The Canisbay Show committee brought their show date forward by a week this year – and were rewarded with the best weather they have enjoyed in several years.
A strong, slightly chilly wind was offset by brilliant sunshine throughout the day.
Entries were up slightly across the board, with goats and poultry making a return after being absent last year.
A very successful show day was almost marred when the cattle champion broke loose while being led to the main ring for the judging of the champion-of-champions award.
But fast action by the organisers brought order back to showground and the bullock, which had been chosen earlier as cattle champion, was consigned to a stock box.
While the drama was unfolding, the supreme sheep and horse champions, along with the poultry and goat champions, waited patiently in the main ring for the overall ticket to be awarded.
When it became obvious the escapee, owned by Dave Kennedy, Whitegate, Canisbay, would not be joining them, judge Will Campbell, Calder, handed the top ticket to the supreme horse champion, 17-year old riding pony mare Raemair Hoity Toity, which had earlier lifted the in-hand championship.
Shown by Sarah Rogers, Cogle Farm, Quoybrae, Watten, the pony is owned by her seven-year old son, Benjamin.
Mr Campbell said he was really taken by the pony, which was so well turned out. Despite its age, he said, it looked like a young horse with a tremendous shiny coat.
The reserve champion of champions award went to the supreme sheep champion, a Texel gimmer, out of a home-bred ewe and after a Bardnaclavan tup, from Jamie Coghill, Rose Cottage, Huna. Jamie, an electrician and part time crofter, runs a 20-ewe flock.
Twelve-year-old Alistair McCarthy, Seafield View, Mey, repeated his success of last year when he lifted the reserve supreme ticket in the sheep section at Canisbay.
This time round, his winner was the any other cross breed champion, an April-born cross wedder lamb out of a black North Country Cheviot ewe and after a Zwartbles cross Texel tup.
David Kennedy took the supreme cattle award with his troublesome 14-month old Limousin cross bullock, after the farm’s stock bull, Moray Elan, which is shared with his father, who farms next door at Tresdale. David, who works as a carpet fitter, has eight cows in his herd.
The reserve supreme among the cattle went to another part-time farmer, show president Mr Dunnett, of Linkmoor, Lower Warse, with a seven-year old Limousin cross cow, out of a British Blue cow and after the AI Limousin bull Ronick Hawk. The Dounreay firefighter has a herd of 10 cows.
The goat championship went to Diane Meikle, Windy Ha, East Mey, with Arran, a four-year old British Toggenberg billy, by Scotshaven Tweed.
Poultry made a comeback at the show this year with a total entry of about 25. Both the top tickets went to Peter Body, Bridleway, Upper Gills.
His champion was a two-year old German Langshaw cockerel, while he took reserve with a Welsummer pullet.
Reserve supreme in the horse classes went to the ridden champion, the five-year old thoroughbred cross gelding Glynwood Alfred, from Ashleigh Campbell, Castleview Stables, Oldwick, Wick.