Royal Highland Show: SAYFC put on a jam packed week

The final round of stockjudging results drew in a fair crowd at the show’s new location due to the Golden Shears going on at the MacRobert Theatre.

Stockman of the year title when to James Hamilton from Lanarkshire Ref:RH240623151 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

The title for Stockman of the Year 2023 went to James Hamilton, from Lanarkshire district, who scored 578. He has been taking part in stockjudging since he was 14 and in the only other time James had qualified for the afternoon as a senior, he was placed fourth – however, as a junior he won junior ‘Stockman of the Year’ in 2013 when he was 15 and was in the winning junior team twice.

READ MORE: Limousins take top tickets among the beef inter-breeds

James runs a tenanted farm at Gilmeadowland, Linlithgow, where he has a suckler cow herd along with Cheviot Mules and Texel sheep, as well as growing feed barley.

If that doesn’t keep him busy enough, he also does some contracting and on Mondays you will find him at Lanark market at quieter times of the year.

“Winning on Saturday was an unbelievable feeling. Realising a lifetime ambition and getting the chance to make my family friends and everyone who put faith in me over the years proud,” he said.

“A huge thank you to the trainers and fellow competitors who keep pushing on the standard of the competition and drove me to get better.”

James was followed by Cameron McGregor, from Ayrshire, who racked up a score of 561, which was closely followed by James Graham, from Clyde and Central, on 551.

Best team was Clyde and Central A, Andrew Morton, Murray Steel, James Graham, Nicole Kinloch, Stephen Taylorand Dexter Logan Ref:RH240623148 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Clyde and Central had a field day in the senior stockjudging, firstly winning the prestigious Glasgow Herald Trophy for the best team with a score of 1536 – their A team was made up of Murray Steele, Nicole Kinloch, Dexter Logan, Stephen Taylor, Andrew Morton and James Graham.

Best Pair in the Sheep section went to James Graham and Andrew Morton Ref:RH240623144 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Andrew Morton and James Graham also bagged the best pair in the sheep section, while Dexter Logan and Stephen Taylor were the best pair in the beef section.

Best Pair in the beef section went to Dexter Logan and Stephen Taylor Ref:RH240623143 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Ayrshire A – Andrew Struthers and Cameron McGregor – took the dairy section best pair trophy, and they also took second place in the team section, with a score of 1511, when joined by scores from David Smith, Daniel Hodge, Scott Anderson and Ewan Cochrane.

Third place in the teams went to Lanarkshire A of Craig Fleming, Alison Lawrie, Amy Lindsay, Jane Lindsay, James Hamilton, and Scott Frame, who racked up a score of 1451.

George Lang, Fife and Kinross was Individual Junior stockjudging champion Ref:RH240623140

Among the juniors, the individual winner was George Lang, from Fife and Kinross, who scored 248, with Abbie Montgomerie, Ayrshire, taking second place with a score of 241. There was a joint third place for Charles Simpson, from Angus Tayside and Erin Baillie, Clyde and Central.

Winners of the Lawrie and Symington Salver for the junior team was Caithness A with a combined score of 687 for Abbie Gunn, Isla Mackay and Benjamin Rogers.

Fife and Kinross (675) took the blue ticket home with the team made up of Euan Mill, Rory Mill and George Lang, followed with Lanarkshire C (671) of Lynsey Currie, Carrie Christie and Heather Currie.

Alongside the annual stockjudging event, a resurrected Five Nations competition was also reintroduced this year, with competitors representing Scotland, Wales, Ulster and England.

England’s Will Rogerson landed the best individual amongst the beef cattle, however it was Scottish team members of Andrew Struthers and Scott Anderson who lifted the dairy and sheep titles, respectively.

An extra special year hosting the Golden Shears, this year’s SAYFC shearing competition, attracted large crowds, with the red ticket going to Steven Anderson, with a total score of 32.600.

Runner up was Ben Wight, Biggar YFC, with a score of 43.800 and the third place went to Lewis Mackay, with a score of 49.150. Lifting the woman’s title was Eilidh Little, Callander.

Adding to the excitement of the Young Farmers’ centre was their incredible annual arts and crafts competition, with this year’s juniors section theme being ‘Golden Shears’, where Mauchline managed to take the top spot.

It was another Ayrshire win among the senior’s section this time for Kilmaurs, with their theme being ‘Travel the world’.

The annual ‘Club of the Year’ competition – which recognises and awards the achievements of the SAYFC clubs in their contribution to the districts, regions, association and community – returned with entries remaining strong on the year. Landing the top spot in this section was Bower YFC, with Stranraer and Rhins placed second and Strichen coming a close third.

Lesmahagow YFC celebrate winning the tug of war

A dry spell meant the ground was hard underfoot for the tug-of-war teams and this put members through their paces. However, it did not halt Lesmahagow YFC from landing the top spot amongst the men for the first time since 1994.

This team was followed by Strathearn and Lanark YFC taking third place in the men. Among the ladies’ section, it was Callander YFC that took the top spot in the final against Strathbogie YFC and Carluke YFC took the third-place ticket.

Callander YFC took the win in the ladies section tug of war

A heated final in the kitchen for the Ready Steady Country Cooks competition witnessed Kilmaurs YFC take the win for team members, Karen Shepherd and Rosie Wilson, over Forss YFC duo, Rhianna Mackay and Abby Mill.

