Heavy rain throughout the morning livestock judging, although welcomed by farmers for their parched fields, took its toll of the afternoon attendance at Banchory Show on Saturday, held in the idyllic setting of the town’s King George V Park.
But the show went on with a full programme of main ring events in the afternoon as the weather improved with the sun blinking through.
The show proved another triumph for Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart from Huntly and Insch who chalked up their fourth cross cattle championship in as many weeks following wins at Fettercairn, Echt and New Deer with their much-admired 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Shaniqua.
And they crowned a successful day by going on to carry off the champion of champions title.
The heifer was previously interbreed champion at Fettercairn and reserve interbreed champion at Echt and New Deer.
The Duffton-Stuart duo also won the interbreed award for the best group of three, with the Simmental team from Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun – which included their breed and reserve interbreed champion – standing reserve.
It was also a memorable day for former show president, Robin Stewart, and his wife, Karen, from Stablebrae, Durris, who stood reserve champion of champions with their overall horse champion, the two-year-old Highland colt, West Lodge Coinnerach, who earlier last week was taking top honours at the Royal Welsh Show.
Over in the sheep lines, 18-year-old Jemma Green from Corskie, Garmouth, was making her mark in the Texel classes with a gimmer, by Glenside Wild Boy, which went on to win the interbreed sheep championship.
A Blue Texel gimmer, which won the any other continental sheep section, took reserve interbreed for Deborah Atkinson.
RESULTS
CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus – Ken and Margaret Howie, Cairnton, Lumphanan, with 16-month-old-bull Cairnton Blackbeard, by Haymount Walarlo. Reserve at New Deer and Echt. Destined for Stirling October sale.
Reserve – Ken and Margaret Howie with yearling heifer, Cairnton Elizabeth.
Charolais – R and N Barclay, Harestone, Banchory.
Reserve – R and N Barclay.
Simmental – Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, with rising two-year-old heifer, Drumsleed Hilight, by Grangewood Wiliam and out of Drumsleed Evita, champion at Kirriemuir and Fettercairn and reserve junior at the Royal Highland.
Reserve – Gerald and Morag Smith with four-year-old cow, Drumsleed Farian, by Clonagh Buckarooney Truely. Reserve at Fettercairn.
Limousin – Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, with two-year-old heifer, Ritchies Meryl, by Sympa and out of Emslies Ieyrl. Champion at New Deer, first at the Limousin Grand Prix at Echt and interbreed champion at Angus.
Reserve – Aileen Ritchie with yearling heifer, Ritchies Newzen, by Ampertaine Elgin and out of Brockhurst Howzat.
Blonde – Alison Watt, Birkenburn, Keith, with cow, Strathisla Nevis. Reserve – Graeme Anderson with bull calf, Glassel Neymar.
Highland – John and Jenne Singer, Kintore Castle, Auchenblae, with three-year-old heifer, Ailsa Emma Dhubh of Kintore Castle, by Ualloch Dubh 6 of Pollock. Reserve at Fettercairn, reserve interbreed at Alyth, and champion at Angus and East of Scotland Club Show. Reserve – Mr and Mrs Reid with cow, Sorcha Dubh 2 of Cladich, by Sconaidh Mor of Ardura.
British Blue – G and J Greenlaw with yearling heifer, Greenlaw Lucky Lady.
Reserve – G and J Greenlaw with bull calf, Greenlaw Nightmare.
Salers – David Watson, Darnford, Durris, with two-year-old home-bred bull, Darnford Lars, by Sangio, and out of Chapelpark Gem. To be sold at Castle Douglas after running with heifers. Reserve – Jamie McIntyre, Milton of Cullerlie, Echt, with six-year-old cow, Lisnamaul Floss, by Barrynally Samul. Champion at Echt.
Any other pedigree breed – D and J Hardie, Gates of Birselawsie, Midmar, with rising two-year-old home-bred bull, Birselawsie Kozmo, by Birselawsie Glenlivet. Champion at Echt. Reserve -James Hardie with four-year-old cow, Greenwell Fanvich Foxglove, by Glenisla Donald. Reserve champion at Echt.
Commercial – Blair Duffton, Huntly, and Rebecca Stuart, Insch, with 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Shaniqua, by Lodge Hamlet and out of Limousin cross cow, bred by Jennifer Hyslop, Girvan. Bought at the Scottish Winter Fair for £1,500, reserve interbreed champion at New Deer and Echt, interbreed champion at Fettercairn, second at the Royal Highland and reserve cross cattle champion at Angus.
Reserve – Barry Paterson, Echt, with junior Limousin cross bull calf, Archie’s Boy, by Lodge Hamlet and out of British Blue cross cow. Second at Echt and reserve at Fettercairn.
Carcase cattle – Hugh Gordon, Clochnahill, Stonehaven.
Reserve – Calum Keir, Glenkindie.
Young handlers – Emma Smith.
NATIVE HORSES
Clydesdale – Arradoul Clydesdales, Buckie, with yearling filly, Arradoul Olivia May.
Reserve – Norman Christie, Kinellar, with yearling filly.
Highland – Robin and Karen Stewart, Stablebrae, Durris, with two-year-old colt, West Lodge Coinnerach, by Jacobite and out of West Lodge Amy, supreme champion at Royal Welsh Show last week and reserve at Fettercairn on first show outing.
Sire, grand-sire and great grand-sire all former champions at Banchory.
Shetland – Michelle Hector and Marie Whyte with filly, Little Woodend Daisy.
Reserve – Christine Forbes, Dufftown, with stallion, Lynemore Illusion, champion at New Deer.
Miniature Shetland – C Matthew with mare and foal, Stranduff Mystique. Reserve – Ann Irvine with male, Rocky of Haybrake
SHEEP
Suffolk – Gordon Troup, Echt, with gimmer.
Reserve – P Gordon.
Blackface – William Stewart, Keith, with ewe lamb. Reserve – Alan Petrie, Kirriemuir, with a gimmer.
Texel – Jemma Green, Corskie, Garmouth, with gimmer by Glenside Wild Boy.
Reserve – Kenny Pratt, Peterculter
Bluefaced Leicester – Rodney Blackhall, Green, Raemoir, with a home-bred gimmer by Rossiebank F1 and out of a ewe by Mossvale F1. First time shown. Reserve – Alison Ross, Craskins, Tarland, with a ewe.
Bluefaced Leicester (crossing type) – Andrew Jolly with ewe lamb.
Reserve – Jim Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly, with ram lamb out of home-bred ewe by Kirby Redgate J1. Champion at Echt.
Northern Short-Tail – Carol Collie with ram lamb.
Reserve – Ian Carnegie, Rickarton, with ewe lamb.
Zwartbles – Faye Wilkie, Braigiewell, Echt, with gimmer.
Reserve – Faye Wilkie with ewe.
Any other continental breed – Deborah Atkinson with home-bred Blue Texel gimmer by Dullela Frogatt Axe. Reserve – Deborah Atkinson with ram lamb.
Any other native breed – D and B Henderson with ewe.
Reserve – Marianne Sheed with ram lamb.
Cross – Summer Miller with pet lamb.Reserve – A Kellas.
Prime lambs – Alan Miller. Reserve – Steven Smith.