A dreich start to the day didn’t dampen spirits at the Echt Show with exhibitors and visitors out in force to view some of the finest livestock and horses in the region.
Show secretary, Marion Miller, said the show, which is now in its 163rd year, went really well despite being very wet underfoot.
“The judges were very happy and they said they were seeing very good beasts,” said Ms Miller.
When it came to judging the top accolade at the show the interbreed champion cow, goat, horse and sheep were invited to the main show ring to go head-to-head for the supreme champion of champions title.
After much deliberation the judging panel, which comprised a mixture of cattle, sheep and horse judges, the beef interbreed champion stood out landing well-known Moray breeders – the Green family from Corskie – their first-ever Echt Show champion of champions title.
The family, and stockman Robert Taylor, lifted the top award with a home-bred 18-month-old bull called Corskie Gingersnap.
This one is a son of Bel Dhu Capercaillie, which cost 45,000gn and holds the record for the highest-priced Simmental in the UK, and out of Corskie Winola.
His Echt Show win follows lifting the junior beef interbreed champion and reserve overall beef breeder champion titles at last month’s Royal Highland Show.
Standing reserve beef interbreed champion was the 24,000gn Limousin cow Brockhurst Howzat from 22-year-old Aileen Ritchie’s Ritchies herd at Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns.
Shown with her bull calf Ritchies Marley, Howzat is by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Brockhurst Bolshoi. She stood reserve champion at Fettercairn the week before. In the sheep section the supreme interbreed champion title went to a Beltex gimmer from Stuart Wood’s Woodies flock at Woolhillock Croft, Skene, Westhill.
Mr Wood, who had a successful day winning several first-prize places at the show, took the top title with Woodies All Meat which is by Clary Prankster and out of Woodies Rae of Hope.
Her Echt success follows standing sixth in her class at the Highland Show last month.
The reserve sheep interbreed title was awarded to the Suffolk breed champion from Inverurie breeder Graeme Christie.
Mr Christie took the rosettes with a gimmer by Rhaeadr Red Devil, which is owned by Barclay Mair, and out of a home-bred ewe by Strathisla Speed. She was placed second in her class at the Highland Show.
The other two entries vying for the champion of champions title were the horse supreme champion from Philip Christie’s Belgravia Stud at Fordafourie Farm, Fraserburgh, and the goat champion from Craigie Pygmy Goats at Tarves, Ellon.
The horse champion was nine-year-old riding pony Kingsford Jackie O which has been a brood mare for the past few years.
The goat champion was an eight-year-old Pygmy buck bought privately from the Mount Cross herd in Wales two years ago.
He was shown by Jim McWilliam who runs 14 nannies in the herd.
RESULTS
CATTLE– Aberdeen-Angus: Graham Willox, of Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum, with five-year-old cow Mosston Muir Ingrid, which was bought in October last year at the Mosston Muir dispersal for 11,500gn. She stood reserve champion at Fettercairn the week before and is by Mosston Muir, Elgin.
Reserve – Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, with Tonley Elgar, which is the first son of the 9,000gn Warrenhoe Emperor and out of Tonley Emily. He stood second in his class at the Royal Highland Show last month.
British Blonde: Neil and Graeme Anderson, Beltie Cottage, Glassel, Banchory, with home-bred two-year-old bull Glassel Jasper which is by Strathisla Glen and out of an Ardmore cow. This was the first breed championship win at Echt for the Andersons. Jasper stood reserve breed champion at Tarland last year.
Reserve – Alison Watt, Birkenburn, Keith, with home-bred two-year-old in-calf heifer Strathisla Joy, which is by Bridge Elmo and out of Strathisla Brandy. Joy was shown previously as a calf and her dam stood champion at nearly all the shows she attended two years ago.
British Blue: Sarah Balfour, Easter Fodderletter Farm, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch, with 26-month-old heifer Newroddige Jemima which is by Mount Joy Utopia and out of Tamhorn Foxtail Lily. She was bought from Messrs Mallaber in Carlisle last October when she stood female champion. She is one of the foundation cows for Ms Balfour’s new Blue herd which will carry the prefix Fodderletter.
