Some of the best- bred cattle and sheep from the north of Scotland descended on Muir of Ord for the 182nd annual Black Isle Show yesterday.
The event drew an estimated attendance of 22,000 and strong entries of livestock – particularly in the sheep section which saw 1,170 head put through their paces.
Taking home the Glaickmore Cup for the champion of champions judged by Jocky and Brenda McCallum, Mountrich, Dingwall, was the overall horse champion, a Shetland pony from Donna Lochtie of Old Bank Court, Dunning.
Mawcarse Lady Dionne, a nine-year-old mare by Stow Vulcan, out of Hawkdale Dixie, has scooped a number of wins for Donna over the years.
It pipped the supreme sheep section winner from Alasdair Robertson, Lairg.
This was a three-crop North Country Cheviot ewe, the first crofters’ champion to secure the interbreed sheep honours at the Black Isle Show. She was bought from the late George Macleod, Migdale, Bonar Bridge, at Dingwall Mart last year and was on her first outing with Alasdair.
Interbreed sheep judge and veteran North Country Cheviot breeder Jimmy Thomson of Hownam Grange, Kelso, said his supreme winner had the “character, skin, hair and presence of a good hill Northie”.
In the beef section, the coveted interbreed champion title went to the Green family’s Simmental leader from Corskie, Garmouth, when tapped out by judge John Gordon of Wellheads, Huntly.
Brought out by stockman Shaun Cumming and Iain’s daughter Laura Beattie and her husband Robert, was the seven-year-old home-bred cow Corskie Disco, champion at the Royal Highland Show and New Deer earlier in the summer.
She is by Islavale Sabre, out of Corskie Swirl, and was shown with her twin calves at foot.
Mr Gordon, who said the Simmental was an “outstanding cow for her age and a fantastic example of the breed”, awarded the reserve honours to the cross cattle champion.
This was Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart’s 14-month-old Limousin cross heifer I’ll Be There.
By the AI sire Lorenzo and now a well-known beast in the show ring, having scooped a number of supreme wins at shows in the north-east this year, she was bred by Stuart Raeburn and bought from the Robertsons at Fodderletter, when she stood champion at the Royal Northern Spring Show in February.
Commercials from the Huntly and Insch duo also ruled supreme in the beef group and pairs, while Limousins by Whiskey Lord from Michael Robertson and family of Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, were reserve on both occasions.
Back among the sheep lines the reserve interbreed championship went to a home-bred Charollais gimmer from brothers Gregor and Bruce Ingram, Logie Durno, Pitcaple.
She is by Rhaeadr Orlando, out of a home-bred ewe and recently stood first in her class at the Royal Welsh Show.
The Ingram family had more to celebrate when Bruce, along with parents Willie and Carole, and sister Amy, ruled supreme in the groups with a trio of Charollais, while Blue Texels from the Hunter family from West Cairnhill, Insch, stood reserve.
The Suffolk champion from the Ingrams teamed up with the breed’s reserve champion from Louise McAuley, Elgin, to win the Larry Graham MBE perpetual silver challenge trophy.
This is an award for the best male and female champion which is rotated in the beef, sheep and horse section each year at the show.
RESULTS
BEEF CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus – The Rhind family, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss, with September, 2013-born bull Oakchurch Equity N141, which was interbreed champion at Nairn. By Netherallan Peter Pershore, he is the family’s new stock bull. Reserve – Ballindalloch Home Farm, with two-year-old heifer Ballindalloch Black Bee, by Ballindalloch Earl.
Beef Shorthorn – Eilidh MacKenzie, Auchmore, Muir of Ord, with nine-year-old cow Lowther Sally, which was bought at the Smallburn Beef Shorthorn dispersal at Dingwall. She is by Blelack Minstrel, and was shown with her three-month-old bull calf Smallburn Navigator, by Burnside Judge. Reserve – Balnespick Shorthorns, Balnespick Farm, Kincraig, with March 2018-born bull Farlam Maximus, by Longmoor Formidabull, out of Barnaigh Yvonne.
Charolais – Billy and Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet, with 15-month-old bull Lagavaich Olly, by Whitecliffe James, out of Lagavaich Lucy – a dam which stood champion here last year. Reserve – Billy and Gary Wright with Lagavaich Oscar, a similarly aged bull by Davally Illusion, out of Lagavaich Isla.
