Livestock and horse breeders enjoyed a successful day of competitions at the Nairn Show on Saturday.
Leading the charge to take home the coveted show champion of champions title was the leader from the Aberdeen-Angus and then beef interbreed section.
This was home-bred four-year-old bull Ballindalloch Earl from the Ballindalloch Estate, which houses the oldest long-standing herd of Angus cattle in the world.
This massive bull, which scaled around 1,400kg, was shown by estate farm manager David Johnstone and his wife Susan and daughter Claire.
By Ardoyne Munro Prince and out of Ballindalloch Erica, he previously stood champion at Stars of the Future and the Black Beauty Bonanza.
Show champion of champions judge Frank Ross, from ABP in Perth, said Earl showed great breed characteristics and the fleshing quality the finished market was after.
Beef interbreed judge Jimmy Wilson of West Barn House, Clola, Peterhead, said Earl had “style and character” with his “bulk and presence”.
Standing reserve overall in the beef section was the leader from the commercial section – yearling British Blue cross heifer, Rachel, from Mark Robertson, Easter Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul. She was bought privately from Alistair Robson, Old Manse, Glass, Huntly, and was champion at Sutherland and the Rising Stars.
Rachel also formed part of the interbreed beef group of three. Reserve in this section went to Simmentals from the Green family at Corskie.
In the sheep rings, the interbreed title went to the Bluefaced Leicester champion from Raymond Baynes, Blackford Farm, Croy.
This home-bred gimmer is by an Auchry tup and out of a Rossiebank ewe. She stood second in her class at the Black Isle last year.
Reserve sheep interbreed was the Blackface champion from Glenrinnes Farms, Glenrinnes Lodge, Dufftown. This home-bred gimmer is by a £3,500 Auldhouseburn sire, which is a twin brother to the male champion at the Black Isle last year.
In the horse section, the supreme title went to the leader from the Clydesdale contest – yearling filly Ord Tinkerbell.
Put forward by Eric and Miranda Johnstone, of Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord, she is by Eskraggen Earnest and out of successful show mare Ord Envy.
Her Nairn Show success follows taking the supreme champion of champions title at Sutherland the week before.
RESULTS
CATTLE – HIGHLAND – Tordarroch Fold, Tordarroch Estates, Farr, Inverness, with three-year-old heifer Lady Julie 5th of Tordarroch, by Leanoch of Culloden and out of Julie 2nd of Craigowmill. Reserve – Leys Fold, Leys Castle, Inverness, with two-year-old heifer Dosan 30th of Leys, by Jock of Lynton and out of Dosan 17th of Leys.
ABERDEEN-ANGUS – Ballindalloch Home Farm, Ballindalloch, Banffshire, with four-year-old bull Ballindalloch Earl, by Ardoyne Munro ‘Prince and out of Ballindalloch Erica. Reserve – J.M. and L.M. Forbes, Lochdhu Farm, Nairn, with 10-year-old cow Lochdhu Cherry Bee, by a Blelack sire, and shown with its heifer calf Casino Bambino .
BEEF SHORTHORN – Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus, with rising two-year-old bull Smallburn Jethro, by Lowther Emblem. Reserve – Andrew Anderson with 15-month-old heifer Smallburn Katie by Coleorck Front Rank.
LIMOUSIN – Craig and Jack Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith, with two-year-old heifer Powerful Kango, by Haltcliffe Dancer, and bought as a six-month-old for £3,300. Reserve – Stephen Irvine, Braehead, Drummuir, with 15-month-old maiden heifer Anside Mystique, by Powerful Irish.
SIMMENTAL – Anne MacPherson and Raymond Baynes, Blackford Farm, Croy, with March-2016 born bull Blackford Hero, by Kilbride Farm Double Action. Full brother sold for 9,000gn last year. Reserve – W.J. and J. Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth, with in-calf two-year-old heifer Corskie Ge-Enna, by the 45,000gn Bel Dhu Capercaillie.
CHAROLAIS – John and Raymond Irvine, Inverlochy, Tomintoul, with nine-year-old cow Inverlochy Demi, by Gower Versace, out of Coolnaslee Rachelle. Shown with 10-week old bull calf. Reserve – R. A. Milne and Sons, Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, Elgin, with 14-month-old bull Elgin Master, by the 6,500gn Mortimers Infinity.
YOUNG FARMERS – Laura Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth with September-2016 born Simmental bull Corskie Harry, by Diranean Bradley. Reserve – Mark Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with April-2016 born Limousin cross heifer Mia, bought at Huntly Young Farmers sale.