Reserve – James Youngson, Westerton, Echt, Westhill, with 16-month-old home-bred heifer Westerton Kim, which is by Ballygrange Alex and out of Bluegrass Eyecandy. She was on her first outing.
Charolais: Scott and Kerry Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen, Aberdeen, with seven-year-old home-bred cow Forgeron Ellan, which is by Forgeron Bogart and out of Bonnykelly Trixy. She was shown in-calf on her first outing of the year. On outings as a young cow she won several championships.
Reserve – Jonathan Stewart, Nether Balfour Farms (Park), Banchory, with home-bred two-year-old bull Balfour Junior, which is an AI son of Alwent Goldbar and out of Balfour Midnight. He was on his first outing.
Highland: Ian and Mary Adams, 24 Beech Tree Road, Banchory, with three-year-old heifer Frangag Dubh of Cladich which took home the same title at the last two shows. She was bought in October 2013 and is by Seonaidh Mor of Ardura and out of Frangag Donn 10th of Torloisk. She stood overall champion at the East of Scotland Highland Cattle Club Show in Forfar.
Reserve – Veronica Thomson, Clackriach Cottage, Maud, with two-year-old heifer Amy Belle of Allanfearn which was bought in Oban in October for 1,200gn. She is by Crusoe of Brue and out of Amy of Tirry-side.
Limousin: Aileen Ritchie, of Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, with Brockhurst Howzat and her bull calf Ritchies Marley. Howzat was bought at the Red Ladies Sale in December for 24,000gn and is by Wilodge Vantastic and out of Brockhurst Bolshoi. She stood reserve champion at Fettercairn the week before.
Reserve – Aileen Ritchie with April-2013 born Emslies Ieryl which is by Procters Cavalier and out of Emslies Eryl. She was bought from the Emslies at the Sassie Lassies Sale and stood Scottish female champion in 2014. She was on her debut outing with her heifer calf, Ritchies Merly, which is the first home-bred calf to come out from the Ritchies herd.
Salers: Alister Mackenzie, Whitebog, Fortrose, with home-bred yearling heifer Whitebog Kim, which is by a French bull called Gentleman and out of Whitebog Hayley. She was first in her class at the Royal Highland Show.
Reserve – Corrichie Salers, Milton of Cullerlie, Echt, Westhill, with seven-year-old cow Cuil Brittany on her first outing. She was bought as an in-calf heifer at the Premier Sale in Castle Douglas and is by a French bull called Blazer and out of Cuil Peggy. She was shown with her bull calf Corrichie Kaiser.
Simmental: Jimmy, Nan and Iain Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers, with home-bred 18-month-old bull Corskie Gingersnap, which is by the 45,000gn Bel Dhu Capercaillie and out of Corskie Winola. He stood junior beef interbreed champion and reserve overall beef breeder champion at the Highland Show last month. Capercaillie was bought by the Greens at Stirling in February 2013 and he holds the UK record for the highest-priced Simmental.
Reserve – Jimmy, Nan and Iain Green with home-bred heifer Corskie Figem, which is also by Bel Dhu Capercaillie. She stood junior female champion and reserve overall junior champion in the Simmental section at the Highland Show.
Any other breed: John and Susan Ravenshear, Heatheryfield, Cairnie, Huntly, with home-bred seven-year-old cow Greenwall Fantasia Foxglove, which is by Glenisla Arctic Storm. She was shown with her heifer calf Greenwall Foxglove Fanny and stood champion at Echt in 2014.
Reserve – Ian Skea, of Coreen, Dalrich, Kemnay, with home-bred January-2015 born Hereford bull Bennachie 1 Master, by Panmure 1 Herman and out of Bennachie 1 Amy. He stood champion at Fettercairn the week before.
Cross cattle unhaltered: Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart, of Huntly and Insch, with a pair of yearling Limousin cross heifers which were bred by Lloyd Fowlie of Guise, Tough, Alford.
