Turriff and stood first at Echt. She is destined for the Stirling Bull Sales in February. Reserve – Graham Willox, Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum, with six-year-old cow Mosstonmuir Ingrid, by Mosstonmuir Mr Elgin and out of Mosstonmuir Inga. She was champion at Echt and New Deer this year and Keith beef champion of champions last year.
Beef Shorthorn – J. and S. Ravenshear, Heatheryfield, Cairnie, Huntly, with four-year-old home-bred cow Greenwall Fan Fare Foxglove, by Glenisla Donald and out of Greenwall Fantasia Foxglove. She was first at Echt and second at Turriff. Reserve – J. and A. Strathdee, North Retanach, Rothiemay, with four-year-old bull Blelakc Magician, by Meonhill Highland Centurion and out of Blelack Molly. On his first outing.
Charolais – Billy and Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet, with home-bred two-year-old in-calf heifer Lagavaich Lucy, by AI sire Inverlochy Ferdie and out of Kelton Finesse. She was champion at Turriff and reserve at Angus. Reserve – John and Raymond Irvine, Inverlochy, Tomintoul, with home-bred 14-month-old bull Inverlochy Magic, by Blelack Giggsey and out of Inverlochy Evora. He was first at the Black Isle and second at the Highland. He is destined for the Stirling Bull Sales in October.
Limousin – Craig and Jack Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith, two-year-old heifer Powerful Kango, by Haltcliffe Dancer and out of Liscairn Fantastic. Bought as a six-month-old for £3,300, she was champion at Nairn and reserve at Echt, New Deer and Turriff. She was also reserve senior champion at the National Show in Dumfries at the weekend. Reserve – Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith, with 22-month-old heifer Millington Limo, by Spittalton Imij and out of Millinton Interim. Bought at Carlisle in February for 3,000gn, she was reserve beef interbreed at the Black Isle last week.
Simmental– W. S. Stronach, Berryleys, Grange, Keith, with home-bred 16-month-old bull Islavale Hogan, by Wolfstar Exclusive and out of Islavale Danielle. He was reserve breed champion and part of the winning interbreed pairs at Perth on Saturday. Reserve – D. and R. Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, with three-year-old bull Team Fergus, which was bought at Stirling in October 2015 for 9,000gn. He is by Boswell Cracker and took the same title at last year’s Keith Show.
British Blonde – Alison Watt, Birkenburn, Keith, with two-year-old heifer Strathisla Lavender, by Strathisla Hero and out of Strathisla Brandy. She was champion at Echt, New Deer, Banchory and Turriff. Reserve – Alison Watt with home-bred eight-year-old cow Strathisla Ellen, by Super.
British Blue – Garry Patterson with eight-month-old bull calf Woodend Logan, by Attribut Du Fond and out of Woodend Jamelia. He was bought with his mother at foot in Carlisle in May for 6,800gn and was reserve at Banchory last month. Reserve – Garry Patterson with the mother of the champion – Woodend Jamelia – by ATok Chancellor and out of Springfield Gloria.
Any other pure breed – Willie Hendry, Ordhill Farm, Longmorn, Elgin, with two-year-old Gascon bull Ludvig, by Voltaire, out of a French cow. Reserve – Willie Hendry with 22-month-old Gascon bull Moncherie, by Impair.
Cross cattle – Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart of Huntly and Insch with 15-month-old Charolais cross heifer Gold Rush. She was bought at Dungannon, Northern Ireland, for £3,200, and previously stood champion of champions at Fettercairn, reserve overall champion at Echt and Banchory, and champion at New Deer, Turriff and the Black Isle. Reserve – Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart with 14-month-old British Blue cross bullock Thunderball. He was bought in Dingwall in February for £870 from Shewglie Farms.
Young handlers – Aged 12 and under: Jayne Mitchell. Aged 13-14: Rachel Davidson. Aged 15-16: Richard Davidson.
Native horses – Clydesdale – Eric and Miranda Johnstone, 50 Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord, with home-bred yearling filly Ord Tinkerbell, by Eskechraggan Ernest and out of Ord Envy. She was champion of champions at Sutherland, and native champion at Nairn and Perth. Reserve – George and Ruth Skinner, Strathorn, Pitcaple, with filly foal Strathorn April.
Highland – Sarah MacIntosh, Greystone, Blackhills, Peterhead, with seven-year-old mare Tiana May of Forglen, by Manonwells Gleann Eagas and out of Dawn May of Forglen. She was champion at Turriff last week. Reserve – Fiona Menzies, Myreton Farm, Insch, with 2009-born gelding Seamus of Forglen, by Manonwells Glenn Eagas and out of Hannah of Forglen.
Shetland ponies standard – Lynne Whyte, Little Woodend, Drummuir, with 10-year-old mare Mill of Towie Gillian, by Slacks Black Magic and out of Clashnadorran Bramble. Reserve – Vic Thomson, Tornaveen, Newton of Dalvey, Forres, with seven-year-old stallion Tornaveen Derry, by Dagtullich Domino, and out of Tornaveen Cilla.
