A Clydesdale filly from Eric Johnstone claimed the champion of champions title at Sutherland Show staged on the Dornoch Links.
The home-bred yearling, Ord Tigerlilly, from Ord Clydesdales, was awarded the top honour in the main ring by judges Isobell McCallum, Belmaduthy, Munlochy, and Mary Fraser, Dunain Mains, Inverness.
Reserve champion of champions and interbeed sheep champion from J Munro and son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay
The judges praised the horse’s movement, turnout, colouring, and attractive head. This was the horse champion’s first appearance at a show, though its lineage is well-acquainted with the spotlight.
The young Clydesdale is sired by Eskechraggan Ernest, a previous reserve champion of the prestigious Cawdor Cup, while the dam, Ord Envy, is a former champion of champions at the Aberdeen Clydesdale Show and supreme horse at the Black Isle Show.
Reserve interbreed sheep champion from Philip Gill, Duncroft, Wester Raddery. Fortrose
Reserve supreme was the Blue Texel tup lamb, Invercharron Jungle Jim, from Mark Munro, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay.
Inter-breed sheep judge, Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, described her choice of supreme: “He’s a very smart example of the breed with great breed characteristics.”
Pure native cattle champion from Hamish Polson, Rowanfield, Strathpeffer
Mr Munro’s tup lamb topped the any other non-native breed section before being selected as the supreme sheep. He is sired by Walston Great Guns and out of Woods Blues Emerald.
Also in the final lineup was the inter-breed cattle champion from Catherine Anne MacDonald, 131 Torroble, Lairg. The teacher won the overall beef section with the crofter’s champion Daisy, a 10-year-old Limousin cross Aberdeen Angus cow, shown with Limousin cross calf at foot.
Highland champion from Tordarroch Estate, Farr
Overall cattle judge Robert McNee, described his choice of supreme beef as: “A fantastic commercial cow and an excellent example of beef production in the area.”
Shetland champion from –Ian and Lesley Carnagie, Dowmin, Huntly
Commenting on show, president Ewan Cameron said: “It is great to see how the event has grown year on year with an ever-increasing number of trade stands, exhibitors, and visitors. It was a great day out for everyone with a brilliant show of livestock from across Scotland, showcasing the best of sheep, cattle, and horse and pony breeds.”
Shetland champion from Ian and Lesley Carnagie, Dowmin, Huntly
LEADING awards
Pure native cattle (Judge: I Green, Corskie). Champion – H Polson, Rowanfield, Strathpeffer with the Aberdeen Angus cow, Spittal Shore Evora, sired by Blelack Princle Constable, out of a home-bred cow. She was shown with her bull calf Evander, by Blelack Electric. Reserve – Balavil Estate, Kingussie, Inverness with the Aberdeen Angus heifer Balavilhouse Blueberry. Sired by Balavilhouse Royal Era and out of Blelack Blueberry 420. Previous member of the winning pairs at the Black Beauty Bonanza in 2023. Shown by stockman Gerald Joyce. Bull, heifer – Balavil Estate. Cow, heifer in calf, bull calf – H Polson. Junior heifer, pair – S and M Mackenzie, Auchmore.
Pedigree cattle non-native (Judge: I Green). Champion – F Forbes, Little Kildrummie, Nairn with the Simmental heifer Phelma, sired by Glenturk Legend and out of Blackford Kelma. First outing. Heifer – F Forbes. Bull calf – Messrs Robertson, Fodderletter.
@thescottishfarmer Judging starts at a busy Sutherland show. All the results in next week's Scottish Farmer. #sutherlandshow ♬ original sound - The Scottish Farmer
Highland cattle (Judge: G McConachie, Morayshire). Champion – Tordarroch Estate, Farr, Inverness with the two-year-old heifer Taragael 9 of Tordarroch, sired by Macrae Charles of Moal and out of Taragael 3 of Tordarroch. Reserve – Leys Castle Farm, Inverness with the yearling heifer Lora 2 of Leys, sired by Dougald 2 of Leys, out of Lora of Mottistone. Cow, yearling heifer, cow with calf – Leys Castle Farm. Three-year-old heifer, two-year-old heifer – Tordarroch. Pair – H Laing and K Mackenzie, Invergordon.
Commercial cattle (Judge: W Peters, Crieff). Champion and reserve inter-breed champion – M Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch with the home-bred Limousin cross yearling stot Brewdog. The February 2023-born bullock is sired by the Limousin Beachmont Pacman, and out of a homebred cow. Reserve at the Royal Highland Show. Reserve – Fraser Family, Easter Clune Farm, Lethen, Nairn, with Budweiser an October 2023-born Limousin cross steer by Homebyres Nepal. Heifer in calf – G Fraser, Croy. Yearling heifer, yearling stot, pair – M Robertson. Stot under one, calf born 2024 – Fraser Family.
