Organisers of this year’s Echt Show will be hoping for another sun-kissed day at next weekend’s event.
Judges from across Scotland will travel to the show, which takes place on Saturday, July 11, to judge the region’s finest horses, cows and sheep.
Last year the coveted champion of champions title went to a Dutch Texel two-shear ram, making its show debut, from Stuart Wood, of Woodhillock, Skene. Mr Wood, whose day job is a firefighter in Aberdeen, took the title after winning the championship in the any other breed of sheep class and the sheep interbreed championship. In the cattle lines, the interbreed champion rosette was awarded to Huntly cattle dealer Blair Duffton for his 16-month-old Limousin cross heifer Toodle Pip.
Meanwhile, the top award in the horse and pony classes went to 13-year-old Robin Wilson, of Torries Croft, Tough, Alford, with her champion in the ridden horses class – a 10-year old Dutch Warmblood by Grivaldi.
The show will also feature Highland dancing, tug o’ war, a dog show and pipe band performances. There will also be demonstrations from the Drakes of Hazard and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers will perform on the Friday evening before the show. Admission to the show costs £8 for adults, £2 for children aged between 12 and 16, and those under the age of 12 get in for free. Parking at the event is free.