Judging of a spectacular show of livestock at the 169th New Deer Show on Saturday was largely completed before the rain came on – but it did little to mar the afternoon programme.
Heavy showers hit the judging of the horse and pony overall championship and the “champion of champions” award in the main ring. But the grand parade of livestock carried on in front of a packed ringside.
“Everything went well and we had a good attendance,” said secretary Lynne Morrison.
The fun started on Friday night with stand-up comic Jim Smith, a former chairman of Scottish young farmers, and his concert party. The main-ring programme on Saturday included a sheep dog handling demonstration by Turriff schoolboy, Joe McKenzie, 13. Joe hit the headlines in 2013 when he appeared on prime-time TV winning the junior section of BBC Countryfile’s One Man and His Dog final with his dog, Tweedie.
The show proved a triumph for local Charolais cattle breeder Graeme Leggat, and his son, Mark, from Mormond Prop, New Pitsligo. He walked away with the breed championship and went on to win the overall beef cattle championship and the “champion of champions” accolade in competition with the sheep and horse champions.
Mr Leggat and his late father, Bob, were the first winners of the top award when it was introduced six years ago. Graeme and Mark’s winner on Saturday was repeating her championship success in the Charolais section last year.
Their winner was a two-year-old home-bred heifer, Bonnykelly Jennifer, by the privately purchased Kersknowe Clansman.
Huntly exhibitors Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart continued on their winning way with a third championship in three weeks – and the reserve overall cattle award – with their 22-month-old Limousin cross heifer, You Beauty. She was cross and “champion of champions” at Fettercairn two weeks ago and cross cattle champion at Echt last week. She was bought from breeder Andrew Anderson, of Smallburn Farms, Elgin, for £3,100 at the Thainstone Spectacular last September.
A home-bred Texel gimmer being shown for the first time carried off the sheep interbreed title for Willie Knox and his sons, Graeme and Andrew, from Mid Haddo, Fyvie. The sire, Cowal Vogue, a 5,000gns Carlisle purchase, is paying his way having sired sons which have sold for up to 24,000gns for Haddo Wait-a-Minty.
Sisters Eilidh Duncan, 15, and Erin, 14, from Braemuir, Auchnagatt, took the Charollais sheep championship with a home-bred gimmer and reserve with a shearling ram bought at Kelso last year. Their gimmer, an AI daughter of Riverdale Noble and from a ewe bought in-lamb from the Cannahars flock, went on the stand reserve for the sheep interbreed championship. She was breed champion at Echt last week and a member of the winning group of four.
It was also two in a row for Clydesdale exhibitor Ian Young, of Wellheads, Clochan, who repeated his native breeds’ championship success at Echt with his home-bred yearling filly, Arradoul Ceilidh.
Overall champion horse was the winner of the Irish Draught section, GBF Basil, exhibited by Fiona Menzies, of Myreton, Insch.
RESULTS
Beef cattle
Aberdeen-Angus: Graham Willox, of Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum, with five-year-old cow Mosston Muir Ingrid L289, by Mosston Muir Elgin J232, and out of Moston Muir Inga H210. Reserve: M Bruce and Partners Ltd, of Mains of Logie, Ellon, with five-year-old cow, Logie Ermine L158, by Blelack Lord Hildalgo H972, and out of Logie Ermine H736.
Charolais: Graeme Leggat, of Mormond Prop, New Pitsligo, with two-year-old heifer in calf, Bonnykelly Jennifer, by Kersknowe Clansman, and out of Thrunton Ella. Reserve: M Bruce and Partners with five-year-old bull Goldies Golddust, by Goldies Uppermost, and out of Blelack Ripple.
Limousin: Aileen Ritchie, of Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, with two-year-old heifer Goldies Inchantress, by Kaprico Germonder, and out of Goldies Etoile. Reserve: Gordon Hendry, of Heads of Auchinderran, Keith, with yearling heifer, Powerful Kango. By Halcliffe Dancer and out of Liscairn Fantastic.
Simmental: Iain Green, of Corskie, Garmouth, with 18-month-old Corskie Gingersnap, by Bel Dhu Capercaillie, and out of Corskie Winola. Reserve: Iain Green with two-year-old bull Corskie Fabian, by Greencap Ace. Home-bred dam.
Highland: Ian and Mary Adams, of 24 Beech Tree Road, Banchory, with three-year-old heifer Frangag Dubh of Cladich, by Seonaidh Mor of Ardura, and out of Frangag Donn 10th of Torloisk. Reserve: Veronia Thomson, of Clackriach, Maud, with six-year-old cow Heather 8th of Tordarroch, by Craig of Tordarroch, and out of Heather 11th of Innesard.
Cross: Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart, of Bogie Street, Huntly, with 22-month-old Limousin cross heifer You Beauty, by French sire, Bryan, and out of Smarty Pants. Reserve – J A Morrison, of Newtack, Crossroads, Grange, Keith, with bullock calf.
Any other foreign breed: Sarah Balfour, of Fodderlett Farms, Tomintoul, with two-year-old British Blue heifer, Newroddige Jemina, by Mountjoy Utopia, and out of Tamhorn Foxtail, Lily.
