The deadline is fast approaching for final entries for this year’s Aberdeen Christmas Classic event.
The event, now in its 25th year, takes place at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on November 27-28.
Organised by Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM) in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association, the event comprises shows and sales of prime cattle and sheep, pedigree beef bulls, Texel, Suffolk and Beltex sheep, and the Rising Stars Exhibition Calf Show.
Entries have now closed for the pedigree beef and sheep sections, however there is still time left to enter animals for the prime cattle and sheep classes, Young Farmers competitions, and the Rising Stars Exhibition Calf Show.
“We are delighted with the outstanding pedigree entries put forward and high level of interest shown by the farming community in the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Christmas Classic event,” said ANM Group executive director John Gregor.
“With the next entry deadline around the corner, we invite those interested in competing in the prime cattle and sheep categories, young farmers classes and the Rising Stars Exhibition Calf Show to get in touch ahead of the closing date on Monday, November 13, at 5pm.”
This year’s event, which will once again be sponsored by Northlink Ferries, has a prize pot worth £16,000 on offer.
Last year, the champion title and top price in the prime cattle section went to a Limousin cross heifer named Oucha Baby.
The 17-month-old entry, which weighed 570kg, was put forward by Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart, of Huntly and Insch.Bred by Graham Henderson at Murrayfield, Caithness, she was bought at the Spring Show for 5,100gn and shown successfully during the summer. She sold for £4,000 to one of the judges, Louise Forsyth, of W.T.S Forsyth and Sons Butchers in Peebles.
Prime lambs sold to a top of £250 apiece twice for Beltex crosses.
First was the champion pair from Helen Smith at Scobshaugh, Cortachy, Kirriemuir, Angus. They sold to the judge, John Woodburn, of 28 Hass Grove, Lockerbie.
The other was the champion pair of young farmers’ lambs from Gary Morrison, of Bush of Muldearie, Mulben, Keith. They sold to Huntly butcher Gary Raeburn.
In the Rising Stars Exhibition Calf Show, the champion title went to Tomintoul young farmer Mark Robertson of Easter Fodderletter. His champion was a British Blue cross heifer.
