The sun failed to break through the clouds in an otherwise fine day at New Deer Show.
It was sunshine all the way for show enthusiasts, Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart, from Huntly and Insch, who swept up virtually all the interbreed beef cattle championships in a remarkable tour de force.
But the duo had to give way when it came to the champion of champions title which was awarded by the judge, retired auctioneer, Philip Reid, to the sheep interbreed champion – a two-crop Texel ewe from Willie Knox, and his sons Graeme and Andrew, from Mid Haddo, Fyvie.
“The winning sheep was a very smart, nice ewe and I just fancied her from the start,” said Mr Reid.
The ewe was winning the interbreed title for the second year running and added to the Knox family’s successful show season with another ewe which gave them their first Highland Show Texel breed championship last month.
A Caithness-bred North Country Cheviot gimmer from brothers, Stewart and Harry Sleigh, St John’s Wells, Fyvie, stood reserve for the sheep interbreed title while the Haddo flock won the award for the best group of three sheep, with the reserve going to a trio of Charolais from sisters, Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Barnyards, Mintlaw.
Leading the charge in the beef interbreeds was a three-year old Charolais cow bought by Mr Duffton in Northern Ireland for 8,000gn and owned jointly with Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie, Keith, who led her to her breed and interbreed successes on Saturday.
Running the champion all the way to stand reserve was the Duffton-Stuart partnership’s cross cattle champion, Shaniqua, a Limousin cross yearling heifer, which has already won a string of awards, including the interbreed at Fettercairn and reserve interbreed at Echt.
Mr Duffton and Ms Stuart also carried off the awards for the best group of three beef animals and best pair. The only major honour to elude them was the reserve award for the best group which went to the Aberdeen-Angus trio from Graeme and Fiona Willox, Oldmeldrum.
Champion in the horse section was the Clydedale leader, a seven-year-old gelding, Collessie Full Monty, from Jim Gibb, Clola, Mintlaw.
Show president, Alistair Kindness of Southfield, New Deer, hailed a successful event. He said: “It was a tremendous day and I’m pleased with how it went. The weather stayed fine and the attendance was up.”
RESULTS
CATTLE
ABERDEEN-ANGUS – Neil Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, with eight-year-old cow, Tonley Emiline, by Blelack Prince Consort. Reserve – Ken and Margaret Howie, Cairnton, Lumphanan, with 16-month-old bull, Cairnton Blackbeard, by Haymount Walarlo. Reserve at Echt.
CHAROLAIS – Garry Patterson, Keith, and Blair Duffton, Huntly, with three-year-old cow, Battleford Lola, by Lochend Apache. Champion at Echt and member of interbreed group at Royal Highland.Reserve – Kevin Mallarkey, Airdlin Mains, Ellon, with yearling heifer, Strathys Nessie, by Maerdy Harry Potter.
LIMOUSIN – Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, with two-year-old heifer, Ritchies Meyrl, by Sympa. Interbreed champion at Angus.Reserve – Richard and Kathy Davidson and son, Richard, Corsairtly, Keith, with yearling heifer, Corsairtly Notable, by Ronick Inspector.
SIMMENTAL – J B Wilkie and Sons, Braigiewell, Echt, with three-year-old bull, Corskie Goldbar, by 45,000gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie. Reserve senior champion at Stirling in October 2016 when bought for 7,500gn. Reserve – Billy and Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet, with yearling bull, Lagavaich Ironman, by Williams Eddie.
HIGHLAND – Craig Finnie, Richmondhill, Peterhead, with five-year-old bull, Philip of Richmondhill, by Charlie of Richmondhill. Second at North of Scotland Highland Club Show. Reserve – Veronica Thomson, Maud, with five-year-old cow, Eilidh 2nd of Edgerston, by Alastair Buidhe of Upper Coarnabus.
BEEF SHORTHORN – Stuart G Mair and Sons, Kinnermit, Turriff, with three-year-old cow, Millerston Augusta Julie, by Alvie Excalibur. Champion at the show last year. Reserve – J and L Fraser and Son, Tilbouries, Maryculter, with four-year-old bull, Fordie Harrison, by Glounlea Lightning. Bred by Fiona Davidson (nee Wilson), Fordie, Torphins, and bought at Thainstone for 1,900gn.
CROSS – Blair Duffton, Huntly, and Rebecca Stuart, Insch, with 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Shaniqua, by Logie Hamlet. Bought at the Scottish Winter Fair for £1,500. Reserve interbreed at Echt, interbreed at Fettercairn, and reserve at Angus. Reserve – Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart with two-year-old Limousin cross heifer, Baby Jane, by Calagate Irresistible, bred by Robertsons, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry. Bought at Thainstone Spectacular for £1,800. Champion at Fettercairn.
