More than 6,000 show-goers took to the Kinnudie show field at Nairn on Saturday to witness David Walker and Beverley Brown from Galcantray at Cawdor, take home the coveted Nairn Show champion of champions title.
Under perfect weather conditions after a gloomy forecast, the president’s guest John Henderson of Udale, Poytnesfield, gave the winning nod to Kilmaclasser Bonnie Lily, a three-year-old mare which was bred in Southern Ireland. She is by Cloondaff Setenta and out of Carnaff Bonnie Marie, and this year stood champion of champions at Ayr and Doune and Dunblane.
The MacPhersons from Blackford at Croy, took the beef interbreed championship with their 16-month-old Charolais bull, Blackford Leonardo which was only on his second outing after standing junior male champion at the Highland. Leonardo, which was tapped down by judge, Allan Taylor, recently retired Aberdeen and Northern Marts auctioneer, is a home-bred bull by Elgin Davinci and out of Blackford Candy.
Standing reserve to the Charolais was Garry Patterson of Upper Forgie, Keith, with his Limousin in-calf heifer Aultside Jazz, which had been participating at the national show at Carlisle on Friday. The 26-month-old Limmy is by Dinmore Goldcrest and out of Spittalton Flush.
The beef group-of-three award went to the Green family and stockman Robert Taylor from Corksie at Garmouth, with their Simmental trio, while the reserve went to the Limousins from Garry Patterson.
In the sheep rings, the interbreed title went to the Youngs from Bareflathills at Elgin, with their Suffolk two-crop ewe which was brought out by Sam Milne of Kennyshillock. This ewe, which was on its first outing, is by Forkins Figo and out of Glenside Golden Phoenix.
RESULTS
CATTLE
Highland: Leys Castle Farm, Inverness, with two-year-old heifer, Dosan 28 of Leys, which is by Jock of Lynton and out of Dosan 17 of Leys. She stood champion at Fettercairn this year too.
Reserve – Allanfearn Highlanders, Newhouse, Heights of Inchvannie, Strathpeffer, with Rowan of Allanfearn, the two-year-old heifer, Roxy of Allanfearn which is by Guisoe of Brue and out of Abigail 2 of Tirryside.
Aberdeen-Angus: A and K Rhind, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss, with Newton-Struther Junerical, a two-year-old heifer in-calf which is by Newton-Struther Erysium and out of Newton-Struther Junerica.
Reserve – H Polson, Rowanfield, Strathpeffer, with two-year-old bull, Spittleshore Pele, by Netherallan Peter Pershore and out of Spittalshore Prim Louise. He was recently first in his class at Sutherland.
Limousin: Garry Patterson, Upper Forgie, Aultmore, Keith, with Aultside Jazz, a 26-month-old in-calf heifer. She is by Dinmore Gold Crest and out of Spittalton Flush, and stood reserve champion at Keith and Grantown last year.
Reserve – G Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith, with a 15-month-old maiden heifer, Powerful Kango, by Haltcliffe Dancer and out of Liscann Fantastic. She stood reserve champion at New Deer this year and was first in her class at the National Show in Carlisle on Friday.
Simmental: Jimmy and Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, with a 17-month-old bull, Corskie Gingersnap by Bel Dhu Capercaillie and out of Corskie Winola. He stood champion of champions at Echt recently and was junior interbreed champion at the Highland. Reserve – Jimmy and Iain Green with the two-year-old heifer Corskie Flume, by Bel Dhu Capercaillie and out of Corskie Blume. She has stood first in her class at the Highland, New Deere and Echt.
Charolais: The MacPherson family, Blackford, Croy, with Blackford Leonardo, a 16-month-old bull by Elgin Davinci and out of Blackford Candy. He stood junior champion
at the Highland this year. Reserve – Johnny and Raymond Irvine, Inverlochy, Tomintoul, with a five-year-old cow by Lochend Apachie, which was reserve Charolais at the Highland this year.
Cross: Mark and Debby Munro, Invercharron, Ardgay, with Kiss My… , a September-2015 born home-bred heifer by the AI British Blue sire, Tweeddale Guinness, out of a home-bred Limousin cross cow. She was the supreme overall at Latheron, Caithness and Sutherland. Reserve – D Morrison and four-year-old grandson Jacob, Cairn Nulla, Kinlochbervie, with an eight-month-old British Blue cross bullock, which was purchased at Leyburn in the spring.
SHEEP
Blackface: Kevin Johnstone, Keepers Cottage, Gorthleck, Inverness, with a ewe lamb by an Aitkenhead sire and out of a Poll gimmer. Reserve – G McIntosh and C McIntyre, Upper Croft na Garn, Boat-of-Garten, with a gimmer bred at Glen, Gatehouse, that was bought at Castle Douglas as a ewe hogg in June. She is by a £14,000 Elmscleugh.
Suffolk: C and I Young, Bareflathills, Elgin, shown by Sam Milne, with a two-crop ewe by Forkins Figo and out of Glenside Golden Phoenix.
Reserve – C and I Young with a gimmer by Haddow Powerline and out of Cairness High Kingdom.
Texel: Wester Moy Texels, Wester Moy, Urray, Muir of Ord, with a gimmer by Knock Vantastic and out of a Teiglum ewe, a first prize winner at Sutherland.
Reserve – Jemma Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, with a two-crop ewe by Teiglum Tornado and out of a Milnbank ewe, which stood first in her class at Echt.
Blue-faced Leicester: Raymond Baynes, Blackford, Croy, with a two-shear tup bred by Matthew Seed. He was bought at Kelso last September.
Reserve – Raymond Baynes with a Moss Vale shearling tup, also bought at Kelso last September.
Beltex: Donald Douglas, Braes of Coulmore, North Kessock, with a ewe lamb by Airryoland Sovern and out of Kinchyle Roxanne.
Reserve – J Scott and Partners, Fearn, Tain, with Fearn Beattie, a ewe lamb by Forglen Neurco, which stood champion at Sutherland this year.
Jacob: M Milton, Newton of Auchindachy, Drummuir, Keith, with the ewe Cairdswood Millie, by Burnside Evril and out of a Mont Coffee ewe. She was first at Fettercairn and reserve female at the national show at the Black Isle last year.
Reserve – A Christie, Birchfield, Glass, Huntly, with a ewe lamb by Dynmor Antonia and out of an Adamski ewe. She was first at Fettercairn and Angus this year.
Mules: Robert Mackenzie, The Glebe, Baot-of-Garten, with three ewe lambs.
Reserve – D and DM Leslie, Redhill, Mosstowie, Elgin, with three gimmers.
Cross: Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, Thurso, with breeding ewe lambs.
Reserve – S Finnie, Newseat, Balthangie, Turriff, with three prime weather lambs.
Any other breed: C and S Bissett, Marian, Culnaskeath, Evanton, with a two-shear Zwartbles tup which was purchased at Stirling last July for 1,500gs where he stood champion. He was bred by Iain Donald and is by Gillhall Arnarock.
Reserve – A Clark, Mains of Connage, Ardersier, with a Zwartbles gimmer by Balmony Wade, out of a ewe purchased from Alistair Culberston, in Skye. She was reserve champion as a ewe lamb at Nairn and stood third in her class last year at Dornoch.