A young farmer from Tomintoul was left celebrating at the Banchory Show on Saturday when he lifted the supreme show champion of champions title with a commercial heifer.
Mark Robertson of Easter Fodderletter Farm took the top show accolade after clinching the commercial cattle championship and beef interbreed title with a 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer named Nic Nak.
The heifer, 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, stood reserve commercial cattle champion at Echt three weeks before.
Mr Robertson’s heifer was up against the sheep and native horse interbreed for the top title, which was decided by Neil Barclay of HRN Tractors. Mr Barclay was called in to make the final decision after the judges from each of the respective sections failed to reach consensus.
In the sheep lines the top title went to a Texel gimmer which stood interbreed champion at Fettercairn.
Put forward by Kenny Pratt of Oldtown Farm, Peterculter, and shown by his shepherd Richard Reynolds, she is by Hilltop Uncle Sam and out of a Baltier-bred ewe by Baltier Panther.
The native horse championship title went to the winner of the miniature Shetland section from Ann Irvine of Kininvie, Blackford, Rothienorman.
Her six-year-old stallion Rocky of Haybrake stood miniature champion at the show last year.
Meanwhile, standing reserve beef interbreed was a Limousin cow and calf outfit from Aileen Ritchie, of Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns.Brockhurst Howzat is a Wilodge Vantastic daughter bought by Ms Ritchie at the Red Ladies Sale in December for 24,000gn. She was shown with her bull calf Ritchies Marley and her Banchory success follows lifting reserve interbreed title at Echt and reserve breed title at Fettercairn.
The reserve interbreed sheep title went to a Suffolk ewe from young Faith Miskelly of Corrybrae, Kildrummy, Alford.
Ms Miskelly took the title with a one-crop ewe by Strathisla Stifler, which stood reserve at New Deer earlier in the month.
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 is by Mosston Muir Elgin and was shown with her January-born bull calf Cardenwell Isaac. She stood champion at Echt and New Deer and reserve at Fettercairn.
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 reserve at Echt.
Charolais: Scott and Kerry Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen, Aberdeen, with seven-year-old home-bred cow Forgeron Ella, which is by Forgeron Bogart and out of Bonnykelly Trixy. She stood champion at Echt and on outings as a young cow she won several championships.
Reserve – Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, with 10-month-old home-bred bull calf Tonley Lavezzie, which is by Caylers Hustler and out of Blelack Hollyhock.
Simmental: Gerald and Morag Smith, of Drumsleed, Fourdon, with two-year-old in-calf heifer Drumsleed Farina 14, by Clonah Buckarooney and out of Boardshead Karina 2nd. She stood champion at Fettercairn and reserve beef interbreed at Kirriemuir.
Reserve – Gerald and Morag Smith, with two-year-old home-bred heifer Drumsleed Fayet, which is by Haystar Cracker and out of Drumsleed Cassie. She stood reserve junior champion at the national Simmental show at Kelso last year.
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 interbreed champion at Echt and reserve breed champion at Fettercairn.
Reserve – Aileen Ritchie with two-year-old heifer Goldies Inchantress, by Kaprico Germonder, and out of Goldies Etoile. She was bought at the Red Ladies Sale for 8,000gn and stood beef interbreed champion at Angus and breed champion at New Deer and Fettercairn.
British Blonde: Alison Watt, Birkenburn, Keith, with six-year-old cow Strathisla Ellen, which is by Super and out of Strathisla April. She was first in her class at Echt and stood champion at several shows last year.
Reserve – 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. He stood champion at Echt last month and Tarland the year before.
Highland: Ian and Mary Adams, 24 Beech Tree Road, Banchory, with three-year-old heifer Frangag Dubh of Cladich which stood champion at New Deer and Echt. 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 – Grace Noble, Larchfield, Strachan, Banchory, with four-year-old cow Hazel 12th of Knockendon, which was bought in October 2014 at Oban. She is by James Beusach of An Sidhean and out of Hazel 5th of Knockendon.
British Blue: Gavin Greenlaw and Jenna Whyte, Balgairn Farms, 6 Mulloch View, Dinnet, with December-2015 born home-bred bull calf Greenlaw Kovu, which is by Twyning Ash Vaughan and out of Tweeddale Galaxy. He stood second at Echt.
Reserve – James Youngson, Westerton of Cullerlie, Echt, with September-2015 born home-bred heifer Westerton Katie, which is by Woodview Dixon and out of Bluegrass Eye Candy. She stood third at Echt.
Salers: David Watson, Darnford, Durris, Banchory, with home-bred 16-month-old bull Darnford Kelvin, which is by a French imported bull called Fangio and out of a home-bred cow called Cassie. He was first in his class at Echt.
Reserve – Jamie McIntyre, Corrichie Salers, Milton of Cullerlie, Echt, Westhill, with seven-year-old cow Cuil Brittany which stood reserve champion at Echt. 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.
Any other breed: Alison Watt with five-year-old Shorthorn cow Grandtullybrae Yantara Trixy The 4th, shown with her heifer calf Strathisla Kara at foot.
Reserve – James Hardie, 47 Gordon Road, Alford, with two-year-old in-calf Shorthorn heifer Greenwall Fannich Foxglove, which was bought last spring for 1,300gn. She is by Glenisla Donald.
