Here’s a list of all the breed champions from the Caithness Show:
CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus – Benjie and Joanne Mackay, Skitten, Wick, with four-year-old bull Kincardine Castle Exception, a Blacklack Krackerjack son bought at Stirling for 3,500gn on his first outing. Reserve: Benjie and Joanne Mackay with 21-month-old heifer Billinge Magic Jenya Erica, a Netherallan Peter Pershore-sired heifer bought at Stirling, in February, where she stood champion and made 4,000gn. She was on her first outing since and was paraded in calf to Retties JFK.
Shorthorn and reserve inter-breed beef champion – J. Scott, Fearn Farm, with Dakota of Upsall, a five-year-old bull bought at Stirling for 10,000gn. Native champion at Grantown and inter-breed best in Ross-shire at the Black Isle, last year, this Broughton Park Thunder son out of an Upsall cow was shown by Jimmy and Helen Laing. Reserve: John Campbell and Co, Todholes, Thurso, with the five-month-old heifer calf Ballylinney Daisy, by Podehole Edward, purchased at Derek Steen’s Shorthorn sale at Carlisle.
Highland – Mrs Sheila Gillon, Lower Toftingall, Watten, with Lucy of Avidale, a three-year-old heifer that was champion at Latheron in 2014 and in 2015. She is by Angus of Lynton and out of Wyna 1 of Lagg. Reserve: Mrs Sheila Gillon with the second prize three-year-old heifer, Robina of Aviedale, by the same sire but out of Siusaidh 4 of Lagg.
Charolais – R. Mackay, Clyth Mains, Lybster, with Clyth Jaguar, an 11-month-old son of the home-bred Clyth Ecossais, which is a half brother to the 18,000gn Clyth Diplomat. The dam is the foundation cow, Holtstead Rebecca. Reserve: J. Morris, Olrig Mains, Castletown, with Olrig Imp, a yearling heifer by Sandleford Duggan, out of Olrig Dixie, that stood fourth at the Highland.
Simmental – Jonathan and Joanne Gunn, Mavsey, Lybster, with Mavsey Goofy, a seven-month-old bull calf by the AI sire, Keeldrum Clio, out of the Skerrington Legacy sired Mavsey Cavery. Reserve: Jonathan and Joanne Gunn with the nine-month-old bull, Mavsey Flash Dance, by Mavsey Dabbler, a bull retained for breeding, out of last year’s champion, Mavsey Dancer, by Popes Laird.
Continental – James Manson, Upper Northfield, Wick, with the reserve continental from Latheron Show, Grayhar Halle, a British Blue heifer by Empire Du Chain. This 34-month-old black was bought privately from Matthew Jones, Shropshire. Reserve: I. Sinclair, Clyth Mains, Lybster, with the Latheron champion, Solwayview Haribo, a similarly aged British Blue heifer by Solwayview Dynamite, bred by Kevin Watret.
Commercial and overall cattle champion and reserve overall champion of champions: Ian Sinclair, Clyth Mains, with the Latheron champion, shown by stockman Kris Sutherland. This was Pentland Lady, a 17-month-old black Limousin cross heifer bred in Orkney by Balfour Baillie and bought at the Thainstone Spectacular for £3,800. Reserve: Mark Munro, Invercharron, Ardgay, with Foxy Lady, which also stood calf champion. This nine-month-old heifer is by the Limousin sire, Bailea Cavalier and out of a British Blue cross cow.
Young handlers – 8-12 years – 1 Duncan Munro, Invercharron; 2 Jamie Manson, Upper Northfield; 3, Sophie Gunn, Clyth Mains.
HORSES
Highland pony and reserve overall horse – Amanda McLennan, Garth, St Ola, with Donald of Muck, a six-year-old ridden dun stallion. He is by Strathmashie Seamus Mhor and out of Kaimes of Croili, that was champion at Fife and first at Ayr. He was also third at Blair, last year. Reserve: Sarah Campbell, Tayberry, St Margaret’s Hope, Orkney, with Celiedh O The Glens, a mare that was reserve champion at Orkney Show last year.