CROSS-BRED – Mark Robertson with yearling Belgian Blue cross heifer Rachel, bought privately from Alistair Robson, Old Manse, Glass, Huntly. She was champion at Sutherland the week before and Rising Stars champion. Reserve – Craig and Jack Hendry with 16-month-old Limousin cross heifer Ariana. Bought with mother at Coleburn dispersal for £3,500.
DAIRY – Best black and white cow – Nicholas Mackenzie, Rootfield, Muir of Ord, with Parks Hayz Marvel. Best black and white cow in its first lactation – Alex Hendry, Wester Manbeen, Elgin, with Manbeen 196. Best group of three cows – Nicholas Mackenzie, Rootfield.
SHEEP – BLACKFACE – Glenrinnes Farms, Glenrinnes Lodge, Dufftown, with a gimmer by a £3,500 Auldhouseburn. Reserve – Glenrinnes Farms with a shearling tup, by same sire as champion, and set for Dalmally sale.
SUFFOLK – Louise McAuley, Collie Cottage, Orton, Fochabers, with ewe lamb by Donhro Doctii and out of a Speyside ewe. Reserve – K. and C. Munro, Ashton Farm Cottage, Inverness, with one-crop ewe by Ashton Murclani.
TEXEL – Alan Chisholm, Wester Moy, Urray, Muir of Ord, with a gimmer by Knock Fantastic and out of a Teiglum Tornado ewe. Reserve – Alan Chisholm with a tup lamb by Arkle Ying Yank and out of a Knock Fantastic ewe.
BELTEX – Grant Ireland and Laura Murphy, Blackhillock, Cairnie, huntly, with a gimmer by a Glenisla sire. She was champion at New Deer. Reserve – Zoey Rennie, 4 Southmill Street, Newmill, Keith, with two-shear-tup Black Jack A Sugar Daddy, by Padkin Sugar Daddy, out of Calla Crag Harris.
JACOB – Adam Christie, Birchfield, Glass, Huntly, with ewe lamb Adamski Lottie, by Dunmore Antonia and out of Pentre Candi. Reserve – Jennifer Milton, Newton of Auchindachy, Keith, with gimmer Cairdswood Rosie, by Firthview Ptolemy.
CROSS-BRED – Gavin Breathret, Woodside Croft, Blackpark, Ardersier, with three Texel cross ewe lambs by a Wester Moy tup. Reserve – Ewen and Anne Macarthur, Newton of Budgate, Cawdor, Nairn, with three Texel cross wether lambs by a home-bred sire.
MULES – D. and D. M. Leslie, Redhill Farm, Mosstowie, Elgin, with three gimmers bought in Huntly in September. Reserve – Robert Mackenzie, The Glebe, Boat of Garten, with three ewe lambs.
ANY OTHER BREED – C. and S. Bissett, Mariain, Culnaskeath, Evanton, with a Zwartbles ewe lamb by the 1,500gn Donbraid Big D. She was champion at Sutherland. Reserve – Yvonne Spence, Gowan Brae, SKye of Curr, Dulnain Bridge, with two-crop Charollais ewe Benmore Oops A Daisy.
BLUEFACED LEICESTER– Raymond Baynes with a gimmer by an Auchry tup and out of a Rossiebank ewe. Reserve – Raymond Baynes with a Rossiebank one-crop ewe.
NATIVE HORSES – CLYDESDALE – Eric and Miranda Johnstone, 50 Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord, with yearling filly Ord Tinkerbell, by Eskraggen Earnest and out of successful show mare Ord Envy. She was champion of champions at Sutherland. Reserve – David Walker and Beverley Brown, Galcantray Farm, Cawdor, with three-year-old yeld mare Hillview Lady Jane, by Dillas Scotty Boy.
HIGHLAND – Joanna Baird, Easter Lochend, Balcroy, Nairn, with brood mare Liosmore Bryony, by Rob Roy of Fourmerk. Reserve – Lyndsay Gunn, Rehiran Farmhouse, Cawdor, with Gillemore of Gersa.
SHETLAND – J. D. Swan, Teanahaun Croft, Conon Bridge, with seven-year-old standard stallion Stow Perfect, by Stow Vulcan and out of Lignite Prima. Reserve – Balnakyle Showteam, Ardmhor, Balnakyle Farm, Munlochy, with two-year-old standard filly Stow Valetta, by the champion and out of Stow Voetta.
