All roads will lead to Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on Monday and Tuesday, November 27 and 28, as livestock enthusiasts gear up for the Aberdeen Christmas Classic.
The popular two-day premier event, organised by Aberdeen and Northern Marts in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association and supported by main sponsor Rapid Project Development (RPD), looks set to be bigger than ever this year with more than 400 entries.
A packed programme of events over the two days will see shows and sales of prime and pedigree livestock, including the Rising Stars competition as well as Young Farmers’ and open stock judging contests.
“We are thrilled to see a tremendous line-up of prime, commercial and pedigree stock entered for this year’s Aberdeen Christmas Classic,” said ANM prime cull cattle manager, Tim McDonald.
“Over the two days, spectators will have the opportunity to view and source top-quality cattle and sheep. We also have various agricultural trade stands coming along, as well as the Young Farmers’ stock judging event.
“We are extremely grateful to all our sponsors and in particular we’d like to thank RPD for their continued support as main sponsor. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Thainstone at the end of the month.”
The prime cattle section has attracted 85 entries and will see Ryan Briggs from Briggsy’s Quality Butchers judge the open and butchers’ sections.
Harry Wood from Bowland Foods Ltd is set to select the top winners in the unhaltered prime cattle classes, while John Carlisle of Border Meats will put the Young Farmers’ haltered beef cattle through their paces.
In the prime sheep classes, 65 pairs of lambs including the Young Farmers’ section will be judged by Bill Cameron from Burnside of Edingight, Grange, Keith.
In addition to the prime stock, some 240 pedigree female sheep entries have been received which will see Mark Wattie from Mains of Tonley, Alford, judge the Beltex, while Katrina MacArthur of Newton of Budgate, Cawdor, Nairn will be selecting the winners among the Blue Texels.
The Suffolk section will be judged by Bruce Johnson from Heatherbrae, Baltasound, Unst, Shetland and Kenny Duthie from Woodside of Chapelton, Brechin will be putting the Texels through their paces.
This year’s popular Rising Stars competition, which has attracted 20 top-quality commercial bullocks and heifers, is being judged by Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, Crieff.
Programme of events
Monday, November 27
1.00 pm Judging of pedigree female sheep
3.00 pm Sale of pedigree female sheep
5.30 pm Judging of Young Farmers' prime sheep
5.45 pm Judging of open unhaltered cattle, followed by Young Farmers' unhaltered prime cattle, Young Farmers' haltered prime cattle and Rising Stars Calf Show
Tuesday, November 28
9.30 am Judging of open and butchers' haltered prime cattle
9.30 am Judging of open and butchers' prime sheep
1.00 pm Presentation of prizes for prime cattle and sheep, followed by the sale of prime cattle and sheep commencing with cattle
7.00 pm Young Farmers and open stock judging competition
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here