Luckily the majority of the livestock judging was finished before the forecasted heavy rain arrived at Orkney’s County Show on Saturday – making for a rather dreich afternoon.
But what it lacked in sunshine, it made up for in top quality stock, with the Aberdeen-Angus champion from the Baillies of Sebay, Tankerness, coming to the fore to lead a strong cattle section. Their winner, described by Ayrshire-based inter-breed judge Ian Anderson as “outstanding”, was the 19-month-old Cardona Jilt, a Nightingale Dunbar daughter which also stood champion at the East Mainland Show the previous week.
“The minute she walked in the ring, I knew it would take something really good to beat her – she’s well grown for her age, good on her legs and very feminine,” added Mr Anderson, who selected the black commercial winner as reserve overall.
Coming from the same home, that was Balfour Baillie’s young Limousin cross heifer calf, which also won her section at the East Mainland. Home-bred and sired by Proctors Cavalier, out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow, she will be heading to the Spectacular show at Thainstone in September.
Topping off a successful day, the Baillies went on to pick up the best group of three award, with the Shorthorn trio from Laga Farms, Evie, in reserve.
Over in the sheep, Kenny Mair of Kinnermit, Turriff, was in charge of picking out the best in the inter-breed contest, and awarded that title to the Texel winner from Ivan Scott, Hill of Heddle, Finstown. His best was a March-born ewe lamb by Cairness United, out of a Knap-bred ewe by Knock Papoose.
In reserve was the Copland family’s Beltex gimmer, Orkney Tinkerbelle, which had been overall sheep at Dounby two days earlier. This Forglen Nearco daughter is out of Orkney Pat.
Overall horse went to the Clydesdale winner, Downhill Snowflake, a four-year-old mare from Ian Smith, Holburn, Kirkwall. Bought from Ireland, she is by Carnaff Ambassador and out of Garleton Betty.
She stood ahead of the top Shetland pony, Lyradale Jasmine, shown by Sonja Wishart, Westquoy, Orphir. A class winner last year, she is by Mormond Superb and out of Cumliebank Jazz.
Leading awards:
Shorthorn (Judge: Mrs C Williamson, Alvie Farm, Kincraig, Inverness-shire). Champion – JM Lennie, Nearhouse, Tankerness, with the three-year-old cow, Nearhouse Justine 2nd, a Lochawe Lysander daughter which stood reserve at East Mainland. Reserve – JM Lennie’s bull, Ardoyne Emperor, a Creaga Dice son bought privately last year.
Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: A Sanger, Prettycur, Hillside, Montrose). Champion – JS Baillie, Sebay, Tankerness, with the Nightingale Dunbar daughter, Cardona Jilt. Reserve – Sandra Mainland, Skiddy, Rendall, with the four-year-old bull, Lochdu Formula, a Moss Mr Eshton son which was bought at Stirling. He was reserve at Dounby.
Charolais (Judge: J Muirhead, Firhills, Arbroath). Champion – GT and S Coghill, Muce, Birsay, with the inter-breed champion from Dounby, Hekra Holly, a Seawell Dagger daughter, in-calf to Fairway Bruce. Reserve – Callum Taylor, Hall of Herston, South Ronaldsay, with Dounreay Izzy, a 15-month-old heifer bought privately at the Highland Show, by Goldies Banker, out of Ugie Daffodil.
Limousin (Judge: J Muirhead, Firhills, Letham Grange, Arbroath). Champion – L Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, with Tweedale Hesper, a 22-month-old heifer by Marlepark Pandora, out of Newhouse Cyclone, bought at Carlisle in May. Reserve – R and J Johnston, Hewan, Shapinsay, with Hewan Hacksness, a two-year-old heifer by Springsett Eddy, out of a home-bred cow.
Other pure-bred continental (Judge: J Muirhead). Champion – A and A Foubister, Netherton, Holm, with the British Blue heifer, Graemeshall Hope, a Whako Van Het Beekhof daughter, out of Graemeshall Duchess. Reserve – K and M Eunson, Braebuster, Deerness, with a three-year-old unregistered British Blue bull by Auchinlay Cole, out of Oxcroft Adora.
Cross-bred coloured (Judge: L Wylie, Muirhouses, Kirriemuir). Champion – L Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, with a 19-month-old Limousin heifer by Millbrow Fellsman, out of a Limousin cross dam. Reserve – T and J Leslie, Quoymorhouse, Shapinsay, with the Shapinsay Show champion, by Loosebeare Frosty, out of a Charolais cross cow by Allanfauld Vagabond.
