The summer agricultural show season in the north and north-east ended on a high with a record number of visitors attending a sun-kissed Grantown Show.
The event, held at Heathfield Park, saw temperatures soar above 20C for much of the day meaning visitors and exhibitors could brave the showfield without wellies and a brolly. And judging the coveted show champion of champions was the owner of nearby Revack Estate – Karen Blessington.
After much deliberation Ms Blessington crowned a Limousin bull, which she described as the “epitome of Scottish farming”, as her show champion.
The bull from the Irvine family, who run the Anside herd at Braehead, Drummuir, Keith, rose to the top after scooping the beef interbreed championship rosettes from judge John MacGregor.
Mr MacGregor, who hails from Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow, described the bull as a “most correct and well balanced” beast and an “exceptional animal of the breed”.
He was referring to January-2014 born Gunnerfleet Joplin, which was bought by the Irvines in Carlisle in May.
He is one of the first sons of Maraiscote Graffiti and is out of Gunnerfleet Fortunas. The Grantown win follows taking the reserve interbreed beef rosettes at Keith and reserve title at Turriff earlier in the month.
Standing reserve in the beef section was the Simmental champion from the Green family at Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers. Their heifer, Corskie Emerald, is by Dirnanean Bradley and out of Corskie Jools 2. She was reserve at Echt, New Deer, Nairn, Black Isle and Keith, as well as champion continental beast at Sutherland.
Over in the sheep lines the supreme interbreed title, also judged by Mr MacGregor, was awarded to the cross champion.
This April-born Mule ewe lamb was described by the judge as having “good colours and skin”. She was put forward by Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown, and is by a Cottage tup and out of a home-bred ewe. Following her Grantown Show success, she is to be sold at the upcoming breeding sale at Huntly Mart.
Reserve sheep interbreed was awarded to the Texel champion from the Greens at Corskie.
This one, which was put forward by Jemma Green, is a tup lamb called Corskie Whopper. He was bought while inside his mother at the Christmas Classic last year. He is by Glenside Valhalla and out of a Milnbank ewe by Teiglum Tornado. His Grantown success follows taking the breed championship at Keith on Monday as well as standing male champion at the Black Isle.
Meanwhile over in the horse section the title of supreme horse was awarded to a nine-year-old Dales mare from Susie Noble at Balquhidder Kerro Farm, Crannich, Inverness. Daloumine Foxy Lady is a nine-year-old mare, by Village Chieftain and out of Powderdale Caroline. She was reserve supreme overall horse at the Black Isle, which resulted in qualifying for a ticket to the semi-finals at Olympia.
The reserve overall horse title went to a seven-year-old Welsh Section A yeld mare from Lorna Murphy at Melvaig, Tarnash, Keith.
Steephill Ophelia was bought by Ms Murphy as a foal in Wales and was unshown until around two years ago. She placed first at Tarland.