It was standing room only at the MacRobert Pavilion for the long-awaited YFC results, which saw James Graham of Clyde and Central District take the prestigious Stockman of the Year honours.
Having taken part in stockjudging competitions since the age of 14, and now 26, James has undoubtedly earned his way to the top, having previously been placed second and third. He has also been a member of the winning team on no fewer than five separate occasions: the sheep pairs three times, individual sheep winner, and member of the junior team in 2015.
James works on the family farm at Blair Drummond, Stirling, which is home to 700 ewes of Blackface, Mule and Bluefaced Leicester breeds alongside 80 pedigree Limousins, a smaller herd of Galloways, and a further 120 milking Holsteins.
“It was amazing to win. I’ve tried for so long and knowing I only had two years left to win encouraged me to put pressure on myself,” he said, speaking to The Scottish Farmer.
“It was fantastic to have all my friends and family around with all the support they have given me. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. My brother John won back in 2015. He was the last person from Clyde and Central to win, making the achievement more significant for me and the team.
“I would like to give a special thanks to Katreen Malone and Dye Clark for training me over the last two years and all the fellow competitors for creating such healthy competition – long may it continue.”
Just one point behind James’ score of 635 was Robbie Meikle from Lanarkshire, with a total of 634 points, with the third position awarded to David Smith from Ayrshire, who accumulated 621 points.
Ayrshire team A claimed the Glasgow Herald Trophy – awarded for the best senior stockjudging team which comprised Andrew Struthers, Cameron McGregor, Daniel Hodge, Harry Bell, David Smith and Scott Anderson, who racked up 1620 points.
David Smith and Scott Anderson followed on to lift the award for the best pair in the sheep section, with Andrew Struthers and Cameron McGregor taking the dairy pairs trophy.
Best pair in the beef section went to Lanarkshire’s Alan Lindsay and Charlie Craig.
Second place in the teams was Clyde and Central A, made up of Murray Steel, Nicole Kinloch, Logan Ross, Stephen Taylor, Andrew Morton and James Graham, who finished with 1508 points.
Third position was claimed by Lanarkshire A, comprising Mark Bryson, Robbie Meikle, Jane Lindsay, Amy Lindsay, Amy Laird and Kim Laird with a close 1500 points.
Top spot among the juniors went to Euan Stark from Clyde and Central on 283 points with Ayrshire’s own Rory Scott in second with 271 points and Lanarkshire’s Ben Graham in third with 264 points.
The Lawrie and Symington Salver, presented to the lead junior stockjudging team, was presented to Clyde and Central A, made up of Jessie MacDougall, Thomas Crawford and Euan Stark on 759 points.
Ayrshire’s talent shone through as team B (753), including Scott Gray, Paul Smith and Amy Scott, came a close second and Rory Scott, Neil Hodge and Kyle Scott of team A (732) taking third.
The SAYFC sheep shearing competition was another event not to be missed and saw Duncan Adams of Mearns JAC take the lead, with Ben Wight of Biggar YFC again taking second, and Mitchell McGillivray from Keith YFC in third position.
The handicrafts competition, which was displayed at the Young Farmers Centre, saw Peebleshire win the junior section which was based on a ‘Four Seasons’ theme.
The seniors worked to a subject matter of ‘Scottish Inventions’, and was won by Kilmaurs.
As a special competition in honour of RHET’s ‘Year of All Things Dairy’, members were also inspired to decorate a milk churn.
Winning for the juniors was Thomas Young from East Lothian YFC, joined at the top by senior victor Jan King from East Kilbride YFC. Following on in the seniors were Hayle-Jo Stephen of East Kilbride YFC and Joanne Hall from Carluke YFC, winning the blue and yellow ribbons respectively.
Harray YFC were also recognised for their efforts within the districts, regions, and community, going on to win the Club of the Year award. Placed second was West Renfrewshire YFC, with third presented to Forss YFC.
Crowds cheered around the cattle rings to support members during the tug of war competition. Their encouragement during the men’s event did the trick for Biggar YFC. Runners-up were Crossroads YFC, with SSS YFC taking third.
Kilmaurs YFC took pole position in the ladies’ section, with Strathbogie JAC following and Angus Tayside Purple in third.
Leading Awards
Junior arts and crafts – Four seasons – 1, Peeblesshire (Hannah Hunter, Freya Harrison and Jenna Dodds); 2, Mauchline (Mhairi McFadzean, Beth Robertson, Chiera McMillian-Grant and Katie Watson); 3, Stranraer and Rhins (Lucy Robinson, Harriet Richardson, Amy Stewart and Molly Coulter).