Limousin – Richard and Kathleen Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith, with Corsairtly Oswald, a January 2018-born bull by Ronick Inspector. He was reserve interbreed at Echt and Nairn, and breed champion at New Deer. Reserve – Michael Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with June 2018-born heifer Fodderletter Olive, by Whiskey Lord. Part of winning group at Nairn.
Simmental – The Green family, Corskie, Garmouth, with seven-year-old cow Corskie Disco, by Islavale Sabre. Shown with her twin calves, she was champion at the Highland and New Deer. Reserve – JS Gunn, March Cottage, Mavesey, Lybster, with Caithness Jenson, a June 2018-born
bull by Mavesey Hans Jenson.
Commercial cattle – Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart of Huntly and Insch, with 14-month-old Limousin cross heifer I’ll Be There, which was champion of champions at Echt and reserve champion of champions at Banchory. Bred by Stuart Raeburn, she is by Lornezo and was bought from the Robertsons at Fodderletter, when champion at the Spring Show. Reserve – Barry Patterson, Cairndaie Croft, Sauchen, with a Febuary-born heifer calf named Tracy Jacks. Bought with her dam from Craig Malone, Pitcairn, she was reserve at Fettercairn and Echt.
Local area classes – WJ Jack & Sons, Woodend, Killearnan, Tore, with a cow and calf. Reserve – WJ Jack & Sons with a heifer calf.
Highland cattle – Tordarroch Estates, Tordarroch, Farr, Inverness, with three-year-old heifer Heather 12 of Tordarroch, by Moluag of Kilpatrick.Champion at Sutherland and Nairn. Reserve – Leys Castle, Inverness, with three-year-old bull Dougald 2 of Leys, by Jock of Lyntoun. Male champ at Nairn.
Crofters cattle – Ian Grant, Slattadale, Sea View Cottage, 50 Lonemore, Gairloch, with a Limousin cross heifer named My Girl. Bought from Logierait at the Spectacular, she will be kept for breeding. Reserve – John Smith, The Rowans, Brora, with April-born Limousin cross heifer, by a Muirhouses bull, out of a Lim X Blue. First outing.
SHEEP
Blackface – Robert Flett, Crakaig Blackfaces, Blackpark Croft Cottage, Ardersier, with a gimmer bought from Auldhouseburn. She is by a £58,000 Auldhouseburn and shared with Peter Junor. Reserve – Lewis Smith, Towiemore, Drummuir, with a ewe lamb by Joe Co, out of a home-bred ewe by the £160,000 Dalchirla.
Bluefaced Leicester – Matthew Seed, Home Farm Auchry, Turriff, with a home-bred two-crop ewe by Myfyrian H1, out of a home-bred ewe by Cassington D1. Champion at Black Isle before and three times champion at Turriff. Reserve – Raymond Baynes, Blackford, Croy, with a gimmer bought at the Rossiebank dispersal. She is by Rossiebank E1.
Beltex – Donald Douglas, Braes of Coulmore, North Kessock, with home-bred gimmer Beechcross Danni, by Fingle Cobra. Reserve – Ross and Kirsty Williams, Upper Tullochbeg, Huntly, with three-shear tup Langlands Bruiser, shared with the Mair family, Charles Copland, Raymond Flaws and Jimmy Young, Muirton. He is by Smart Ass Alfie, and was reserve at New Deer.
Charollais – Gregor and Bruce Ingram, Logie Dunro, Pitcaple, with a home-bred gimmer, by Rhaeadr Orlando. She stood first at the Welsh. Reserve – Willie and Carole Ingram, Logie Durno, with a one-crop ewe which stood champion at the Welsh. She is by the same sire as the champion.
Texel – The Hunter Family, West Cairnhill, Insch, with a home-bred gimmer by Strathbogie Yes Sir, out of a Rohan bred bought at Lanark as a gimmer. She stood champion of champions at Fettercairn. Reserve – Jemma Green, Corskie, Garmouth, with an aged tup named Hollylee Acrobat, purchased at Lanark in 2017.
Cross sheep – Robert MacKenzie, the Glebe, Boat of Garten, with two home-bred Mule ewe lambs. Reserve – R&CM Mack, Muirton Mains, Urray, Muir of Ord, two Suffolk cross ewe lambs.