Cross-bred black/blue/polled (Judge: E Vance, Bridgehouse, Newton Stewart). Champion – B Baillie, Sebay Cottage, Tankerness, with the overall cattle champion, a home-bred heifer by Proctors Cavalier. Reserve – B Baillie’s Limousin cross heifer by Loosebeare Fantastic, out of a Blue cross cow.
Border Leicester (Judge: I Graham, Carruthers, Lockerbie). Champion – JS Baillie, Sebay, Tankerness, with a gimmer bought from Keith Hourston, Didcot, which was champion at East Mainland. Reserve – Mrs H Kirkpatrick, Millburn, Sandwick, with a home-bred three-crop ewe.
Suffolk (Judge: R Wilkie, Tillyboy, Echt). Champion – David Summers, Easthouse, Toab, with the shearling ram, Lakeview Lachlan, a Cairness Commander son out of a ewe by Lakeview Leroy. Reserve – J Scott and Sons, Claybraes, South Ronaldsay, with a home-bred ram lamb destined for sale at Kirkwall in October, by a Deveronside sire, out of a ewe by a Strathisla tup.
Texel (Judge: A Clark, Blackhill Farm, Crossford, Carluke). Champion – Ivan Scott, Hill of Heddle, Finstown, with the overall sheep champion, a ewe lamb by Cairness United, out of a Knapp-bred ewe by Knock Papoose. Reserve – James Cowe, Little Howes, Holm, with a ewe lamb by Westercrosshill Uncle Al, out of a ewe by Haddo Kerfuffle.
Cross-bred sheep (Judge: R Wilkie). Champion – Sheena Coghill, Muce, Birsay, with the gimmer which won at Dounby, by a Texel sire and out of a Charolais ewe. Reserve – Katrina Birkett, Annster, South Ronaldsay, with a three-quarter Texel lamb.
Cheviot (Judge: I Graham). Champion – JS Baillie, Sebay, Tankerness, with a gimmer by Belnaduthy Navvy, out of a home-bred ewe. Champion at East Mainland. Reserve – J and E Wishart, Newbigging, Harray, with a home-bred shearling ram by Durran Norseman, out of a ewe by Oldfield Golden Promise. Heading for sale at Thurso.
Charollais (Judge: Y Spence, Gowan Brae, Skye of Corr, Dulnain Bridge). Champion – Sheena Coghill, Muce, Birsay, with the reserve from Dounby, the gimmer, Hekra Naomi, by Logie Durno Majestic King, out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – Sheen Coghill’s Dounby champion, a home-bred two-crop ewe, Hekra Leona.
Beltex (Judge: G Burke, Cairndrum Farm Cottage, Edzel). Champion – A and V Copland, Overhouse, Harray, with the gimmer which stood overall sheep at Dounby, Orkney Tinkerbelle. Reserve – Raymond Flaws, Nisthouse, Evie, with the shearling ram, Woodwick Transformer, by Lugate Rendal, out of Lugate Rhianna, which was bought in-lamb at Lanark. He is for the Carlisle sale this month.
Goats (Judge: M Cain, West Burnhead, Galston). Champion – Heather Croy, Glenavon, Deerness, with the three-year-old Somerland Alena, a pure Saanen by Somerland Hamish. Reserve – Heather Croy with the twin brother to the champion, Somerland Alibi.
Light-legged horses in-hand (Judge: G Ingram, East Comalegy, Huntly). Champion – Sarah Campbell, Aikers, South Ronaldsay. Reserve – Helen and Caroline Foulis, The Haven, Kirkwall.
Light-legged horses ridden (Judge: J Davidson, Mundole, Forres). Champion – Norquay family, Lowerlands of Midhouse, South Ronaldsay. Reserve – S and H Nixon, Mill Cottage, Stenness.
Shetland Ponies (Judge: K Scott, Braes of Kerryston, Broughty Ferry). Champion – M, S and J Wishart, Westquoy, Orphir, with Lyradale Jasmine, a Mormond Superb daughter which won its class last year. Reserve – J and M Slater, Millquoy, Stenness, with Millquoy Destiny, by Wells Champion and out of a past champion, Millquoy Dawn.
Pure-bred heavy horses (Judge: E Johnstone, Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord). Champion – JD and DM Smith, Holburn, Kirkwall, with the overall horse, Downhill Snowflake, a four-year-old Clydesdale mare by Carnaff Ambassador. Reserve – JW Taylor and Sons, Aikers, South Ronaldsay, with Aikers Prince Harry, a home-bred gelding out of a home-bred dam.