Shetland – E. and S. Dunnet, Lynfield, Lyth, with the eight-year-old mare Opal of Auckhorn, shown with three-month-old filly foal which won her class. Opal is by Wells Prince Harry, out of Oyster of Auckhorn and stood junior champion at the Highland in 2008 and champion here in 2013. Reserve: Kelly Peace, Hools Shetland Pony Stud, The Brough, Toab, with Hools Janet, a two-year-old filly by Wells Masterclass out of Merkisayre Poppy, whose grand-dam was a previous Hools Janet, bred by Kelly’s grandmother, Ivy Cromarty. She was junior champion at Orkney last year.
SHEEP
Border Leicester – Henry Miller, Aimster, Thurso, with a previously unshown home-bred shearling ram by Didcot Prince. Reserve: Henry Miller with a previously unshown home-bred two-crop ewe by Ditton Diamond.
Suffolk and reserve inter-breed group of three – William Manson and Son, Skaill, Thurso, with a home-bred two-crop ewe by Middlemuir McCoist, out of a ewe by Lakeview Loyalist. She was first as a gimmer and second as a ewe lamb here for the eight-ewe Dounreay flock. Together with the first and second prize gimmers, they made up the reserve group. Reserve – William Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, Watten, with a home-bred gimmer by Slackadale Atomic and out of a home-bred ewe by Drimmie X-Factor, on her first outing.
Half-bred – Bruce Swanson, East Murkle, Thurso, with a home-bred gimmer by a Drennans tup bought at Lanark, out of a home-bred Cheviot ewe, one of 35 in the flock crossed to the Border. Reserve: A. Miller and Son, Aimster, Thurso, with a previously unshown home-bred two-crop ewe.
Prime lambs – Kenneth Sutherland and sons Stephen and Kenneth, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, with end of March-born three-quarter twin-born Texel wedder lambs by a home-bred sire. They were on their first outing. Reserve: John Campbell and Co, Todholes, Thurso, with April-born Beltex cross lambs by Bardnaheigh Trogon, bought at Lanark.
North Country Cheviot – James Mackay, Biggins, Wick, with a previously unshown one-crop ewe by Biggins Ranger and out of a ewe by a Hownam Grange tup. Reserve: D.N. Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield, with Cairnside Northern Star, a four-shear ram bought at Quoybrae for £1,500 three years ago. By a Smiddyquoy sire, he was champion here in 2012, first in 2014 and at this year’s Highland. He is also the sire of the first prize shearling ram here and the reserve male at the Highland.
North Country Cheviot, small farmers and stockmen – John Polson, Smerlie, Lyster. with a home-bred gimmer by Durran Prospector. Reserve: John Polson with a ewe lamb by Durran Rover.
North Country Cheviot groups – John Polson, Smerlie, with the champion and reserve winners from the small farmers section along with a tup lamb by Durran Rover. Reserve: Charles and Isobel Angus, Oldfield, Thurso.
Cheviot hill – Andrew Campbell, Millhouse, Stainland, with home-bred gimmer that stood fifth at the Highland. She is by a Longoe sire bought at Lairg for £900 and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve: Badanloch Estate, Kinbrace, with a home-bred three-shear ram by Clebrig Jackanory and out of a home-bred ewe. He is bound for the breed sale at Lairg in October.
Blackface – John Campbell and Co, Todholes, with a home-bred two-crop ewe on her first outing. She is by a tup used on loan from Robert MacGregor, Whitebridge, Inverness, and out of a ewe bred by Alan Sutherland, Barnaheigh. Reserve: Sandy Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten, with a Leys Castle-bred three-crop ewe bought in February 2015 in lamb, and on her first outing.
