It was a memorable Nairn Show for Sharp brothers Liam, 16, and Ryan, 15, from Gorthleck, Inverness, as their Zwartbles was champion of champions on Saturday.
The event, celebrating its 200th anniversary, attracted strong entries of cattle, sheep and horses.
Tapped out by society president Gordon Ferguson’s guest and Nairn provost Laurie Fraser was the gimmer Olbre Firecracker from the brothers’ 14-ewe Paddock flock at the Paddock, Drumtemple Croft, who were exhibiting for just the second time at Nairn.
By Wallacetown Carbon, out of Wallacetown Christine, she was bought as a ewe lamb at Carlisle last November and stood sixth in a strong class of 32 gimmers at the Royal Highland Show and was breed champion at Sutherland Show.
The interbreed beef champion was September 2013-born Aberdeen-Angus bull Oakchurch Equity N141 from the Rhind family, who run 20 pedigree Aberdeen-Angus and 120 commercial cows at Newton Struthers, Kinloss. Brought out by young Graeme, he is an ET-bred son of Netherallan Peter Pershore, out of Blelack Eyrie G197, and has his first crop of calves on the ground now.
Reserve to the Aberdeen-Angus was the Limousin champion from Richard and Kathleen Davidson, and children Richard and Rachael, Corsairtly, Keith.
This was Corsairtly Oswald, a January, 2018-born bull by Ronick Inspector, out of Corsairtly Janelle. He won reserve beef at Echt, was breed champion at New Deer, and is destined for Carlisle Bull Sales in October.
Michael Robertson and family of Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, had one of their best Nairn Shows when a trio of Limousins by Whiskey Lord stood champion in the groups, ahead of Aberdeen-Angus from Ballindalloch Home Farm.
Scoring a hat-trick win for the Robertsons in the competition at Nairn, son Mark lifted the cross cattle championship, while Sarah Balfour stood champion with her British Blue cow.
The sheep lines attracted a bumper entry of Blackfaces and saw the reserve honours go to a three-shear Bluefaced Leicester stock tup from regular winner Raymond Baynes, Blackford, Croy. Shown by daughter Anna, he was bought two years ago at Kelso Ram Sales from Newbigging Walls and stood interbreed champion at Grantown last year.
In the horse section, 10-year-old Clydesdale mare Galcantray Angel from David and Beverley Walker, Easter Galcantray, Cawdor, Nairn, won the overall title. A previous winner at Nairn, she is by Heatherwick Perfection and out of Ord Jubilee Girl.
RESULTS
CATTLE
Highland cattle – Tordarroch Estates, Tordarroch, Farr, Inverness, with three-year-old heifer Heather 12 of Tordarroch, by Moluag of Kilpatrick. Champion at Sutherland. Reserve – Leys Castle, Inverness, with three-year-old heifer Dutchess of Black Glen, which was bought at Oban last October. On first outing, she is by Lachlan of Lagg.
Aberdeen-Angus – The Rhind family, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss, with Oakchurch Equity N141, by Netherallan Peter Pershore. He is the family’s new stock bull. Reserve – Lena M Forbes, Lochdhu Farm, Nairn, with 10-year-old cow Lochdhu Ellie, which was shown with her heifer calf at foot.
Beef Shorthorn – Grant Stephen, Hatton Farm, Dallas, with six-year-old cow Knowhead Gorgeous Tessa, which was bought at the Highland Wagyu dispersal last September. Reserve – Grant Stephen, with home-bred 17-month-old bull Glenduel Mighty. He is by Castlemount Sammy, and stood reserve champion at New Deer.
Limousin – Richard and Kathleen Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith, with Corsairtly Oswald, a January, 2018-born bull, by Ronick Inspector. He was reserve at Echt, and champion at New Deer. Reserve – Michael Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with Goldies Nell, a September, 2017-born heifer bought in May. She is by Goldies Fortress, stood reserve at Sutherland.
Simmental – The MacPherson family, Blackford, Croy, Inverness, with Blackford Jethro, a 17-month-old bull by Blackford Galaxy. He was on his first outing and is destined for Stirling Bull Sales in October. Reserve – Danny Leslie, Redhill Farm, Mosstowie, Elgin, with Redhill Jazzy, a November 2018-born born bull calf by Williams Eddie.
Charolais – The Milne family, Kennieshillock, Elgin, with 16-month-old bull Elgin Orlando, by Woodpark Elgin. He stood junior champion at Carlisle in May and is a full brother to Elgin Nancy, which was sold privately for a five-figure sum and stood champion at Balmoral Show this year for her new owners. Reserve – The Milne family with nine-month-old bull calf Elgin Obama, by Carwood Loch Ness.
Cross-bred cattle – Michael Robertson, with a home-bred 14-month-old British Blue cross heifer by Midlock Jackpot, out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow. She was on her first outing and will be retained in the suckler herd. Reserve – Smallburn Farms, Plewlands Farm, Duffus, with a March-born Limousin cross British Blue stot calf on its first outing. He is by an imported French bull which has bred a number of champion winners for the Andersons and is destined for the Spectacular at Thainstone.
Any other pure continental – Sarah Balfour, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with four-year-old British Blue cow Newroddige Jemima. Bought as a heifer at Carlisle, she is by Mountjoy Utopia, and is in-calf to Pendle Lion Heart.
