Aberdeen and Northern Marts has confirmed the dates for its premier winter show and sale.
This year’s Aberdeen Christmas Classic, which is run in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association, will take place on Monday, November 30, and Tuesday, December 1.
The event, now in its 23rd year, also has a new mainline sponsor in the form of HSBC Bank.
The Christmas show and sale of prime cattle and sheep will also feature the Rising Stars Exhibition Calf Show, which was staged for the first time last year.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts executive director John Gregor said: “The Classic continues to be a major agricultural event after over 20 years – drawing in the best of exhibitors from all over the north and north-east of Scotland. We are delighted that HSBC is supporting this event to grow their relationship and presence with customers in the farming industry.”
HSBC regional agriculture director, Neil Wilson, said the event was a staple of the agricultural business calendar and an excellent opportunity to showcase the best the industry had to offer.
Last year’s event produced a top price of 7,000gn paid for a 21-month-old Charolais bull – Inchcorsie Iceman – shown by first-time exhibitor Anna Robertson of Lower Inchcorsie, Rothiemay.
In the haltered beef cattle classes, Donald Morrison of Cairn Nulla, Burnside, Kinlochbervie, took home the overall champion and reserve titles in both the heifer and bullock classes.
His overall champion – a 20-month-old Limousin cross-heifer named Bervies Bonnie Babe – sold for £5,800 to judge John Davidson, who is a butcher in Inverurie.
The reserve – a 17-month-old Limousin cross-steer called You Can’t Take It With You – sold for £2,000 to judge John Allan of Malcolm Allan & Sons, Larbert.
While the inaugural Rising Stars calf show championship rosette was awarded to April 2014-born Charolais cross-heifer – Thistle Dhu – from Ashleigh Marshall of Reclettich, Glenrinnes, Dufftown. The calf show is open to halter-led beasts born after March 1, 2015, and is designed to be a taster for the 2016 show season.
ANM said entry to the two-day event will be free again this year.