MEMBERS from across the North Region travelled to compete in the SAYFC North Region Agri Competitions Day held at Huntly Auction Mart on Saturday, October 7. The day saw competitors take part in beef cattle dressing and prime lamb dressing.

Nine teams competed in the cattle dressing competition, which was judged by William Moir and Rebecca Stuart from Cairness. Cattle were kindly supplied by Angus Greenlaw, Sheep Park Farms.

The winning senior team was the Lower Speyside brothers, Graeme and Grant Rhind, with 93 points out of a possible 100. Second place went to Keith, Richard Davidson, and Mitchell McGillivray scoring 91 points and third went to Echt, Hannah Lorimer, and Lyndsey Brown with 86 points. The first junior placing went to Molly Poyser and Duncan Whyte of Strichen JAC with a score of 67 points. Clubs that also competed were East Mainland, Bower, and Forss.

There were thirteen teams competing in the prime lamb dressing competition, which was judged by Grant Ireland and Nikki Sheed with lambs kindly supplied by Nicola Wordie, Cairnborrow.

The Scottish Farmer: Junior winners, Duncan Whyte and Molly Poyser Junior winners, Duncan Whyte and Molly Poyser

The winning team in the senior section was East Mainland, Marcus Scholes, and Ewan Flett, scoring 95 out of a possible 100. Second place went to Echt Members Hannah Lorimer and Lyndsey Brown with 91 points, and third place went to Harry Young Farmers, Campbell Ridland, and Tom Flett with 86 points. In the junior section, first place went to Keith brothers, Harvey and Jack Stuart scoring 71 points. Other competing teams were also from Vale of Alford and Turriff and District.

North chairperson Sally Mair said: “What a weekend in Huntly for our cattle and lamb dressing. Large entries saw tough competition at an incredible standard. With a strong team down from Orkney the Mainland teams had their work cut out. Congratulations to brothers Graeme and Grant Rhind from Lower Speyside for their efforts to win the cattle and to Marcus Scholes and Ewan Flett from East Mainland on winning the prime lamb dressing. With the competition on the incline from previous years, I hope to see the passion for dressing livestock continue for years to come.”

On Sunday members attended a farm tour of Cairnborrow with the kind permission of Nicola Wordie. Speaking on behalf of the North Agri Committee, Scott Dey concluded: “Despite a horrible morning of rain a tour of Cairnborrow farm was a great way to make use of the day. Father and daughter duo, Nicola and George gave us a first-class tour of the ground they are working, from silage fields to the tops of their grazing hill. It was great to see quality stock being bred and how the family has managed to achieve this.”