Crofters cattle (Judge: W Peters). Champion and inter-breed beef – C MacDonald, 131 Torroble, Lairg, with a 10-year-old Limousin cross cow. Reserve – I Grant, Seaview Cottage, Gairloch with the 21-month-old Limousin cross British Blue heifer, Cola. Sired by a Limousin cross bull Pluto and out of a homebred cow. Cow, calf, heifer in calf, pair – C MacDonald. Yearling – I Grant.
North Country Cheviot lowground (Judge: T Sinclair, Caithness). Champion – T Smith and M Anderson, West Catchery, Watten, with a four-crop home-bred ewe by a Westerdunnet tup. Reserve – G Johnstone, Hallcroft, Brora with the three-sheer tup, Sebay Chester. Tup, shearling, tup lamb, gimmer, group of three – G Johnstone. Ewe, ewe lamb – T and M Anderson.
North Country Cheviot hill (Judge: S Renwick, Ullapool). Champion and reserve – Badanloch Estate, Kinbrace, with a two-crop ewe taking supreme. Sired by Badanloch Aristocrat and out of a homebred ewe. Reserve was a ewe lamb sired by Langdale Cavalier. Tup, tup lamb wedder lamb – Achentoul Farm. Two-shear tup, ewe – Badanloch. Shearling tup, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – J Mackenzie, Strathnaver.
North Country Cheviot hill crofter (Judge: S Forbes, Banffshire). Champion and reserve – L Matheson, Rhinamain, Bonar Bridge. Supreme was a home-bred four-crop ewe sired by Badanloch Blaze. Reserve was a tup lamb also sired by the Badanloch tup. Aged tup, tup lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – L Matheson. Two shear tup, shearling tup, wedder lamb – A Robertson, Lairg.
Beltex (Judge: A Munro, Fearn). Champion – J Scott and Partners, Fearn Farm, Tain with the gimmer Fearn Jezebel, sired by Lakeview Gerald and out of a Loandhu ewe. Reserve – J Munro and Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay with the ewe Criffel Flower. Sired by Tercrosset Emperor and out of a Heatheryhall ewe. Champion at the Black Isle in 2023. Tup, gimmer, group of three – J Scott. Shearling tup, ewe, tup lamb – J Munro. Ewe lamb – R Munro, Gruids, Lairg.
Texel (Judge: J Green, Morayshire). Inter-breed champion, champion and reserve – P Gill, Duncroft, Wester Raddery, Fortrose. Supreme was a gimmer by Duncryne Frankie Boy out of a homebred ewe. Reserve was a tup lamb by Usk Vale Goliath on its first outing. Tup – A Aird, Cromarty. Shearling tup, ewe, ewe lamb – U Leonardi, Portmahomack. Gimmer, tup lamb – P Gill. Group of three – Bailechaul, Dingwall.
Suffolk (Judge: I Ross, Tain). Champion and reserve – K Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder. Champion was a gimmer by Rosepark Admiral Nelson out of a homebred ewe. Reserve was a tup lamb. All classes – K Gunn.
Shetland (Judge: P Cowan, England). Champion – I and L Carnagie, Dowmin, Huntly with a home-bred shearling tup. Sired by Raedykes Pat and out of Raedykes Dixie. Reserve – E and C Stables, Taigh Sa Choille, Maisley, Keith with the two-shear ewe Drum Dilys. Bred by Rena Douglas, she is sired by Drum Annavale Devilish and out of Drum Georgina. Aged tup, shearling tup, group of three – I and L Carnagie. Ewe, tup lamb – E and C Stables. Gimmer, ewe lamb coloured, – S Morence, Daviot.
Blackface (Judge: D MacGregor, Kilsyth). Champion and reserve – R Flett, Black Park, Croft Cottage, Ardersier. Champion was a ewe lamb by an £18,000 Allanfauld and out of a home-bred ewe by a £15,000 Crossflatt. Reserve was a home-bred one-crop ewe by a £15,000 Crossflatt. Aged tup – R Marshall, Dufftown. Shearling up, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, tup lamb, group of three – R Flett.