Reserve – James Youngson with a Limousin cross cow and calf.
Cross cattle haltered: Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart with 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer You Beauty, which was bred by Andrew Anderson, of Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Elgin. She was bought at the Thainstone Spectacular for £3,100 and is by a French bull called Bryan and out of a cow called Smarty Pants. She stood champion of champions at Fettercairn last weekend.
Reserve – Mark Robertson, Easter Fodderletter Farm, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch, with 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer Nic Nak, which was bred by Simon Stephen of Meikle Geddes, Nairn, and bought at the young farmers show and sale at Thainstone from Ally Fraser for £1,400.
Carcase cattle: U3 heifer carcase from W & J Cameron, Burnside, Edingight, Grange. Reserve – U4L heifer carcase from A Sharp & Sons, Farmton, Tough, Alford.
Cattle young handlers aged 11 and under: 1 – Faye Wilkie; 2 – Ewan Singer; 3 – Lewis Singer; 3 – Sophie Adams.
Cattle young handlers aged 12 to 15: 1 – Nicola Howie; 2 – Beth Noble; 3 – Michael Donald; 4 – Craig Coutts.
Cattle young handlers aged 16 to 26: 1 – William Moir; 2 – Mark Wattie; 3 – Laura Green; 4 – Mark Robertson.
SHEEP – Beltex: Stuart Wood, Woolhillock, Skene, Westhill, with Woodies All Meat, a gimmer by Clary Prankster out of Woodies Rae of Hope, which sixth at the Highland.
Reserve – Stuart Wood, with the four-shear ram, 007, an imported tup shared with Grant Anderson and brought in at the end of last year. It stood first at the Highland.
Bluefaced Leicester: Rodney Blackhall, Balbridie, Durris, Banchory with a previously unshown home-bred ewe by an F1 Mossvale ram. She was bought privately as a lamb from John Minnis.
Reserve – Rodney Blackhall with the sire of the champion which is a three-shear ram shared with Steven Burnett, Insch.
Charollais: Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Braemuir, Auchnagatt, Ellon, with a home-bred gimmer by the AI sire, Riverdale Noble, out of a home-bred ewe by a Cannahars sire. She stood fifth at the Highland.
Reserve – Eilidh and Erin Duncan with a December-born tup lamb by Logie Durno Outlander, which was on loan from Sheena Coghill, and out of a home-bred ewe. She stood third at the Highland.
Suffolk: Graeme Christie, Inverurie, with a gimmer by Rhaeadr Red Devil – a ram owned by Barclay Mair – and out of a home-bred ewe by Strathisla Speed. She placed second at the Highland.
Reserve – Gordon Troup, Corennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen, with the male champion from the Highland Show, Rhaeadr High Roller, a two-shear ram bought from Myfyr Evans. He is by Rhaeadr McCoy.
Texel: Michael Mennie, Westside, Forglen, Mounblairy, with a gimmer by Aman Virwinnie out of a Foremanhill ewe.
Reserve – WJ and M Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, Insch, with a ewe lamb by Bradleys Wonderland – a tup owned by Graham Morrison – and out of a Rohan ewe by Strathbogie Stud, bought at Lanark. Her half-brother made 1,100gn at Lanark last year selling to the Springwell flock.
Zwartbles: David Miskelly, Corrybrae, Kildrummy, Alford, with the reserve winner from Fettercairn, Corrybrae Beyonce, a gimmer by Speyside Whistler, out of a Cyneffin ewe.
Reserve – Faye Wilkie, Whitestone, Skene, with a Speyside-bred two-shear ram bought privately from Brenda Scott last year. He was second at Echt in 2015 and is by a Cyneffin sire.
Any other sheep breed: Stasa Moyse, Woolhillock, Skene, with the March-born Blue Texel ewe lamb, Saltire A Beauty, the result of an in-lamb imported ewe bought at the Blue Saltire sale at Carlisle, last year from Christine Williams and Paul Tippets, and sired by Hackney Excel.