YFC North show circuit – Duncan Munro, Invercharron, Ardgay. Reserve – Carrie Hamilton, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul.
Best stockman – James MacIver, Wester Coltfield, Kinloss.
SHEEP
Blackface – David Carson, Tigh N’ulaidh, Tomatin, with a home-bred two-crop ewe by a Dalwyne tup, out of a home-bred ewe by a Glenrath sire. On her first outing. Reserve – Raymond Baynes, Blackford, Croy, with a home-bred shearling tup by a £1,100 Achdregnie, out of a home-bred ewe. He won the district stock judging at Dingwall in February.
Suffolk – Lee Dunn, Corriemount, Muir of Ord, with a four-crop ewe on its first outing bred by Bardnaclavan and purchased from Leanne Matheson. Reserve – The Bissett family, Mariain, Culnaskeath, Evanton, with home-bred shearling tup Mariain Ferdinand, by Muirton His Royal Highness. He was reserve male at Sutherland.
Texel – Philip Gill, Wester Raddery, Fortrose, with a home-bred one-crop ewe on its first outing. She is by Knock Wezel, out of Stainton bred ewe. Reserve – Allan Chisholm, Wester Moy, Urray, Muir of Ord, with a home-bred gimmer on its first outing by Arkle Ying Yang, out of a Knock Vantastic ewe. She stood champion at Sutherland.
Bluefaced Leicester – Raymond Baynes, with aged tup bought from Newbigging Walls at Kelso Ram Sales two years ago. Shown by daughter Anna, he is by a Carryhouse sire. Supreme sheep at Grantown last year. Reserve – Raymond Baynes, with a home-bred shearling by the champion which is destined for Dingwall in September.
Beltex – John Scott and Partners, Fearn Farm, Tain, with a two-shear tup on its first outing named Dooley Caspian. Purchased at Carlisle last year, he is by Belgium tup Scooby Doo, out of Corra Top Totty. Reserve at Sutherland. Reserve – Zoey Rennie, 4 South Street, Newmill, Keith, with a one-crop ewe named Rennie Cosmo. Shown by Grant Ireland, she is by Matt’s Bullshot, out of Rennie Alba.
Zwartbles – Liam and Ryan Sharp, The Paddock, Drumtemple Croft, Gorthleck, with a gimmer named Olbre Firecracker, which was bought as a ewe lamb at Carlisle. She stood sixth in a class of 32 at the Highland Show, this year, and breed champion at Sutherland. Reserve – Rory McIntosh, Ardbrae House, Daviot, with ewe lamb Druid Temple Ginny, by Druid Temple Clarkson, out of Druid Temple Elsa. Bred by Laura Marwick. On first outing.
Jacob – Adam Christie, Birchfield, Glass, Huntly, with tup lamb Adamski Krypton, by Hope Knockout, out of Adamski Maisy. Reserve – Adam Christie, with gimmer Adamski Susie, by Hope Knockout, out of a home-bred ewe.
Cross-bred sheep – Gavin Breathet, Woodside Croft, Blackpark, Ardersier, with March-born Texel cross ewe lambs by a Felquoy tup bought at Thainstone. Reserve – Alfie Clark, Milton of Connage, Ardersier, with Jacob cross Cheviot ewe lambs by a Beltex cross Charollais tup.
Mules – Danny Leslie, with three gimmers bought from Dell Farm at Dingwall Mart. Reserve – Kenny and John Matheson, Milton of Aberarder, Strathnairn, Inverness, with three ewe lambs by a Rossiebank tup.
Any other breed accredited – Thomas Jackson, Boghead, Lumsden, with home-bred Vendeen shearling tup. Reserve – Yvonne Spence, Gowan Brae, Skye of Curr, Dulnain Bridge, with tup lamb Ben More Uptown Funk, by Knighton Rolls Royce.
Any other breed non-accredited – U Leonardi, 5 Rockfield, Portmahomack, with aa home-bred Texel ewe lamb, by Teiglum Wise Guy, out of a bought in ewe. Reserve – Euan Campbell, New House, Balvaird, Muir of Ord, with a tup lamb by Templand Bertie, out of home-bred ewe.
Young handlers – 1 and overall champion Liam Sharp; 2 Ryan Sharp;
3 Rory McIntosh.
Blackface sheep young handlers – 1 Megan Matheson;
2 Gavin Campbell; 3 Robert Matheson.
HORSES
Clydesdale – David and Beverley Walker, Easter Galcantray, Cawdor, with Galcantray Angel, a 10-year-old mare, by Heatherwick Perfection. Reserve – Eric and Miranda Johnstone, 50 Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord, with four-year-old mare Ord Destiny, by Eskraggen Earnest and was champion at Sutherland.
Highland ponies – Fiona Menzies, Myreton Farm, Insch, with 10-year-old gelding Seamuis of Forglen. Reserve – Sally Leslie Melville, South Cantray, Croy, with 10-year-old mare Glenbanchor Lady Ferelith.
Shetland ponies – Harry Sleigh, St John Wells, Fyvie, with Wells Legand, a 10-year-old gelding by Wells Extra Special, out of Wells Vita. He was Great Yorkshire Show champion. Reserve – Harry Sleigh with Wells Prelude, a three-year-old colt by Wells Masterclass, out of Wells Paris.