The sun shone down on exhibitors and visitors at this year’s Fettercairn Show.
After several washout shows in the past few years, organisers were delighted with the weather on the day, and the main show’s entertainment of vintage tractor football saw teams of three vintage Nuffields and Fergusons models racing around the show ring to get a massive football between hay bale goal posts.
Away from the main ring, exhibitors battled to win an array of rosettes.
The coveted champion of champions award, judged by NFU Scotland vice president Martin Kennedy and the show’s honorary vice president Bill Brown, was awarded to the sheep interbeed champion for the first time in the show’s 184-year history.
This was the leader from the cross sheep section, a pen of three home-bred Texel cross gimmers from Sarah Finnie at Newseat Farm, Balthangie, near Turriff. It was Miss Finnie’s first ever breed, interbreed and overall show champion wins.
Reserve interbreed in the sheep section was a home-bred two-crop Texel ewe from Jemma Green at Corskie Farm, Fochabers. Her ewe is a daughter of Glenside Valhalla, bred from a Milnbank-bred ewe.
Meanwhile, in the cattle rings, the interbreed title went to the commercial cattle champion, a 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer Shaniqua from Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart of Huntly and Insch. Bought at the Winter Fair in Lanark for £1,500, she was reserve at Angus and second at the Highland.
No reserve interbeed was awarded but the continental champion prize went to the Simmental breed winner, and the native prize to the Aberdeen-Angus leader.
The overall horse winner was yearling Clydesdale filly Fordelhill Hannah from Scott Greenhill, Leuchars. Reserve was the M&M champion from Gavin Ingram and Sherlen Murray, Huntly.
RESULTS
CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus – Courtney Steel, West Drums Farm, Brechin, Angus, with two-year-old heifer Blelack Eyrie, by Hallington Principal. Bought as a calf at foot with her mother by Courtney’s father and given to her as a 21st birthday present last year. She was reserve female champion at Alyth and Angus.
Reserve – Graham and Fiona Willox, Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum, with two-year-old heifer Cheeklaw Elma, by Cardona Proud Punch. Bought at Cheeklaw dispersal and on first outing.
Highland Cattle – Rebecca Greenhorn and Graeme Easton, Ranch Fold, Letham, Angus, with two-year-old heifer Claira of Ubhaidh, by Fergus of Ubhaidh. Junior female champion at Highland last year and third this year.
Reserve – John and Jenne Singer, Laurencekirk, with three-year-old heifer Ailsa Emma Dhubh of Kintore Castlefold, by Uallach Dubh 6th of Pollock. She was champion at the East Club and Angus shows, and reserve interbeed at Alyth.
Charolais – Robbie Anderson, Laurencekirk, with five-year-old cow Arthurhouse Izzywizzy, by Pennall Dazzler. Reserve – n/a.
Limousin – Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, with two-year-old in-calf heifer Ritchie’s Meryl, by Sympa and out of Emslies Ieryl. Interbeed champion at Angus.
Reserve – Aileen Ritchie with 17-month-old bull Ritchie’s Neverman, by Rahoney Isaac. Previously unshown, he will head to the bull sales in October.
Simmental – Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed Farm, Fordoun, Laurencekirk, with September-2016 born heifer Drumsleed Hilight, by Grangewood William. Reserve junior champion at the Highland this year.
Reserve – Gerald and Morag Smith with four-year-old cow Drumsleed Farina, by Boarshead Karina, shown with her heifer calf. Champion at Angus, Fettercairn and Kirriemuir last year.
Cross cattle – Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart of Huntly and Insch with 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer Shaniqua, by Lodge Hamlet. Bought at Winter Fair for £1,500 she was reserve at Angus and second at the Highland.
reserve – Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart with 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer Baby Jane. Bred by the Robertsons at Logierait and bought at the Thainstone Spectacular last year for £1,800, she was first at the Christmas Classic and Spring Show.
Young handlers – 1 – Emma Smith; 2 – Lewis Singer; 3 – Eoin Middleton.
NATIVE HORSES
Shetland – Nina MacDonald-Lewis, Drumnagair Shetland Pony Stud, Methlick, with two-year-old colt Stow Manifesto, by Stow Perfect.
Reserve – Nina MacDonald-Lewis with six-year-old mare Thordale Lyra.
Highland Ponies – M & C Forsyth, 11 Lunan Street, Friockheim.
Reserve – R & K Stewart, Stables Braes, Durris, Banchory.
Clydesdale – Scott Greenhill, Leuchars Lodge, Fife, with yearling filly Fordelhill Hannah, by Eskechraggad Ernest. Champion at Alyth.
Reserve – Amanda Merchant and Shonah Campbell of Rolling Thunder Clydesdales, Fettercairn, with six-year-old gelding Rolling Thunder Mr Bojangles, by Singlie Storm.
SHEEP
Blackface – Grant Cocker, Kirriemuir, Angus, with a home-bred gimmer by a Dunruchan-bred son of a £14,000 Dalchirla.
Reserve – Grant Cocker with a three-crop Blackhouse-bred ewe by a £3,000 Blackhouse.
Suffolk – Judith and Stuart Lorimer, Kingswells, Aberdeen, with Irongray Ironman, a two-shear ram bought at Stirling in 2016. By Muirton One Direction, out of a Strathisla ewe, he was reserve male at the Highland in 2016.
Reserve – GP Troup, Inverurie, with a five-crop Cairness-bred ewe bought last year at Beeston. By Thruston Chieftain.
Jacob – Adam Christie, Huntly, with last year’s reserve winner here, Adamski Lottie. Home-bred, this four-horned gimmer is by Dun-mor Antonia. Last year she was champion at Nairn and Grantown and reserve at Keith.
Reserve – Jennifer Milton, Keith, with Cairdswood Centurian or ‘Sid’ a former prize winning home-bred three-shear ram by Hyndshaw Orion.
Any other native breed – Alison Ross, Aboyne, with a home-bred three-crop Bluefaced Leicester ewe by a Rossiebank sire.
Reserve – Allan Milne, Banchory, with a home-bred white Ryeland by Wellfields Stuart.
Beltex – Allan Alston, Brechin, with a home-bred four-crop ewe by Kingledores Rascal, bred from Pentland Kylie.
Reserve – Graham and Fiona Burke, Brechin, with a February-born ewe lamb by Loandhu Bullet.
Texel – Jemma Green, Corskie Farm, Fochabers, with a home-bred two-crop ewe shown by her sister Hannah (14) and Martyn Burnett. Her ewe is a daughter of Glenside Valhalla, bred from a Milnbank-bred ewe by Teiglum Tornado.
Reserve – Stuart and Wendy Hunter, Insch, with a home-bred gimmer by Knap Yard Master, out of a Rohan ewe by Strathbogie Stud.
Any other continental breed – Stuart and Wendy Hunter with a February-born Blue Texel ewe lamb, by Dulas Axe.
Reserve – Stuart and Wendy Hunter with a Blue Texel ram lamb by same tup.
Cross sheep – Sarah Finnie, Newseat Farm, Cuminestown, with a pen of three home-bred Texel cross gimmers on their first outing. They are by Annan Yogi Bear and bred from home-bred Texel cross ewes.
Reserve – Moir Livestock, Fraserburgh, with the champion single, a Suffolk cross ewe lamb by a Cairness sire and bred from a home-bred Texel cross Suffolk ewe. She picked up the same award at the Highland.
Young handlers – Age 12 and under – 1, Wilson Stott; 2, Robbie Burke; 3, Katie Lorimer. 13-16 – 1, Rachel Burke; 2, Fraser Dandy; 3, Hannah Lorimer. Champion – Rachel Burke.