The prestigious champion of champions sash at the Fettercairn Show was presented to a commercial heifer for the second year in a row on Saturday.
Visitors and exhibitors at the show, which is now in its 182nd year, were in good spirits as the sun shone down on the showground for most of the day. This is in stark contrast to the wash-out 2015 show where rain lashed down for the whole event.
Judging the coveted show champion of champions title was George Anderson from Mains of Kair, Fordoun, Laurencekirk.
After casting his eye over the beef, sheep and horse interbreed champions, Mr Anderson selected a 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer for his champion.
The heifer earned Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart the coveted title for the second year in a row – the pair took the same prize last year with another Limousin cross heifer, Lady Moo Moo, which went on to win several show championships in 2015.
This year’s champion – You Beauty – was bred by Andrew Anderson of Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Elgin and bought at last year’s Thainstone Spectacular for £3,100.
She was described by Mr Anderson as “utterly outstanding” and “almost perfection”.
Mr Duffton, who regularly shows commercial cattle, said she was the best beast he had ever shown.
Standing reserve beef interbreed champion, as judged by Iain Mathers of Wardes, Kintore, Inverurie, was the Aberdeen-Angus champion from John M Steel of West Drums Farm, Brechin.
His nine-year-old cow – Cardona Proud Isla G475 – was also crowned native beef champion. She was bought three years ago at Robbie Galloway’s reduction sale and was shown at Fettercairn by Jimmy McMillan with her heifer calf West Drums Proud Isla.
In the sheep section, the interbreed champion title went to the Texel champion from Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter.
He took the title with a gimmer by Hilltop Uncle Sam and out of a Baltier-bred ewe by Baltier Panther. She was shown by first-time visitors to the Fettercairn Show, Richard Reynolds.
The reserve sheep interbreed title went to the Suffolk champion from James Scott of Strathview, East Ingliston, Forfar.
His three-shear-tup, Redbrae Real Deal, stood interbreed champion at last year’s show and is by Ardlea Atomic.
Lastly, in the horse section the overall champion title went to the champion from the large mountain and moorland ponies section – a three-year-old Welsh Section C filly from Lynneann Cameron and Alison Walker of Inchgray Farmhouse, Fettercairn.
Passford Pollyanna, which is by Windmill Teal, was bought last year by Ms Cameron and Ms Walker. Her trip to Fettercairn was her sixth outing so far in 2016.
The reserve horse champion title went to the leader of the Highland section – 10-year-old Maydew of Turinhill from JPG Cameron, Westcot, Pitkennedy, by Forfar.
This one is by Kincardine Ben Macdhui and Fettercairn was her second ever outing – she stood champion a the Forfar Foal Show as a two-year-old.
The results are as follows:
CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus: John M Steel, West Drums Farm, Brechin, with nine-year-old cow Cardona Proud Isla G475 which was bought three years ago at Robbie Galloway’s reduction sale. She was shown by Jimmy McMillan and taken out with her heifer calf West Drums Proud Isla, which is by Blelack Duke. The Fettercairn win follows taking the breed championship at Angus and Alyth.
Reserve – Graham Willox, of Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum, with five-year-old cow Mosston Muir Ingrid, which was bough in October last year at the Mosston Muir dispersal for 11,500gn. She was on her first outing and is by Mosston Muir Elgin.
Cross: Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart, of 2 Bogie Street, Huntly, with 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer You Beauty which was bred by Andrew Anderson of Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Elgin. She was bought at the Thainstone Spectacular for £3,100 and is by a French bull called Bryan and out of a cow called Smarty Pants. She was first and champion at the Nairn Show last year and first at the Royal Highland Show the week before.
Reserve – Derek D Nelson, Mains of Lundie, Edzell, with 17-month-old Limousin cross bullock Parahandy which was bought in March at Caledonian Marts in Stirling for £1,400. He was bred by Tom Hamilton of Pardoven, Linlithgow, and stood reserve at Angus, and champion at Alyth earlier this year.
Limousin: Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, with two-year-old cow Goldies Inchantress, whicch is by Keprico Germander and out of Goldies Etoile. She was bought at the Red Ladies Sale in December for 8,000gn and stood champion at Angus.
Reserve – Aileen Ritchie with Brockhurst Howzat and her bull calf Ritchies Marley. Howzat was also bought at the Red Ladies Sale. She is by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Brockhurst Bolshoi.
Simmental: Gerald and Morag Smith, of Drumsleed, Fourdon, with two-year-old in-calf heifer Drumsleed Farina 14, which is by Clonah Buckarooney and out of Boardshead Karina 2nd. On her second outing, she was first in her class at the Angus Show this year.
Reserve – Gerald and Morag Smith with home-bred April-2015 born bull Drumsleed Guinea, which is by Haystar Cracker and out of Drumsleed Ceitlin. He was champion at Angus.
Highland: Leys Castle Farm, Inverness, with two-year-old home-bred heifer Dosan 28th of Leys. Shown by cattleman Dale Scott, this one is by Jock of Lyntown and out of Dosan 16th of Leys. She was shown last year as a yearling and stood champion at the National Club Show this year.
Reserve – Steven Reid and Amy Singer, 134 Forest Park, Stonehaven, with Sorcha Dubh 2nd of Cladich which was bough in Oban in October 2014. She is by Seonaidh Mor of Ardura and out of Sorcha Dubh of Cladich. She stood reserve at Angus.
Any other native breed: Ian Skea, Coreen, Dalrich, Kemnay, with home-bred January-2015 born Hereford bull Bennachie 1 Master, which is by Panmure 1 Herman and out of Bennachie 1 Amy. He was on his first outing.