Shetland ponies miniature – S. Mitchell, 47 Windsor Place, Conon Bridge, with six-year-old mare Tillyorn Violet, by Swell’s Baron and out of Southkeithney Heather. Reserve – N. S. Wilson, Mingulay, Alford, with a foal born in May out of Southsands Promise.
Coloured Shetlands – Reece MacLeod, Lochfleet, Dornoch, with Tillyorn Zaidee. Reserve – Kathryn Carr, Broadmuir Farm, Clochforbie, Turriff, with Broadmuirs Petal.
Sheep – Blackface – Gemma McIntosh and Charlie McIntyre, Upper Croft Na Garn, Boat of Garten, with a Blackface gimmer named DFS. She was bought at the Highland Sheep event from Archie MacGregor of Allanfauld, Kilsyth. By a £35,000 Dalchirla and out of an £11,000 Auldhouseburn ewe, she was reserve champion of champions at Sutherland and crofters champion at the Black Isle. Reserve – John Shearer, Hillhead of Mornish, Glenlivet, with an aged tup.
Border and Bluefaced Leicesters – John Proctor, Nether Aucharnie Bungalow, Forgue, Huntly, with a three-shear Mendick-bred Bluefaced Leicester tup bought at Kelso two years ago. On first outing. Reserve – M. and C. Milne, Kennieshillock Farm, Lhanbryde with home-bred one-crop ewe by Forth G6 and out of a ewe by Riddings D6. She was reserve as a gimmer last year.
Suffolk – Louise and Nina McAuley, Collie Cottage, Orton, Fochabers, with a ewe bought from Speyside a year ago. She is by Burnview Wacko Jacko and out of a Speyside ewe. Reserve – Craig Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder, with a gimmer by Muirton One Direction and out of a Strathisla Spielberg ewe.
Texel – Graham Morrison, Inchbruich Farm, Cornhill, with a home-bred two-crop ewe by a £60,000 Strathbogie Terminator and out of a ewe by 40,000gn Razzle Dazzle. She was second at Turriff. Reserve – Jemma Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers, with a shearling tup by a Valhalla sire and out of a Strathbogie ewe. He was reserve male champion at Sutherland and male champion at Echt.
Charollais – Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Barnyards Farm, Clola, Peterhead, with a gimmer by Foulrice Olaf and out of a home-bred ewe by Ffrwd Lord of the Ring. She was champion at New Deer and part of the reserve interbreed group at Echt. Reserve – Yvonne Spence, Gowan Brae, Skye of Curr, Dulnain Bridge, with two-crop ewe Benmore Oops A Daisy, by a Welsh-bred sire and out of a Southam ewe. She was reserve any other breed champion at Nairn and champion at Caithness last month.
Beltex – Grant Ireland and Laura Murphy, Blackhillock, Cairnie, Huntly, with a one-crop ewe by Broughton Pound Stretcher and out of Horseclose Pollyanna. She was first at Nairn and New Deer. Reserve – Zoey Rennie, 4 South Street, Newmill, Keith, wiuth a ewe lamb called Rennie’s Cosmo, by Matts Bullshot and out of Rennie’s Alba.
Jacob – Adam Christie, Birchfield, Midtown of Glass, Huntly, with shearling tup Hope Knockout, by Hyndshaw Highland Laddie and out of a Hope ewe. He was champion at Fetterairn and reserve at New Deer. Reserve – Adam Christie with ewe lamb Adamskie Lottie, by Dunmore Antonia and out of Pentra Candy. She was reserve chamption at the Highland and New Deer, and champion at Nairn.
Zwartbles – Faye Wilkie, Whitestone, Skene, Westhill, with ewe lamb Whitestone Emerald, by Speyside Buzz, out of Chapelpark Briony. She was champion at Echt, New Deer and Turriff. Reserve – Samantha Stewart, Buttery Brae, Drummuir, with a Cynefin-bred gimmer. She was reserve at Turriff last week.
Any other pure breed – Rachel Cruden, 2 Standingstones Cottages, Dyce, Aberdeen, with a one-crop Bleu Du Maine ewe bought at Carlisle. Reserve – Deborah Atkinson, The Manse, Duncanston, Insch, with Blue Texel tup lamb Taponoth Blue Steel. He was reserve at Turriff last week.
Primitive and northern shortail –Douglas and Carol Collie, Lamington, Insch, with three-shear Shetland tup Drew of Lamington. Reserve – Kate Clarke, Hill of Crudie, with a Castlemilk Moorit ewe lamb.
Rare, hill and upland – E. and J. Gunn, 91 Main Street, Newmill, Keith, with a Kerryhill gimmer by a Pentrant sire and out of a Pennygelly ewe. Reserve – Neil and Zoe Robson, Loanhead Croft, Cairnie, Huntly, with Portland shearling tup Loanhead William Wallace. He stood reserve at Turriff last year.
Half breds and crosses – Duncan and Copnnor Milne, Newtack, Keith, with three Suffolk cross ewe lambs. Reserve – Gavin Breathet, Woodside Croft, Blackpark, Ardersier, with three Texel cross ewe lambs by a Wester Moy sire. Champion at Sutherland and Nairn.
Young handlers – Aged 14-16: Erin Duncan. Aged 10-13: Rory Milne. Aged 9 and under: Eilidh Harrold.