Warm sunshine with a light breeze drew a near record attendance from both town and county yesterday for the 181st Black Isle Show.
The ringside was packed by early afternoon for the grand parade of champions which was preceded by the selection of a champion of champions for the first time at the show.
“It was an ideal show day and the attendance was up almost 2,000 from last year,” said show secretary, Rod Mackenzie.
“It was a real community event with a great family atmosphere and the feelgood factor was very much to the fore.”
In the ring, it was the overall sheep champion from the Polson North Country Cheviot flock of Smerlie, Lybster, Caithness, which carried off the new Glaickmore Cup for the champion of champions judged by NFU Scotland vice-president and south-west dairy farmer, Gary Mitchell.
He selected the ewe as his champion over the beef cattle, horse and fur and feather champions.
It was a home-bred ewe by Durran Rover and out of a ewe by a Biggins tup. Prior to her success yesterday, she stood interbreed champion at Caithness.
Runners-up for the champion of champions title with their beef cattle champion, Blair Duffton from Huntly and Rebecca Stuart from Insch, were continuing their amazing run of success at recent shows with their Limousin-cross heifer, Shaniqua.
She was champion of champions at Banchory on Saturday and has now chalked up three interbreed successes and two reserves over the past month.
The pair also won the coveted trophies for the best pair and best three beef animals with the reserve pair coming from Anne Macpherson, Blackford, Croy, with Simmentals and the top trio, also Simmentals, from Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth.
The beef reserve interbreed title went to the leader from the Simmental section – this was Anne Macpherson’s two-year-old heifer Blackford Hyalite, by the 18,000gns Kilbride Farm Double Action.
Reserve for the interbreed sheep championship was the Charolais leader from brothers, Gregor and Bruce Ingram of Logie Durno, Inverurie.
They took the title with their ewe which was breed champion at the Royal Highland Show last month and one of the winning interbreed pair at the Royal Welsh last week.
Umpire, Kenny Mackenzie, former boss of Dingwall and Highland Marts, was called in to decide the overall horse championship between the Clydesdale and Shetland champions.
He opted for the Clydesdale winner – two-year-old filly, Ord Tinkerbell, by Eskechraggan Ernest, from Eric and Miranda Johnstone of Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord.
The filly won the coveted Cawdor Cup for the Clydesdale championship at this year’s Royal Highland Show, where the Johnstones were showing for only the second time.
This follows her winning a string of championships last year including the National Stallion Show.
RESULTS
BEEF CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus – David Walker, Galcantray, Nairn, with a three-year-old cow named Galcantray Pam, by Blelack Jupiter Eric and out of an earlier Pam cow. She stood champion at Nairn last month. Reserve – Allan Rennie, Mosston Muir, Forfar, with a four-year-old bull named Mosston Muir Excalibar. He is by Netherallan Peter Pershore and out of Mosston Muir Emily. He was reserve interbreed champion at Fife, champion at Angus and first at the Royal Highland Show in a class of 19.
Beef Shorthorn – The Anderson family, Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus, Elgin, with a three-year-old home-bred bull named Smallburn Jethro, by Lowther Emblem and out of Smallburn Fifi. He was champion at the Royal Highland Show and this was his fourth championship in a row at the Black Isle. Reserve – The Anderson family at Smallburn Farms with a two-year-old home-bred heifer called Smallburn Kylie. She is by Coldrockie Front Rank, and out of Bon-Accord Margo. This was her first time shown.
Charolais – Billy and Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet, with three-year-old cow, Lagavaich Lucy, by Inverlochie Ferdie and out of Kelton Finesse. She was third at the Royal Highland Show and stood champion at the Black Isle two years ago as a heifer. Reserve – R A Milne and Sons, Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, Elgin, with a home-bred 17-month-old bull called Elgin Neuer. He is by Woodpark Elgin and out of Elgin Ultra – the dam of the 20,000gns Elgin Davincha. He was junior interbreed champion at the Royal Highland in June.
Limousin – W F Cruikshank and Sons, Clury, Grantown on Spey, with a home-bred yearling bull called Clury Nexus. He is by Foxhillfarm Impeccable and out of Clury Gigi. His sire stood champion at Carlisle in 2015 when he was purchased for 14,000gns. He is destined for the breed sale in Carlisle in October. Reserve – R Mitchell, Carron Mains Farm, Aberlour, with an 18-month-old heifer called Carronlea Monica. She is by Bencraig Inxs, and out of home-bred cow, Carronlea Fifi. She was placed in her class at Echt.
Simmental – Anne Macpherson, Blackford Farm, Croy, with a two-year-old heifer called Blackford Hyalite. She is by the 18,000gns Kilbridge Farm Double Action and out of Blackford Amber. She was junior female champion at the Simmental National Show last year at Perth. Reserve – Anne Macpherson with home-bred yearling bull, Blackford Indigo, by the same sire as the champion and out of Blackford Waxwing. He was continental beef breeder champion at the Royal Highland.
Commercial – Blair Duffton, Huntly, and Rebecca Stuart, Insch, with 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Shaniqua, by Lodge Hamlet and out of a Limousin cross cow. She was champion of champions at Banchory, reserve interbreed champion at New Deer and Echt, interbreed champion at Fettercairn, second at Royal Highland and reserve at Angus. Reserve and calf champion – J Munro and Son, Invercharron, Ardgay, with January-born Limousin x British Blue cross, She Who Dares, by Plumtree Fallon. Class winner at Sutherland.