Reserve – WJ and M Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, with Hunters Aberdonian, a Blue Texel tup lamb and the result of another in utero purchase, out of a Sams ewes bought at Carlisle, last year and by Dullas Xtrme.
Cross sheep: Miller Farms, North Lurg, Midmar, Inverurie, with a single half-bred gimmer bought as a ewe lamb at Caithness in a pen of 20 from Henry Miller, Aimster. She is of unknown breeding and stood sixth at the Highland.
Reserve – N Dow, Upper Sauchen, Sauchen, Inverurie, with a pen of three Suffolk cross gimmers by a Bogfon sire bought at Thainstone. Previously unshown, they are out of Texel cross ewes and will be sold at the early lambing breeding sheep sale at Thainstone.
Hoof and carcase lambs: H Gordon, Clochnahill, Stonehaven, with Texel cross lambs.
Reserve – R. Wilkie, Tillyboy, Echt, with Suffolk cross lambs.
Young handlers – Junior – Seven years and under – 1, Wilson Stott; 2, Wil Henderson; 3, Daniel Riach.
Intermediate, 8-11 years – 1, Faith Miskelly; 2, Cameron Hunter; 3, Robert Anderson.
Senior 12-16 years – 1, Lauren Milne; 2, Euan Robertson; 3, Callum Lorimer.
Pet lamb – 1, Lauren Milne; 2, Euan Robertson; 3, G and D Anderson.
GOATS – Champion – Craigie Pygmy Goats, Craigie Croft, Tarves, Ellon, with an eight-year-old Pygmy buck bought privately from the Mount Cross herd in Wales two years ago. He was on his first outing and was shown by Jim McWilliam, who runs 14 nannies in the herd. Reserve – B Scott, Burnside, Marykirk, Ballindalloch, with a home-bred British Saanen goatling on her first outing.
NATIVE HORSES – Clydesdale and native champion: Ian Young, Wellheads, Clochan, by Buckie, with home-bred yearling filly Arradoul Ceilidh, which is by Redcastle Brelee Majestic and out of Arradoul Symphony. She was fourth at the Highland and champion foal at New Deer and the Black Isle last year.
Reserve – Norman Christie, Roadside, Fintry, with the reserve winner from Fettercairn, Anguston Amber, by Greenlass Lochy, out of the show-winning Anguston Amy. She is a former reserve winner at the Highland.
Highland: Robin and Karen Stewart, Stablesbrae, Durris, Banchory, with home-bred 10-year-old mar West lodge Ashley with her colt foal at foot. She is by Coulnacraig Highlander and out of Laura of Craignetherty. She won the Highland Pony Breed Show and Blair Atholl last year.
Reserve – G and A Towns, Easdale, Markethill, Turriff, with Yvette May of Forglen, a home-bred grey filly by Marnonwells Glenaigeas out of the show mare, Pamela Mey of Forglen. Second at Spring Show and first at Northern Working Horse Show.
Shetland and reserve native champion: Mrs Kaye Gibb and Mrs Maggie Ritch, of Kingsford, Kingswells, Aberdeen, with six-year-old brood mare Myreton Gorgeous Gracie which was bred by Mr J. Wilson, Dollar and bought by the sisters two years ago. She is broken to the saddle and was shown with her first foal at foot – Kingswells Gordon Highlander.
Reserve – Mrs J. Milne, Milton of Auchorthie, Maud, with the six-year-old miniature Shetland mare, Ramana Amber. A well-known prize winner on her first outing of the year, this Gaterley Joshua-sired mare out of Henson Henna, was bred by Margaret Smith.
Supreme overall horse: Philip Christie, Belgravia Stud, Fordafourie Farm, Fraserburgh, with nine-year-old riding pony Kingsford Jackie O which has been a brood mare for the past few years. Reserve overall horse champion: Messrs Mylius & Low, Gardens Cottage, St Fort, Newport on Tay, with nine-year-old part-bred Arab brood mare Lyndrose Tiny Dancer with her third foal Castifiore Regal Charm.