Zwartbles (Judge: D Alison, Tain). Champion and reserve – K and W Anderson, Cairnhill, Farr. Supreme was the shearling tup, Janetstown Legacy, sired by Aquila Jumanji and out of Janetstown Juniper. Breed champion at Turriff in 2023. Reserve was the one-crop ewe Janetstown Kelpie also sired by Aquila Jumanji with Janetstown Eynhallow as dam. Aged tup, gimmer, ewe lamb – Messrs Bisset, Evanton. Shearling tup, ewe, group of three – K and W Anderson. Tup lamb – M Etheridge, Fortrose.
Cross sheep (Judge: P Burnett, Tain). Champion and reserve – Lucy and Chloe Anderson, Plewlands, Duffus. Champion was a home-bred two-crop Suffolk cross Texel ewe. Reserve was a Suffolk cross Texel ewe with Beltex cross lambs. Ewe, ewe lamb, ewe with lambs – L and C Anderson. Gimmer – J Smith, Brora.
Any other breed native (Judge: M Ross, Nairn). Champion – T Smith and M Anderson, West Catchery, Watten, Caithness with a one-crop Bluefaced Leicester ewe. Bought as a ewe lamb the sheep is sired by a Lowes Fell tup and out of a Myfyrian ewe. Reserve – D and A Henderson, Maranatha, Daviot with the two-shear Hampshire Down tup, Lecropt Lomand. Sired by Yarcombe Klondye and out of a Lecropt ewe. He was champion at Stirling in 2023. Tup, gimmer, ewe lamb – D and A Henderson. Ewe, tup lamb, group of three – T Smith and M Anderson.
Any other breed continental (Judge: M Ross). Champion – J Munro and Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay with the tup lamb, Invercharron Jungle Jim, sired by Walston Great Guns and out of Woods Blues Emerald. Reserve – A Aird, Glenurquhart, Cromarty, with the Dutch Spotted gimmer, Carlauston Genevieve. Sired by Carlauston Extrovert. First outing. Tup, ewe lamb, tup lamb, group of three – J Munro. Ewe, gimmer – A Aird.
Young handlers (Judge: S Munro, Tain). Under 10yrs MV accredited – Champion – Evalyn Smith, Davochfin Farm, Dornoch. Reserve – Angus Smith, Davochfin Farm, Dornoch. Under 10yrs non-MV – Champion – Sandie Matheson, Rhinamain, Bonar Bridge. Reserve – Sophie Anderson, Plewlands Farm, Duffus, Elgin. 11-16yrs – Champion – Jennifer Aird, Glenurquhart Farm. Reserve – Lucy Anderson, Plewlands Farm.
Clydesdales (Judge: M Ralston, Argyll). Champion, overall horse and champion of champions – E Johnstone, Ord Clydesdales with the yearling filly Ord Tigerlilly, sired by Eskechraggan Ernest, out of Ord Envy. Reserve –S and D Hepburn, Midcoul, with the three-year-old filly Tulloes Jennifer, sired by Doura Geronimo and out of Tulloes Claire. Champion here in 2023. Stallion/colt, gelding, mare – S and D Hepburn. Mare with foal, foal – S Johnstone. Filly – E Johnstone. Young handler – A Hepburn. Ridden – M Maclennan.
Highland pony (Judge: S Clark, Lockerbie). Champion – C Molyneux with the two-year-old gelding George of Meggernie, shown by H Maclennan. Reserve – S Halford, Muirside Steading, Brodie, Forres with the yearling, Drumbrodie Callum. Colt – C Allan. Yearling filly – S Halford. Gelding – C Molyneux. Mare – A Blackburn. Gelding – C McLeod.
Shetland standard pony (Judge - I Spence). Champion – J and R Swan, Teanahaun Croft, Connon Bridge, with the nine-year-old Lady Violet. The pony is a previous winner of the Shetland section of the Royal Highland Show as a three-year-old. Sired by Stow Prefect and by Stow Voilet. Reserve - S Stewart, with the three-year-old filly Hools Seabury. Yearling, Mare – J Swan. Colt – Stewart Family. Under nine handler – L Ogilvie. Under 16 handler – S Ingram.
Shetland miniature pony (Judge – I Spence). Champion – Lochfeelt stud, Dornach, was the six-year-old yeld mare Oxgang Eliquence. Sired by Igor Bertie and by Balgay Keenoodle. Reserve – F Johnstone Glen Ord with the yearling Glenord Thistlewit. Sired by Milday Master Mason and out of Milday Dar-re-mi. Stallion, yearling – F Johnstone. Mare, foal – Phlair stud. Two or three year old – D Findlayson. Four and over – R Macleod. Coloured – C Macleod.
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