ANY OTHER CONTINENTAL BREED – Alison Watt, Birkenburn, Keith, with 10-year-old Blonde cow, Strathisla Dawn, by Druk Lance and out of Strathisla Ashley. Reserve at Echt.Reserve – Alison Watt with two-year-old Blonde heifer, Strathisla Maddie, by Freefield Gopal.
CARCASE CATTLE – Champion and reserve, David and Val Buchan, Longside.
SHEEP
ZWARTBLES – Ally Baird, Greystone Cottage, Dunblane, with one crop ewe, Greystone Destiny, by Greystone Alan. Champion at Ayr, full sister of this year’s Royal Highland champion and champion herself last year at the Highland. Reserve – Faye Wilkie, Braigiewell, Echt, with home-bred gimmer, Whitestone Emerald, by Speyside Buzz. Champion at Echt and four times champion last year
BELTEX – Zoey Rennie, Keith, tup. Reserve – Ross and Kirsty Williams, Huntly, with tup lamb
TEXEL – Willie Knox and sons, Graeme and Andrew, Mid Haddo, Fyvie, with two-crop ewe by Cowal Vogue and out of ewe by Strathbogie Smoky Blue. Interbreed champion at the show last year. Her tup lamb entered for Lanark sale. Reserve – Robbie Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff, with ewe lamb from first crop by Greenstar Alfie, supreme champion at the breed sale in the Republic of Ireland last year when purchased for 17,000 euros.
SUFFOLK – Craig Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder, with Birness-bred gimmer by Limestone Legend. Bought at Christmas Classic where she was reserve champion. Reserve – Graeme Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Inverurie, with one-crop ewe by Deveronside Doodlebug. Interbreed champion at Echt and reserve interbreed at Angus.
ANY OTHER BREED – Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Barnyards, Mintlaw, with a Charollais ewe lamb by Loanhead Single Malt. Reserve at Echt. Reserve – Deborah Atkinson, Insch, with Blue Texel shearling tup.
BLUEFACED LEICESTER – Michael and Matthew Seed, Auchry, with tup lamb by Robleston H1. Reserve – Jim Hunter, Wedderburn, with ewe lamb.
ANY OTHER BREED – Andrew Leek, Lonmay, with ewe. Reserve – Grant and Wright, Anstruther, with tup.
SMALL MINORITY BREEDS – Neil and Zoe Robson, Huntly, with gimmer. Reserve – Neil and Zoe Robson with shearling tup.
JACOB – Adam Christie, Midtown of Glass, Huntly, with gimmer Adamski Lottie, by Dunmore Antonio. Champion at Fettercairn. Reserve – Jennifer Milton, Keith, with shearling tup.
CHEVIOT – Stewart and Harry Sleigh, St Johns Wells, Fyvie, with a gimmer bred by Will Campbell and bought at Quoybrae last August for the top sale price, first outing. Reserve – Stewart and Harry Sleigh with gimmer.
CROSS – Moir Livestock, Cairness, Fraserburgh, with continental cross ewe and pair of lambs. Reserve – Gabrielle (9) and Madalyn (6) Michie, Turriff, with pen of three cross gimmers by a native sire bred by their grandfather, Ian Anderson, Newton of Carnousie, Turriff.
CROSS BRED SINGLES – Finn Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Inverurie, with Beltex x Suffolk cross ewe lamb. Reserve – Gabrielle and Madalyn Michie with Suffolk cross gimmer bred by Ian Anderson. Reserve at Echt.
PRIME LAMBS – Moir Livestock, Cairness, Fraserburgh. Reserve – Alexander Wilson, Cuminestown.
NATIVE HORSES
CLYDESDALE – Jim Gibb, Clola, Mintlaw, with seven-year-old gelding, Collessie Full Monty. Reserve – Norman Christie, Fintray, with filly, Anguston Alic.
HIGHLAND – Lynne McDonald, Tarland, with yearling, Islay Mist of Coynach Reserve – Becky MacAngus, Maud, with mare, Balmoral Esther.
SHETLAND – H P Sleigh and Sons, St Johns Wells, Fyvie, with three-year-old, Wells Craig. Reserve – Christine Forbes, Dufftown, with stallion, Lynemore Illusion.
SHETLAND (MINIATURE) – Aimie Hugill, Rickarton, with yeld mare, Kellas Whisper.Resreve – T J and Mrs J Milne, Maud, with mare with foal at foot, Holmhead Eleena.