Caithness farmer Kenny Sutherland had the hard task of choosing the best sheep at this year’s Royal Highland Show.
The contest was an impressive spectacle at Scotland’s largest agricultural event.
All the champions from 28 breed sections lined up in front of Kenny, who farms with his family at Sibmister and Stainland Farms, in Thurso.
Their beef and sheep units include 2,000 ewes and 400 cows.
Kenny’s a Royal Highland Show veteran – and his dad was a judge too
Kenny has a long association with the Royal Highland.
He’s experienced it as an exhibitor, director and senior sheep steward over many years.
He said he was honoured to judge this year’s interbreed sheep competition, especially as his father had judged it before him.
Overall sheep title heads to Carstairs
For overall champion, he selected the commercial sheep winning team from Andrew Baillie and family, of Callacrag, Carstairs.
This was comprised of a three-crop Beltex cross ewe and her two ewe lambs at foot.
The lambs are by a Beltex sire and out of a pure Texel ewe from the Baillies.
She’s a hard-working, productive sheep, but also has star quality that catches the eye.” Kenny Sutherland
“They really stood out to me,” the judge said, adding: “She is a tremendous ewe and has produced two excellent lambs.
“She’s a hard-working, productive sheep, but also has star quality that catches the eye.”
The traditional Bluefaced Leicester champion was picked out next, in reserve overall position. This was a three-crop ewe from Alan McClymont, of Kirkstead, Yarrow, sired by Ashes L1.
She started her show career early, having stood first at the show as a ewe lamb.
Jimmy Thomson, of Hownam Grange, Kelso, had the task of judging the interbreed pairs competition on the fourth and final day of the show.
He plumped for the traditional Bluefaced Leicester duo, both from the McClymonts at Kirkstead. Their champion ewe was teamed up with their male champion, a two-shear ram bought at Kelso last year from Madrissa and shared with Lisa Fleming, of Falnash.
Charollais from Logie Durno flock, of Pitcaple, Inverurie, take reserve
Taking reserve position were a Charollais pair, both from the Ingram family’s Logie Durno flock at Pitcaple, Inverurie.
The duo included the section champion, a homebred gimmer by Foxhill Va Va Voom, and male champion Cavick Cracker, a shearling ram purchased at Worcester.
And a pair of Shetland sheep, a ewe and ram, both from Kate Sharp, of East Lothian, took third place.
13-year-old from North Yorkshire scoops top young handlers’ honour
Another big attraction in the sheep rings was the young handlers’ competition.
This was won by 13-year-old Jovi Wood, from North Yorkshire, showing a Bleu Du Maine.
Reserve went to the winner of the junior section, 11-year-old Matthew Gray, showing a Suffolk from Langside Farm, near Lanark.
Fiona Burke, of Kilry, Blairgowrie, had the tough job of judging the young handlers.
“It was a very strong competition,” Fiona said, adding:” I was so impressed with all their knowledge and obvious passion for their stock.”
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