Special prizes junior arts and crafts – Greeting card – Hannah Hunter, Peeblesshire. Knitted bobble hat – Beth Robertson, Mauchline. Item made from recycled materials – Freya Harrison, Peeblesshire. Further article – Sarah McNae, Ayr. Appearance and display – Karrie McHarg and Sarah McNae, Ayr.
Senior arts and crafts – Scottish inventions – 1, Kilmaurs (Grace Gillan, Beth Kerr, Karen Shepherd, Emily Burns and Karen Foster); 2, Peeblesshire (Erin Greenhow, Freya Harrison, Jamie Webster, Mhairi Stewart, Emma Gray and Kirsty Smellie); 3, Vale of Alford (Sally Glennie, Isla Glennie, Ellen Glennie, Angela Webster).
Special prizes senior arts and crafts – Sewn article – Moven Gutherie, Mauchline. Marmalade – Iona Irving, Stranraer and Rhins. Scottish souvenir – Karen Shepherd, Kilmaurs. Tablet – Joanne Kerr, Ayr; Floral exhibit – Elspeth Walker, Kinneff. Further article – Karen Shepherd, Kilmaurs. Appearance and display – Lisa and Sean Dunbar, Avondale.
Craftsmanship – Junior – 1, Grant Dickie, Crossroads; 2, Greg Bain, Callander.
Craftsmanship – Senior – 1, Andrew Beattie, Forfar; 2, Ellen Glennie, Vale of Alford; 3, Lisa Dunbar, Avondale.
Junior photography – Milk – 1, Archie McKie, Stranraer and Rhins; 2, Logan McKie, Stranraer and Rhins; 3, Archie McKie, Stranraer and Rhins.
Senior photography – Milk – 1, Emma Nicol, Beith; 2, Abbie Baillie, Biggar; 3, Jill Strang, East Kilbride.
Special competition – Junior - Decorated milk churn in honour of RHET’s ‘Year of All Things Dairy’ - Thomas Young, East Lothian.
Special competition – Senior – 1, Jan King, East Kilbride; 2, Hayley-Jo Stephen, East Kilbride. 3, Joanne Hall, Carluke.
Club of the Year – 1, Harray; 2, West Renfrewshire; 3, Forss.
Sheep shearing – Blackface – 1, Ben Wight, Biggar: 2, Mitchell McGilivray, Keith. 3, Eilidh Little, Callander.
Sheep shearing – Mules – 1, Cameron Armstrong, Biggar; 2, Duncan Adams, Mearns; 3, Chloe Cormack, Ettrick and Lauderdale.
Sheep shearing championship – 1, Duncan Adams, Mearns; 2, Ben Wight, Biggar; 3, Mitchell McGillivray, Keith.
Tug of war – Ladies – 1, Kilmaurs; 2, Strathbogie; 3, Angus Tayside Purple.
Gents – 1, Biggar; 2, Crossroads; 3, SSS.
Junior team stockjudging – 1, Clyde and Central A, 759 (Jessie MacDougall, Thomas Crawford, Euan Stark); 2, Ayrshire B, 753 (Scott Gray, Paul Smith, Amy Scott); 3, Ayrshire B, 732 (Rory Scott, Neil Hodge, Kyle Scott).
Junior individual stockjudging – 1, Euan Stark, Clyde and Central, 283; 2, Rory Scott, Ayrshire, 271; 3, Ben Graham, Lanarkshire, 264.
Senior pairs stockjudging – Dairy – Ayrshire, 574 (Andrew Struthers and Cameron McGregor). Beef – Lanarkshire, 546 (Alan Lindsay and Charlie Craig). Sheep – Ayrshire, 510 (David Smith and Scott Anderson).
Senior individual stockjudging – Dairy – Cameron McGregor, Ayrshire, 288. Beef – Jack Young, Lanarkshire, 281. Sheep – Scott Anderson, Ayrshire, 266.
Senior team stockjudging – 1, Ayrshire A, 1620 (Andrew Struthers, Cameron McGregor, Daniel Hodge, Harry Bell, David Smith and Scott Anderson); 2, Clyde and Central A, 1508 (Murray Steel, Nicole Kinloch, Logan Ross, Stephen Taylor, Andrew Morton and James Graham); 3, Lanarkshire A, 1500 (Mark Bryson, Robbie Meikle, Jane Lindsay, Amy Lindsay, Amy Laird and Kim Laird).
Stockman of the Year – 1, James Graham, Clyde and Central (635); 2, Robbie Meikle, Lanarkshire (634); 3, David Smith, Ayrshire (621).
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