The magnificent spectacle of more than 160 vintage tractors, all gleamingly polished, proved a major attraction for the packed ringside at Tarland Show.
“We had the best attendance on record and it was fantastic to see so many people round the ring for the display of tractors and the grand parade of livestock,” said show secretary, Debbie Allardyce.
The livestock judging saw the partnership of Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart, from Huntly and Insch, continue their winning ways, although their overall cattle interbreed champion was a change from the one which has given them three inter breed titles and six cross championships.
Their winner on this occasion, in a reversal of the placings at Turriff, was an Irish-bred British Blue-sired steer, Oreo, which was steer champion at Turriff, while a full sister – the cross champion at Turriff – stood reserve for brothers, David and William Moir, of Moir Livestock, Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh. Both were produced from the same embryo flush.
A trio of yearling heifers from the Duffton-Stuart partnership went on to win the interbreed award for the best group with the Highland team from Jim Fraser, South Tilbouries, Maryculter, taking reserve.
But it was the Simmentals which dominated when it came to the interbreed award for the best pair with the breed champion and reserve – both home-bred – securing the top honours for Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet.
The reserve award went to two British Blue heifers, including the reserve breed champion, from Gavin and Jenna Greenlaw, Balgairn Farms, Dinnet. E & M Greenlaw, Milton Farm, Glenbuchat, Strathdon, made a clean sweep of all local exhibitor trophies.
The journey over the Lecht from Boat of Garten proved worthwhile for Gemma McIntosh and Charlie McIntyre, whose Blackface champion, which was similarly placed at the Sutherland Show, went on to take the overall sheep championship on its second outing. This two shear Dunrachan-bred tup was bought at Lanark for £4,000 for their Croftnagaran flock with a half share retained by Dunrachan.
It was three reserve interbreed championships in a row for 18-year-old Jemma Green, Corskie, Garmouth, with the two-crop Texel ewe from her 20-strong flock which was similarly placed at Fettercairn and Echt. Her winner is a daughter of a Milnbank ewe which was one of the first ewes bought when Jemma founded the flock.
Lynne MacDonald, Mains of Coynach, topped the horse section with her Highland pony champion Islay Malt of Coynach, a promising young colt by Whitefield Prince Platinum, which was champion of champions at Angus.
Reserve went to the champion in-hand Hunter, Freckleton Mozart, from Amy Rugg, Peterculter.
RESULTS
Aberdeen-Angus – Graham and Fiona Willox, Cardenwell, Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum, with two-year-old heifer, Cardenwell Blossom, by Burnside Jamie Eric.Reserve – Graham and Fiona Willox with yearling heifer, Cardenwell Bluebell. Full sister to the champion.
Blonde – Graeme Anderson, Beltie Cottage, Glassel, Banchory, with yearling bull, Glassel Neymar, by Strathisla Glen. Champion at Turriff and Echt and reserve at Banchory. Reserve – Alison Watt, Birkenburn, Keith, with heifer, Strathisla Maddie.
Limousin – Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, with two-year-old heifer, Ritchies Meryl, by Sympa. Interbreed champion at Angus, and champion at Fettercairn, New Deer, Banchory and Turriff. Reserve – Davidson family, Corsairtly, Keith, with yearling heifer, Corsairtly Notable, by Ronick Inspector. Reserve at New Deer.
Highland – J and L Fraser and Son, South Tilbouries, Maryculter, with four-year-old cow, Eilidh 5th of Dunach, by Bentalla of Morristone. Bought at Oban as a yearling and champion last year. Reserve – Scott and Alison Brown, South Tilbouries, Maryculter, with two-year-old heifer, Carlin 4th of Culfoich, by Jacob 2nd of Benmore. Bought at Oban last October to start new fold. Reserve at Echt.
British Blue – Sarah Balfour, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with two-year-old heifer, Black n Blue Lady Lloyd, by Jisco de Focant. Reserve at Echt and Grantown and champion at Nairn. Reserve – Gavin and Jenna Greenlaw, Balgairn Farms, 6 Mulloch View, Dinnet, with 19-month-old heifer, Greenlaw Lucky Lady, by Tenace de la Praule. Champion at Echt and Banchory.
Any other pure-bred – D and R Durno and Sons, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, with 16-month-old Salers bull, Cheuchhead Munro, by Cuil Godfather, champion any other breed at Turriff.