Jacob – Adam Christie, Birchfield, Midtown of Glass, Huntly, with ewe lamb Adamski Mary Queen of Scots. She is by Hope Knockout, out of Milldale Edie and was reserve overall at the Highland. Reserve – Jennifer Milton, Newton of Auchindachy, Drummuir, Keith, with a gimmer by Pentrenant Hope, bred by Howard Walsh.
North Country Cheviot – Joanna McCallum, Belmaduthy, Munlochy, with a home-bred two-crop named Belmaduthy Molly-Mae, by Cairnside Northern Light, out of a home-bred ewe. She was on her first outing. Reserve – the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe, Thurso, with a home-bred shearling tup by Overton Wizard.
North Country Cheviot (hill) – Badanloch LLP, Kinbrace, with a one-crop home-bred ewe by North Lochnaver Nomad, out of a home-bred ewe by Achentoul Tank. Brought out by Hughie Mackenzie, she stood reserve female at the Highland. Reserve – Badanloch LLP, with three-shear tup Suisgill Sumo, purchased at Lairg for £4,500. He is by Borgie Tank.
Shetland – Ian and Lesley Carnegie, Broomhill, Rickarton, Stonehaven, with home-bred tup lamb Raedykes Hurricane, by Island Musse T, out of Raedykes Helga. Reserve – Ian and Lesley Carnegie, with home-bred three-shear tup Raedykes Marcus, by St Boldres Isaac, out of Rench Martina.
Suffolk – Willie and Carole Ingram, with two-shear tup Logie Durno Sunny Bill, by Bentley Fly Half. He stood reserve male at the Highland and reserve champion at the Royal Welsh. Reserve – Louise McAuley, 3 Easter Coxton, Elgin, with a one-crop ewe bred by Cadgerford and bought at the Christmas Classic. She is by Irongray Ironman.
Zwartbles – Paddock Zwartbles, The Paddock, Drumtemple Croft, Gorthleck, with a gimmer named Olbre Firecracker, which was bought as a ewe lamb at Carlisle. She was champion of champions at Nairn. Reserve – Paddock Zwartbles with one-crop ewe Culriach Elsa. Bought at Dingwall in 2017.
Any other pure-bred – Rachel and Calum Cruden, 2 Standingstones Cottages, Dyce, with one-crop Bleu Du Maine ewe Dunelm Pippa, which stood champion at the Highland. She was bought at Carlisle and is by Rumwell Juno. Reserve – Smallburn Farms, Elgin, with a Dorset shearling bought at Carlisle, last Autumn. Shown by Lucy (7) and Chloe (5) Anderson, this was their first outing to the Black Isle with sheep.
Crofters sheep – Alasdair Robertson, 14 Clashbreac, Lairg, with a three-crop ewe. She was bought from the late George Macleod, Migdale, Bonar Bridge, and was on her first outing. Reserve – Kevin and Katie Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder, Thurso, with a home-bred Texel gimmer, by a home-bred son of Knock Yankee.
Young handlers – Aged 8-10 years – Megan Matheson. Aged 11-13 years – Anna Baynes. Aged 14-16 years – Liam Sharp.
HORSES
Shetland (standard) – Donna Lochtie, Old Bank Court, Lower Graco St, Dunning, with nine-year-old mare Mawcarse Lady Dionne. Reserve – Mr and Mrs JD Swan with two-year-old filly Stow Violina.
Shetland (miniature) – Phlair Stud, Conon Bridge, with eight-year-old mare Tillyorn Violet. Reserve – E&S Knight, Edgemoor, St Catherine’s Cross, Fearn, Tain, with seven-year-old stallion Hjaltland Ragnar.
Highland ponies in hand – Ellen Milne, with 11-year-old gelding Cairns Harris. Reserve – Fiona Menzies, with 10-year-old Seamus of Forglen.
Highland ponies ridden – Shona Halford and W Grigor, Muirside Steading, Brodie, with nine-year-old yeld mare Katrina of Strathmore. Reserve – Dalnacardoch Estate, Calvine, Pitlochry, with Soty of Dalnacardoch.
Clydesdales – Eric and Miranda Johnstone, Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord, with four-year-old mare Ord Destiny. Reserve – David and Beverley Walker, Easter Galcantray, Cawdor, with 10-year-old mare Galcantray Angel.