Reserve – Ian Skea with home-bred heifer Bennachie 1 Curly 4th, which is by Panmure 1 Herman and out of Bennachie 1 Curly. She was also on her first outing.
Cattle young handlers: 1 – Lewis Singer; 2 – Eoin Middleton; 3 – Ewan Singer; 4 – Sandi Airth.
SHEEP
Blackface: Grant Cocker, Knowhead of Auldallan, Kirriemuir, with a one-crop ewe bought from Blackhouse at Lanark for £1,100 in February. She is by a £3,000 Blackhouse tup.
Reserve – Brian Cocker, Knowhead of Auldallan, Kirriemuir, with a home-bred three-crop ewe which is by a £3,500 Blackhouse and out of a ewe by a £350 Milnmark. She stood champion at Fettercairn as a gimmer in 2014.
Suffolk: James Scott, Strathview, East Ingliston, Forfar, with three-shear tup Redbrae Real Deal which stood interbreed champion at last year’s show. He is by Ardlea Atomic and was bought at Stirling as a lamb.
Reserve – J. A. Lorimer, Cadgerford, Kingswells, with a January-born ewe lamb on its first outing. She is by the 2,500gn Balnacannon Boss and out of a home-bred ewe by Strathisla Fencer.
Jacob: Adam Christie, Birchfield, Glass, Huntly, with two-shear ram Dun-Mor Anthonio. On his first outing in 2016, this one is by Dun-Mor Xerox. He was bought at St Boswells as a shearling.
Reserve – Adam Christie, with a tup lamb by Blackbrook Dragon and out of an Edingale ewe. He was bought at St Boswells.
Any other native breed: Stuart Moore, Mains of Balhall, Menmuir, with a Hampshire Down ewe lamb. Bought at Stirling in May for 420gn, this one is by East Fortune Balfour and out of a ewe by Westland Bertie.
Reserve – D & B Henderson, Nether Touks, Dunottar, Stonehaven, with a shearling Lleyn tup which stood reserve male champion at the Highland Show. He is by a Johnstone sire which was bought in 2011 and out of the female champion at the Highland Show in 2014.
Beltex: Stuart Moore, Mains of Balhall, with a gimmer on her first outing. She is by Ardstewart Paparazzi and out of a Doolley-bred ewe which was bought privately.
Reserve – G & F Burke, Cairndrum Cottage, by Edzell, Brechin, with a February-born tup lamb which is by Broxty Supreme and out of a home-bred ewe by Kingledores Rascal. He will be sold at Carlisle.
Texel: Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter with a gimmer by Hilltop Uncle Sam and out of a Baltier-bred ewe by Baltier Panther. She was shown by Richard Reynolds on his first visit to the show.
Reserve – Alston, Drumchapel, Drumchapel of Menmuir, Brechin, with a ewe lamb by Garngour Ultimatum and out of a ewe by Deveronvale Ulysses.
Any other continental breed: Alston, Drumchapel, with a home-bred Millenium Bleu gimmer which is by Broxty Wishful Thinking and out of a Bleu Du Maine ewe lamb bought from Willie Baillie.
Reserve – TD Miskelly, Corrybrae, Kildrummy, Alford, with a home-bred Zwartble ewe called Corrybrae Beyonce, which is by Speyside Whistler.
Cross sheep: W Mather & Sons, Shanford Farm, Fern, by Brechin, with home-bred Beltex crosses, by a Todall sire bought at Lanark and out of Texel cross ewes.
Reserve – David Black, Minard, Cortachy Road, Kirriemuir, with Texel cross gimmers bought at Forfar.
Cross sheep single: David Black, Minard, with Texel cross gimmer bred at Tullywhanland and bought at Forfar. She was first at Alyth.
Reserve – Sarah Finnie, Newseat, Balthangie, Cuminestown, with a home-bred one-crop Texel cross ewe, by Hareston Unique. She placed first at Angus.
Sheep young handlers aged 12 and under: 1 – Robbie Burke; 2 – James Adams; 3 – Faith Miskelly.
Sheep young handlers aged 13 to 16: 1 – Hannah Lorimer; 2 – Adam Christie.
NATIVE HORSES
Shetland: W & P Robertson, 32 Newhame Road, Montrose, with Elegant Lady Brooke, which is by Eynhallow Black Magic and out of Event of St Ninians.
Reserve – Ken and Anne Scott, Brae of Kerryston, Kellas, by Broughty Ferry, with seven-year-old O’hara of Auckhorn which is by Wells Prince Harry. Auckhorn stood second at the Royal Highland Show.
Highland: JPG Cameron, Westcot, Pitkennedy, by Forfar, with 10-year-old Maydew of Turinhill, which is by Kincardine Ben Macdhui. She was champion at the Forfar Foal Show as a two-year-old on her only other show outing.
Reserve – K Lawson and W Sinclair, No.1 Kinaldie Holdings, Arbroath, with Lochlands Gloriana, which is by Whitefield Prince Platinum and out of Lochland’s Magic Flute.
Clydesdale: Sandy Aitken, Newton Cottage, Memus, Forfar, with eight-year-old Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace, which is by Solway Bay. She is a former champion winner at the Highland, Alyth, Aberfeldy and Echt.
Reserve – Norman Christie, Roadside, Fintry, Aberdeenshire, with siz-year-old Anguston Amber, which is by Old Greengrass Lochy and out of Anguston Amy. She has previously stood champion of champions at Fettercairn.