Highland – Craig Finnie, Richmondhill House, Peterhead, with a two-year-old home-bred bull named Philip of Richmondhill. He is by Charlie of Richmondhill and out of Heather of Richmondhill. He was champion at New Deer. This was his last show before retiring for stockman, Angus Michie. Reserve – Hamish Irvine, Craigluscar, Dunfermline, with 16-month-old heifer, Millie Dhubh of Craigluscar, by Angus Dhubh 1 of Savalmhor and out of Millie of Craiglivsear.
British Blue – J K Manson, Upper Northfield, Hempriggs, Wick, with a female named Caithness Krystal. Reserve – Smallburn Farms, Elgin, with a female named Lucewater Little Bo’peep.
Any other beef breed – Willie Hendry, Ordhill, Longmorn, Elgin, with six-year-old Gasconne bull, Houblon, by Derby. He was first at the Sutherland Show last month. Reserve – Willie Hendry with a Gasconne female named Borralan Isla. She was bought as part of a group from the west coast.
Local – W J Jack and Sons, Woodend, Killearnan, with a cow and calf. Reserve – J McKenzie and Co, Wester Craiglands, Fortrose, with a cow and calf.
Rare and minority breeds – Angela Smith, Glenurquhart Farm, Cromarty.
SHEEP
Blackface – Glenrinnes Farms Ltd, Dufftown, with a home-bred shearling ram by a £2,200 Dalchirla. Reserve – Glenrinnes Farms Ltd with a gimmer by the same sire as the champion.
Bluefaced Leicester – M Seed and Son, Home Farm, Auchry, Cuminestown, with shearling ram, Auchry 4,447, by Lowerdown H3, bought at Builth Wells for £5,000 and shared with W and C Ingram, Logie Durno, Inverurie. Reserve – M Seed and Son with one-crop home-bred ewe by Myfyrian H1.
Charollais – Gregor and Bruce Ingram, Logie Durno, Inverurie, with a ewe named Loanhead Riverdance, by Crogham Hannibal and out of home-bred ewe. She was champion at the Royal Highland Show and one of interbreed pair at the Royal Welsh. Reserve – Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Barnyards, Mintlaw, with a ewe lamb by Loanhead Single Malt. She stood champion at New Deer and reserve at Echt.
Texel –Jemma Green, Corskie, Garmouth, with ram lamb, Corskie Bentley, by Strathbogie Yes Sir. He previously stood first at Echt and Fettercairn. Reserve – Jemma Green with a two-crop ewe by a Valhalla sire and out of a ewe by Teiglum Tornado.
Cross – Gavin Breathet, Woodside Croft, Blackpark, Ardersier, with gimmers by a Wester Moy Texel sire. Reserve – Gavin Breathet with a ewe by the same sire as the champion, with Suffolk cross lambs.
Jacob – Adam Christie, Birchfield, Glass, Huntly, with ram, Hope Knockout. He was champion at Nairn. Reserve – Adam Christie with gimmer, Adamski Lottie, by Dunmore Antonio. She was champion at Fettercairn and New Deer.
North Country Cheviot – A Polson, Smerlie, Lybster, with a home-bred ewe by Durran Rover and out of a ewe by a Biggins tup. She stood interbreed champion at Caithness. Reserve – A Polson with a two-shear tup named Smerlie Vince, by Durran Rover.
North Country Cheviot (hill) – North Lochnaver, Altnaharra, with four-shear tup, Badenloch Battleship, by North Lochnaver Nomad. Reserve – Badanloch LLP, Kinbrace, with a three-crop home-bred ewe by North Lochnaver Nomad and out of a ewe by Clevrig Jackanory.
Shetland – Ian and Lesley Carnegie, Broomhill, Rickarton, Stonehaven, with a gimmer named Raedykes Avrie, by Kaimnowe Gold Plated and out of Greenacre Arianna. Reserve – Ian and Lesley Carnegie with a two-shear tup named Raedykes Solomon, by St Baldred Barnaby. He was reserve at the Royal Highland Show last year.
Suffolk – Keith Ingram, 2 Balloch View, Grange, Keith, with a one-crop ewe, by Ballynacannon Big Baz, bought at the Deveronside dispersal. Reserve – Mary and Iain Bissett, Mariain, Culnaskeath, Evanton, with a three-shear Muirton tup named His Royal Highness, by Solwaybank Poundstretcher. He stood reserve at Sutherland.
Zwartbles – Carrie and Sarah Bissett with a one-crop ewe named Cynefin Donna, by Cynefin Arwell, and bought at Carlisle in November last year. Reserve – K and W Anderson, Cairnhill, Farr, Inverness, with a ram lamb by Carrah David Hay and out of a ewe by Cairnhill Bigtime.
Any other pure-bred – Deborah Atkinson, The Manse, Duncanston, Insch, with a one-crop Blue Texel ewe that stood champion at Echt Show last month. Reserve – Jan MacKenzie, Landale, Strathnaver, Kinbrace, with a three-shear South Country Cheviot tup by Catslackburn Ace and out of a Mount Vencher ewe. She stood champion any other breed at Sutherland and was placed third at the Royal Highland Show.
Crofters sheep – Ewan Simpson, Cairnside, 36 Oldhall, Watten, Wick, with a Texel ewe lamb by Main View Aviva. She was first and reserve non-MV champion at Caithness. Reserve – Craig MacKinnon, Keodale Bungalow, Durness, with a seven-crop North Country Cheviot ewe, by Suisgill sire.