Native – Sandy Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten, with a former champion sheep here. This five-crop Bluefaced Leicester ewe by an Ashes sire was bought at Carlisle. Reserve: Simon Turkington, Blingery, Wick, with a two-shear Bluefaced Leicester ram of unknown breeding, bought at Kelso, last year on his first outing.
Lleyn – John Campbell and Co, Todholes, with a home-bred shearling ram by an Incheoch sire that will be sold at Dingwall. He was on his first outing. Reserve: John Campbell and Co with an April-born tup lamb by Fort Casanova, which was bought at Carlisle, and out of a ewe by an Incheoch sire.
Commercial and reserve overall – Willliam Barnetson and sons James and William, Lynegar, with a home-bred three-crop Suffolk cross Half-bred ewe shown with February-born Texel cross lambs by a home-bred sire. They were on their first outing from the 750 commercial ewe flock. Reserve: Sandy Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten, with a Charollais cross Mule ewe with February-born Texel lambs at foot. This home-bred one-crop ewe was reserve at Black Isle and first here last year.
Cross and supreme – William Barnetson and sons James and William, Lynegar, with a home-bred Texel cross gimmer out of a Texel cross Half-bred ewe, on her first outing. Reserve: Kenneth Sutherland and sons Stephen and Kenneth, Sibmister, and Stainland Farms, with a three-crop Texel cross ewe that was first at the Highland as a ewe lamb and a gimmer.
Texel accredited – Lee Sutherland, Crosskirk Texels, Carran, Crosskirk, with the February-born ewe lamb, Crosskirk Wacky Wenders, christened after Wendy Cunninham. She is by Garngour Ultimatum and out of a home-bred ewe by Ettrick Rainbow Warrior. Reserve: Kenneth Sutherland and sons Stephen and Kenneth, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, with a March-born ram lamb by Didcot United, out of an Arkle ewe bought at Carlisle.
Texel non-accredited – John Forbes, Boultach, Latheron, with a three-crop Cambwell ewe bought privately from Robert Laird. She is by Allanfauld Rockafella and was second at Latheron. Last year she was champion at Latheron, crofters champion at Black Isle and reserve here. Reserve: John Forbes with a home-bred shearling ram by a Callerton tup bought at Lanark and out of a home-bred ewe. He was second at Latheron this year and last year took the award for the best lamb at Latheron.
Continental and inter-breed group of three – Yvonne Spence, Gowan Brae, Skye of Curr, with Benmore Oops A Daisy, a home-bred Charollais gimmer by a Welsh sire and out of a full sister to the show ewe, Benmore Juan Sheet. She was first here and local champion at Grantown, last year. Together with the second prize gimmer and the first prize tup lamb, all from Gowan Brae, they made up the winning team. Reserve: A. Sutherland, Rumsdale House, Harpsdale, with a Beltex ewe lamb by Padkin Sugar Daddy out of a Muirton gimmer bought at Thainstone.
OTHERS
Young sheep handlers – 11 years and under – 1 and reserve Erin Sutherland, Bardnaheigh; 2 Leo MacKintosh, Gowan Brae; 3 Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh. 12-16 years – 1 and champion Alastair McCarthy, Longoe; 2 Ti MacKintosh, Gowan Brae; 3, Jamie Mackenzie, Methlick.
Fleece – Sandy Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten, with a Bluefaced Leicester fleece. Reserve: Hughie and Jan Mackenzie, Langdale, Strathnaver, with a hill-type North Country Cheviot fleece.
Pigs – Matthew Tucker and daughters Sophie and Megan, Smith Terrace, Wick, with a three-and-a-half-year-old home-bred Large Black cross Landrace boar on his first outing. Reserve: Matthew Tucker and daughters Sophie and Megan was a three-month-old piglet by the champion and out of an Oxford Sandyard Black sow, one of only two sows owned by the family.
Poultry – Stephen Stuart, 15, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale, with a Wyandotte pullet. Reserve – Erin, 9, and Neve, 7, Sutherland, Rumsdale House, Harpsdale, with a home-bred modern game cock on his first outing.