Karen Shepherd and Rosie Wilson won the country cooks final for Kilmaurs YFC

Concluding on what was a jam-packed week for SAYFC office bearers and organisers, National vice-chair, Ally Brunton, added: “Just a quick round-up from SAYFC: We have had a very successful show, with members competing all weekend and we have winners all over the country so everyone should be pretty chuffed.

“A big congratulations to everyone that did win and a big thank you to all our supporters, members, friends and family and we look forward to seeing you here next year.”

LEADING awards:

Mauchline YFC took the top ticket in the junior handicrafts

Junior arts and crafts – 1, Mauchline (Kirsty Gemmell, Beth Robertson and Laura Morton); 2, Machars (Pippa Vance, Isla Cathers, Tammy Campbell and Libby Kay); 3, Stewartry (Lisa Cruikshanks, Amy Craik and Katy Smith).

Special prizes junior arts and crafts – A4 poster – Lisa Cruikshanks, Stewartry; knitted item – John Glendinning, Annandale; sewn article – Tammy Campbell, Machars; further article – Laura Morton, Mauchline; appearance and display – Beth Robertson and Kirsty Gemmell, Mauchline.

Senior handicraft winner went to Kilmaurs YFC

Seniors arts and crafts – 1, Kilmaurs (Beth Kerr, Ian McFadzean, Karen Foster, Karen Shepherd, Megan Brown and Emma Shanks); 2, Crossroads (Holly Leitch, Sofia Lindsay, Craig Baird, Emma Kerr, Fiona Cuthbertson and Lisa Brown); 3, Avondale (Isobel Currie, Jane Fleming, Lisa Dunbar, Rebekah Lennox, Sean Dunbar and Lewis Fleming).

Special prizes senior arts and crafts – Sewn article – Heather Paul, Kinross; decorated journal – Ian McFadzean, Kilmaurs; souvenir – Angela Webster, Vale of Alford; decorated cake – Megan Brown, Kilmaurs; floral exhibit – Jenna Reid, Lower Nithsdale; further article – Lisa Brown, Crossroads; appearance and display – Fiona Cuthbertson and Emma Kerr, Crossroads.

Craftsmanship – Junior – 1, Grant Dickie, Crossroads; 2, Greg Bain, Callander; 3, Finlay Baillie, Biggar.

Craftsmanship – Senior – 1, Craig Baird, Crossroads; 2, Lisa Dunbar, Avondale; 3, Andrew Beattie, Forfar.

Junior photography – 1, Eilidh Armstrong, Biggar; 2, Stevenson, Turriff; 3, Danny Potter, Bathgate.

Senior photography – 1, Paul Carruth, West Renfrew; 2, Paul Carruth, West Renfrew; 3, Kirsty Craig, East Kilbride.

Stephen Taylor won the Best individual in the beef section Ref:RH240623146 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Club of the Year – 1, Bower; 2, Stranraer and Rhins; 3, Strichen.

Sheep shearing – Champion and winner of the Lister Silver Handpiece and the Worshipful Company of Woolmen – Steven Anderson, Teviotdale.

Woman’s shearing – Eilidh Little, Callander.

Tug of war – Ladies – 1, Callander; 2, Strathbogie; 3, Carluke.

Gents – 1, Lesmahagow; 2, Strathearn; 3, Lanark.

Junior team stockjudging – 1, Caithness A, 687 (Abbie Gunn, Isla Mackay, Benjamin Rogers); 2, Fife and Kinross, 675 (Euan Mill, Rory Mill, George Lang); 3, Lanarkshire C, 671 (Lynsey Currie, Carrie Christie, Heather Currie).

Junior individual stockjudging – 1, George Lang, Fife and Kinross; 2, Abbie Montgomerie, Ayrshire; joint 3, Charles Simpson, Angus Tayside and Erin Baillie, Clyde and Central.

Five nations stockjudging – Supreme – Scotland. Reserve – England.

Adam Smith was Best individual in the dairy section Ref:RH240623145 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Five nations individual stockjudging – Dairy – Andrew Struthers (Scotland). Beef – Will Rogerson (England). Sheep – Scott Anderson (Scotland).

READ MORE: Dairy lines witnessed the Holstein take inter-breed champion

Senior pairs stockjudging – Dairy – Ayrshire A (Andrew Struthers and Cameron McGregor). Beef – Clyde and Central A (Dexter Logan and Stephen Taylor). Sheep – Clyde and Central A (Andrew Morton and James Graham).

Cameron McGregor and Andrew Stuthers won the Best Pair in the Dairy section Ref:RH240623142 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Senior individual stockjudging – Dairy – Adam Smith, Ayrshire. Beef – Steven Taylor, Clyde and Central. Sheep – Andrew Morton, Clyde and Central.

Senior team stockjudging – 1, Clyde and Central A, 1536 (Murray Steele, Nicole Kinloch, Dexter Logan, Stephen Taylor, Andrew Morton and James Graham); 2, Ayrshire A, 1511 (Andrew Struthers, Cameron McGregor, David Smith, Daniel Hodge, Scott Anderson and Ewan Cochrane); 3, Lanarkshire A 1415 (Craig Fleming, Alison Lawrie, Amy Lindsay, Jane Lindsay, James Hamilton, Scott Frame).

Best Individual in the sheep section went to Andrew Morton Ref:RH240623147 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Stockman of the Year – 1, James Hamilton, Lanarkshire (578); 2, Cameron McGregor, Ayrshire (561); 3, James Graham, Clyde and Central (551).

Winning the Five Nations Stockjudging was Team Scotland Ref:RH240623141 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...