Four well-known stockmen from the north-east will head across the water to Northern Ireland next week to judge at this year’s prestigious Balmoral Show.
The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) will welcome 14 Scottish judges to the event held at Balmoral Park, Lisburn, on May 15-18, where more than 3,500 head of livestock across 712 classes will be put through their paces.
Matthew Milne who runs the Elgin Charolais herd with his family at Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, Elgin, will have the task of judging the Charolais entries, while young Mark Robertson from Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul, will judge the commercial cattle and junior championship.
In the sheep lines, the Texel section will be in the capable hands of noted breeder Robbie Wilson, who runs his Milnbank flock at North Dorlaithers, Turriff, with John Shearer, Hillhead of Morenish, Tomintoul, in charge of the Perth-type Blackfaces and Greyfaces.
Scottish Borders sheep farmer, Roderick Runciman of Allanshaws, Galashiels, who is best known for his North Country Cheviot and Texel flocks, is the interbreed sheep judge.
Current Royal Highland Show chairman and Texel breeder, Jimmy Warnock, Sandilands, Lanark, will judge the inter-breed pairs of ewes, ram lambs, gimmers and rams.
Two sheep farmers from Ayrshire will also be heading to the event, with Blackface breeder and egg producer, Alan Blackwood of the Auldhouseburn flock at Muirkirk, placing the Lanark type Blackies and David Alexander, Millside Farm, Galston, selected as the judge for the Blue Texels.
The Bluefaced Leicesters will be judged by Clark Lamont from Blackpark, Crocketford, Dumfries, while Alex Watson of the Intock flock, Crieff, will judge the Border Leicesters.
Other Scottish judges include Dougie McBeath of the Springsett herd in Stirling, for the Limousins; Patrick Boyd of Cornaigmore, Isle of Tiree, for Salers; and Robin Templeton of Pocknave Farm, Hurlford, as the Ayrshire judge.
The Clydesdales will be judged by Peter Keron, Perthshire.