Simmental – D and R Durno and Sons with rising two-year-old bull, Auchorachan Hercules ET, by Auchorachan Acdc. To be retained as stock bull for at least one year. Reserve – D and R Durno and Sons with rising two-year-old heifer, Auchorachan Letta, by Team Fergus. Reserve at Grantown.
Beef Shorthorn – Glenrinnes Farms Ltd, Dufftown, with yearling heifer, Glenrinnes Loopylou, by Chapelton Glenlivet. Reserve – D & J Hardie, Gates of Birselawsie, Midmar, with rising two-year-old bull, Birselawsie Kozmo, by Birselawsie Glenlivet. Champion at Echt and Banchory.
Cross – Blair Duffton, Huntly, and Rebecca Stuart, Insch, with 14-month-old steer, Oreo, by British Blue sire, Empire D’Ochain, and out of pure-bred Limousin cow, which was a former Royal Ulster Show champion. Bought at Dungannon for £1,800. Champion steer at Turriff and Banchory and one of champion pair at Turriff. Being retained for Welsh Winter Fair. Reserve – Moir Livestock, Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh, with 14-month-old heifer, Magic Mojo. Full sister to the champion and bought privately in Northern Ireland. Reserve interbreed at Grantown, reserve at the Spring Show, Blue cross champion at the Highland and champion at Turriff.
Carcase cattle – W and J Cameron, Grange, Keith, with steer.Reserve – W and J Cameron with heifer.
Blackface – Gemma McIntosh and Charlie McIntyre, Upper Croft Na Garn, Boat of Garten, with two-shear Dunrachan-bred tup by £14,000 Dalchirla bought at Lanark last October for £4,000 with a half-share retained by Dunrachan. Champion at Sutherland.Reserve – Gemma McIntosh and Charlie McIntyre with gimmer by £3,000 Crosswoodburn and out of ewe by £1,000 Northern Sychie.
Suffolk – Faith Miskelly, Kildrummy, Alford, with tup lamb by Lakeview Under the Radar and out of home-bred ewe. First at the Royal Highland. Destined for Suffolk sale at Thainstone in September. Reserve – Gordon Forbes, Tillyboy, Echt, with ewe lamb out of a Strathbogie-bred gimmer by the 6,000gn Strathbogie Kind of Magic bought at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic and from same flush as Strathbogie’s Highland champion.
Texel – Jemma Green, Corskie, Garmouth, with two-crop ewe by Glenside Valhalla and out of a Milnbank ewe. Reserve interbreed at Fettercairn and Echt. Reserve – W J and M Hunter, Culsalmond, Insch, with a ewe lamb.
Any other breed – Gary Morrison, Bush Farm, Keith, with home-bred Beltex ewe lamb, Muldearie Duchess, by Callacrag Bullet and out of home-bred gimmer by Muldearie Blossom. Reserve – W J and M Hunter with a ewe.
Cross – Alan Miller, Midmar, with a Suffolk cross gimmer by Birness sire and out of Texel cross ewe. Reserve – Sarah Finnie, Newseat Farm, Cuminestown, with a Suffolk cross ewe lamb by Leitrim Fine and Dandy and out of a Suffolk X.
Carcase lambs – Katelyn Keir, Glenkindie, Alford. Reserve – David Miskelly, Kildrummy, Alford
Clydesdale – Jim Gibb, Shoemakers Croft, Clola, Mintlaw, with seven-year-old gelding, Collessie Full Monty, by Collessie Stepping Stone. Overall horse champion at Echt, New Deer and Turriff. Reserve – Jim Gibb with one-year-old gelding, Collessie Braveheart, by Arradoul Balvenie.
Highland – Lynne MacDonald, Mains of Coynach, Tarland, with yearling colt, Islay Malt of Coynach, by Whitefield Prince Platinum. Champion of champions at Angus. Reserve – Susanne Shepherd, Brachmont, Durris, with 11-year-old gelding, West Lodge Alexander, by Mcleod of Inverdarroch.
Shetland – Nina MacDonald Lewis, Drumnagair Shetland Pony Stud, Methlick, with 10-year-old mare, Lyradale Daisy Duke, by Mormond Superb. Reserve at Grantown. Reserve – Christine Forbes, Grantown, with stallion, Lynemore Illusion.
Miniature Shetland – Ann Irvine, Kininvie, Blackford, Rothienorman, with eight-year-old stallion, Rocky of Haybrake, by Hazelhead Dynamite. Reserve – Reece MacLeod, Dornoch, with Hjaltland Mirta with foal at foot.