Grey clouds soon cleared for a sunny afternoon to showcase the finest in agriculture at the Fettercairn Show at the weekend.
The Fettercairn Farmers Club reported increased entries in both the cattle and sheep classes, while horses returned to the showfield at East Bridgend after a two-year absence.
The top title of show champion of champions went to the overall beef champion, Grangewood William, which took the Simmental breed championship rosette earlier in the day for Gerald and Morag Smith, of Drumsleed, Fordoun, with their son, Douglas.
The Smiths are no strangers to success, having won the same accolade at last year’s show with Simmental cow Drumsleed Tabytha and her heifer calf Drumsleed Darla at foot.
This year’s champion was a six-year old bull, by Popes Laird and out of Grangewood Sundial. He was bought by the Smiths, who keep 100 pedigree Simmentals and 150 commercials at home. The Fettercairn win follows the male champion rosette at Fife and breed champion silverware at Angus.
Limousin breeder Michael Robertson, of Easter Fodderletter Farm, Ballindalloch judged the supreme beef championship.
He said he chose the Simmental bull as his champion because he was a good representation of the breed, with good locomotion for his age and weight.
Mr Robertson awarded his overall reserve beef champion title to the cross cattle champion, Cookie Dough, from Blair Duffton of 2 Bogie Street, Huntly.
This yearling heifer, which is by a Limousin bull and out of a Limousin cow, was bred by Colin Stewart, Belnoe, Glenlivet and purchased in March at the Thainstone young farmers overwintering competition for £1,200.
Fettercairn’s continental championship went to Grangewood William.
The reserve was awarded to the Charolais breed champion, a home-bred cow born in April 2011, from Jimmy McMillan, Craigmore, Farnell, Brechin. Dunesk Glory is by Blelack Digger and out of Dunesk Bianca. She was reserve breed champion at Alyth.
In the native breed championship, the top title went to the Aberdeen-Angus breed champion, Dunesk Lady Isla, from Kevin Cargill, Millhill Farm, Arbirlot, Arbroath.
This heifer, born in March 2013, is by Mosstonmuir Krugerand and out of Mosstonmuir Isadora. She was bred by Jimmy McMillan and shown as a calf at Forfar last year.
Reserve native champion went to last year’s native champion and this year’s any other breed champion – Melora Emma Dubh, of Kintore Castle.
This March 2011 in-calf Highland heifer was put forward by Morag Middleton, Barna, Mid Mains of Balfour, Fettercairn. By Russell of Idvies and out of Emma 2nd of Lochinch, this one was bought in Oban in 2012 for 2,000gns.
In the sheep interbreed championship, the top title went to a Beltex gimmer on its first outing from Allan Alston, Drumchapel, Chapelton of Menmuir, Brechin. The home-bred Drumchapel Topspot is by Kingledores Rascal and out of a ewe by Pentland Kylie.
The reserve sheep championship title went to a pen of three home-bred Texel cross gimmers from Colin Scott, Wester Biffie, Maud. These are out of Texel x Suffolk females and by Texel tup Knock Toronto.
The title of best horse for the 2014 show year was the Clydesdale champion, Anguston Amber, from Aberdeenshire breed enthusiast and builder Norman Christie.
Having earlier taken her to the top of the Clydesdale section, breed judge Tom Brewster, from West Mains of Carse Grange, at Errol, said ultimately there were “very few things” he didn’t like about the mare.
“She’s a very high quality mare. She’d be one of the better Clydesdales in the country and she was presented today in absolutely top form.”
The yeld mare, which has not otherwise been shown this year, was home-bred by Norman, at Woodside Croft, Kinellar, out of another of his top class mares, Anguston Amy, and sired by Old GreenlawLochy.
Amber last year swept to the top of the Clydesdale breed championships at Echt, New Deer and Lourin shows.
Falling just two points shy of the supreme standing, but edging out the remaining champions to stand a worthy reserve was Frank and Morven Lawson’s yearling Fell pony, Waverhead Black Beauty, from Chapel of Dron, Invergowrie.
This filly had stood champion of the large breed Mountain and Moorlands, before rising to take the overall M&M plaudits.
Bought by the Lawsons direct from her breeder Barbara Bell, this daughter of Fitzview Dazzler has since stood overall large breed M&M at the Grampian Foal Show and was most recently first in her class at Angus Show.