Commercial: 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. She stood reserve champion at Echt.
Reserve – Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud, Peterhead, with two-year-old Limousin cross heifer Molly, which was bought in Orkney last year for £1,200. She stood second at New Deer.
Young handlers aged 16-25: 1 – Mark Robertson; 2 – Aileen Ritchie; 3 – Charlotte Cooper; 4 – Ross Junor.
Young handlers aged 15 and under: 1 – Faye Wilkie; 2- Beth Noble; 3 – Lewis Singer; 4 – Nicola Howie.
SHEEP
Suffolk: Faith Miskelly, Corrybrae, Kildrummy, Alford, with a one-crop ewe by Strathisla Stifler. She was bought as an in-lamb gimmer at the Dark Diamonds sale in December and stood reserve at New Deer.
Reserve – Mrs J A Lorimer, Cadgerford, Kingswells, Aberdeen, with a ewe lamb.
Blackface: Neil and Stuart Barclay, South Road, Insch, with a Dalchirla-bred one-crop ewe by a son of a £30,000 Aitkenhead. She was on her first outing.
Reserve – Neil and Stuart Barclay with a shearling ram by a £2,000 Blackburn and out of a ewe by a £24,000 Elsmcleugh. He will be sold in October.
Texel: Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter with a gimmer by Hilltop Uncle Sam and out of a Baltier-bred ewe by Baltier Panther. She was shown by Richard Reynolds and stood interbreed champion at Fettercairn.
Reserve – W & M Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, Insch, with a ewe lamb which is an embryo daughter of Bradley’s Wonderland and out of a Rohan-bred ewe.
Bluefaced Leicester: Rodney Blackhall, Balriddie, Durris, with three-shear F1 Mossvale ram, which is shared with Steven Burnett at Insch. He stood reserve at Echt.
Reserve – Neil and Stuart Barclay with a Midlock-bred gimmer by E1 Bull and Cave on its first outing.
Northern Short-Tail: Ian Carnegie, Broomhill, Rickarton, Stonehaven, with a Baldreds-bred ewe on her first outing.
Reserve – Clare Bailey, The Blackwater, Bridge of Cally, Perthshire, with an aged ram called Brucklay Gibson, which is by Euaston Birch and out of Fieldview Elsa. He stood champion at Banchory as a lamb.
Any other continental breed: W & M Hunter with a Blue Texel ewe lamb by Dulas Xtreme and out of a gimmer by Turbo, which was bought at Carlisle.
Reserve – Pat Imlah, of 2 Wood Cottages, Newmachar, with home-bred British Rouge gimmer, Bennachie Ruby Lou, by imported Belgian sire, Flying Horse Flo, and out of home-bred ewe by Jets Lightning. She stood champion at New Deer.
Any other native breed: D & B Henderson, Nether Toucks, Dunottar, Stonehaven, with a Lleyn ewe called Frankie, which is by a Johnston sire and out of a home-bred gimmer. She stood first in her class at the Highland.
Reserve – Raymond Aitken, Beech Cottage, Newton of Fetternear, Inverurie, with a Ryeland gimmer by Tickety Boo and out of a home-bred gimmer.
Cross: Single champion – Nicol Dow, Upper Sauchen, Ordhead, Sauchen, with a home-bred Suffolk cross two-crop ewe on her first outing as a single. She was part of the reserve champion pen of three at Echt in 2014.
Group champion – Miller Farms, The Lurg, Midmar, Inverurie, with a pen of home-bred Beltex cross lambs.
Young handlers aged 12-16: 1 – Callum Lorimer; 2 – Shannon Polson; 3 – Hannah Lorimer; 4 – Lauren Jade Milne; 5 – Ryan Cumming.
Young handlers aged 8-11: 1 – Marcus Scott; 2 – Seth Miller; 3 – Darcie Miller; 4 – Faye Wilkie; 5 – Jack Adams.
Young handlers aged 7 and under: 1 – Katie Lorimer; 2 – Samuel Miskelly; 3 – Will and Emilie Henderson; 4 – Jake Jacobsen; 5 – Izzy Jacobsen.
NATIVE HORSES
Clydesdale: Norman Christie, Roadside, Fintry, with seven-year-old yeld mare Anguston Amber, which is by Greenlass Lochy and out of Anguston Amy. She stood reserve at New Deer, Echt and Fettercairn.
Reserve – James Gibb, Shoemakers Croft, Clola, Mintlaw, with gelding Colliesie Full Monty.
Highland: R & K Stewart, Stablesbrae, Durris, Banchory, with nine-year-old mare West Lodge Cara which is by Coulnacraig Highland and out of Denmill Catriona. She is a full sister to Coulnacraig Jacobite.
Reserve – Susanne Shepherd, East Brachmont, Durris, Banchory, with gelding West Lodge Alexander.
Shetland (standard): 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. She stood reserve native horse champion at Echt.
Reserve – Christine Forbes, 1 Dullanbank, Dufftown, Keith, with coloured pony Schivas Rachael.
Shetland (miniature): Ann Irvine, Kininvie, Blackford, Rothienorman, Inverurie, with six-year-old stallion Rocky of Haybrake which took the same title at Banchory last year.
Reserve – Linda Steward, Tofthills Cottage, Clatt, Insch, with filly Lynemore Inca.