Any other native breed: Zoe McDonald, of Hareshowe of Ironside, New Deer, with cow Aberdeen Joan 17th.
Carcase cattle: Gordon Cumming, of Tillydesk, Ellon, with heavyweight heifer. Reserve: Gordon Cumming with lightweight heifer.
Group of three: Blair Duffton and Rebecca Stuart with cross. Reserve: Aileen Ritchie with Limousin.
Young handlers: Joanna Greaves, of Hill of Ardiffery Bungalow, Hatton. Runner-up: Beth Noble, of Larchfield, Strachan, Banchory
SHEEP
Suffolk: Graeme Christie, of Newton of Balquhain, Inverurie, with gimmer by Rhaeadr Red Devil, and out of a home-bred ewe by Strathisla Speed. Reserve: Faith Miskelly, of Corrybrae, Kildrummy, with ewe.
Cheviot: Henry Kelman, of East Thunderton, Peterhead, with ewe. Reserve: W G Paterson and Son, of Gerriesford, Cuminstown, with gimmer.
Cross (pens of three): W and J Brown, of Hilton of Culsh, New Deer, with gimmers by continental sire. Reserve: Logan Baxter, of Troup Farm, Gamrie, with Mule or Greyface gimmers.
Cross (single): W and J Brown with ewe lamb. Reserve:I and H Anderson, of Newton of Carnousie, Turriff, with gimmer.
Texel: W Knox and Sons, of Mid Haddo, Fyvie, with gimmer by 5,000gns Cowal Vogue, and out of ewe by Strathbogie Smoky Blue. Reserve: Brian Buchan, of Clinterty, New Aberdour, with ram lamb by Tophill Wall Street (owned jointly with Tophill, Knock and Haddo), and out of home-bred ewe.
Beltex: Ross and Kirsten Williams, of Upper Tullochbeg, Huntly, with gimmer, Blackjack A Pari, by 9,000gns Padkin Sugar Daddy and out of Paris. Reserve: Ross and Kirsten Williams with shearling ram, Blackjack Atomic Weapon, by Padkin Sugar Daddy and out of ewe imported from Belgium.
Charollais: Eilidh (15) and Erin (14) Duncan, of Braemuir, Auchnagatt, with gimmer by AI sire, Riverdale Noble, and out of home-bred Cannahars-bred ewe. Reserve: Eilidh and Erin Duncan with shearling ram by Foulrice sire and out of ewe by another Foulrice sire.
Zwartbles: David Miskelly, of Corrybrae, Kildrummy, with ewe. Reserve: William and David Moir, Home Farm, Cairness, with ram lamb.
Any other breed: 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. Reserve: Rachel Cruden, of 2 Standingstone Cottages, Dyce, with Bleu de Maine shearling ram, Langley Massey.
Jacob: Moira Milton, of Newton of Auchindachy, Drummuir, with ewe. Reserve: J Milton, of Newton of Auchindachy, Drummuir, with gimmer.
Bluefaced Leicester: James Hunter, of Wedderburn, Glens of Foundland, Huntly, with ram lamb by Mid Auchengray Spud and out of home-bred dam by Midlock Controversy. Reserve: D and A Cowie, of South Gerriesford, Rothienorman.
Any rare or horned breed: Andrew Leek, of Greenhill Farmhouse, Lonmay, with ram. Reserve: Raymond Aitken, of Beech Cottage, Newton of Fetternear, Inverurie, with shearling ram.
Group of three: Eilidh and Erin Duncan with Charollais. Reserve: W J Knox and Sons with Texel
Prime lambs: W G Paterson and Son: Reserve: Ian Moir, of Easter Bo, Fisherie
Young handlers: Sophia Gibb. Runner-up: Erin Duncan
HEAVY HORSES
Clydesdale: Ian Young, of Wellheads, Clochan, with yearling filly Arradoul Ceilidh, by Redcastle Brelee Majestic (Canadian import and former Cawdor Cup winner) and out of Arradoul Symphony. Reserve: Norman Christie, of Roadside, Fintray, with mare Anguston Amber, by Greenlass Lochy and out of Anguston Amy.
Highland – Lindsay Riddoch, of Old School Cottage, Auchterless, with 11-year-old mare Midge of Millfield, by Chapelhill Vegas and out of May Mist of Millfield. Reserve: Gordon and Ann Towns, of Easdale, Markethill, Turriff, with yearling filly, Yvette May of Forglen, by Marnonwells Glenaigeas and out of Pamela May of Forglen.
Shetland: M and C Bowman, of Simba, Cultercullen, with 10-year-old coloured pony. Reserve: Christine Forbes, of 1 Dullanbank, Dufftown, with seven-year-old mare Merkisayre Dally.
Miniature Shetland: Margaret Smith, of Ramana, Barthol Hill, Barthol Chapel, with seven-year-old home-bred mare Ramana Bluebell, by Tiny of Neuk and out of Leithan Buttercup. Reserve: N S Wilson, of Mingulay, Alford, with stallion Mingulay Galaxy.
