Aberdeen-Angus breeders were out in force at Thainstone Centre last week, for the annual Black Beauty Bonanza show of calves and yearlings, which attracted just shy of 100 entries from 28 leading herds throughout Scotland.
The event, organised by the North-east Aberdeen-Angus Club, was judged by Alistair Clark, who runs 60 pedigree Aberdeen-Angus and Beef Shorthorn females in the well-known Duncanziemere herd, based at Cumnock, Ayrshire.
“It was an excellent show of cattle with the first three or four in each class being outstanding,” said Mr Clark. “This is a terrific event to showcase Aberdeen-Angus and one that is exceptionally run by the organisers and stewards.”
Mr Clark was tasked with judging 12 individual classes, before selecting his various champion and reserve winners from each section.
First to take a red, white and blue sash was the first entry in the catalogue from Stephanie Dick, Westerton Farm, Stirling, who runs her own pedigree Aberdeen-Angus herd alongside the family’s well-known Ronick Limousin herd.
This was Stephick Emilie Y258, a January-born daughter of Retties JFK, out of Stephick Emilie V563.
She was on her third outing, having already scooped two first prize tickets at Borderway Agri Expo and Stars of the Future Calf Show.
It was a particularly good day for the Ballindalloch team when their four animals forward all scooped first prize tickets and went on to triumph in the championships.
Taking reserve champion in the heifer calf section for David and Susan Johnstone, who manage the estate’s 90 Aberdeen-Angus, was Ballindalloch Fleur Y662, an April-born calf by Wedderlie Timaru, out of Ballindalloch Flora.
Minutes after, the herd won the yearling heifer championship with Ballindalloch Pam X619, a February, 2021-born daughter of Ballindalloch Earl. She is out of Ballindalloch Pev, a previous Black Beauty Bonanza winner, and stood first in her class at both Nairn and Grantown.
The herd’s March, 2021-born bull Ballindalloch Mr Punch X628, was awarded the reserve yearling bull championship ticket, before teaming up with Ballindalloch Pam X619 to win reserve in the yearling pairs.
Mr Punch will be the first of two sons of Varis Punch from the Ballindalloch herd to be offered for sale at Stirling Bull Sales in February.
Father and son team, Neil and Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, are never far away from the tickets and this year was no exception as they landed yearling bull champion, while Mark’s cousin Craig Coutts, took reserve in the yearling heifers.
Landing the top honours in the bulls was Tonley King Paco X812, a March, 2021-born son of the successful Tonley Jester Eric, which has bred sons to 17,000gns and heifers to 20,000gns.
Bred out of Wall Kind Pride, this lad will be up for sale at Stirling in February.
Reserve in the yearling heifers for cousin Craig, was Tonley Annie X866, by Tonley Jester Eric, which paired up with the bull champion to win the yearling pairs.
Amongst the bull calves, it was Kilmallie Juggernaut Eric Y389, from Ewen Campbell, Steall, Fort William, which took the champion ticket, ahead of Gordon Profit Y814 from the Gordon Brooke Estate, in the Scottish Borders.
In the pairs of calves, Cardona Jeweliot Eric Y399 and Cardona Ermus Y354 from Robbie Galloway’s herd near Bridge of Allan, stood champion, having won the reserve native pairs at Stars of the Future.
Taking the reserve honours in the pairs of calves was Gordon Pole Star Y763 and Gordon Profit Y814, from the Gordon Brooke Estate.
A new shield in memory of well-known freelance stockman Ian Matthew, who passed away in June, was presented by his widow Brenda, to the senior stockman winner Graeme Rhind from Newton of Struthers, Kinloss, Forres.
LEADING awards
Heifer calves – Senior – 1 and champion heifer calf, S Dick’s Stephick Emilie Y258, by Retties JFK M195; 2, Mosston Muir Farm’s Mosston Muir Ivy Y431, by Balmachie Ranald; 3, Mr and Mrs H Thomson’s Tynet Duchess Y116, by Thrunton Poldark. Intermediate – 1, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Miss Paloma Y658, by Varis Punch; 2, HW Sclater’s Deveron Jasmine Erica Y833, by Rawburn Braw Lad; 3, NA Wattie’s Tonley Ester Y928, by Tonley Jester Eric. Junior – 1 and reserve heifer calf, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Fleur Y662, by Wedderlie Timaru; 2, A and K Rhind and Son’s Newton-Struthers Espresso Y649, by Idvies Ed; 3, Trustees of the Late Gordon R Brooke’s Gordon Pole Star Y763, by Cheerbrook Profit. Baby – 1, R Gardiner and C Smart’s Newton Muchalls Nutmeg Y112, by Gretnahouse Florian; 2, NA Wattie’s Tonley Princess Y954, by Blelack Lord Heartford; 3, G Massie’s Tillybin Evora Y001, by Kilmaluag Eriskay.
Yearling heifers – 1 and yearling heifer champion, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Pam X619, by Ballindalloch Earl; 2 and reserve yearling heifer, NA Wattie’s Tonley Annie X866, by Tonley Jester Eric; 3, AN Calcott and Son’s Blelack Beautiful Lady X150, by Rodmead Primero R746.
Bull calves – Senior – 1, S Dick’s Shadwell Fleetwood Mac Y298, by Shadwell Evolution; 2, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Eli Y810, by Blelack Prince Cooper; 3, H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Ambrose Y956, by Wester Fearn Bert. Intermediate – 1, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Eric Y815, by Tonley Jester Eric; 2, H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Edwin Y970, by Blelack Pure Coal; 3, HW Sclater’s Deveron Jura Eric Y834, by Rawburn Braw Lad. Intermediate – 1 and bull calf champion, EM Campbell’s Kilmallie Juggernaut Eric Y389, by HF Rebel; 2, A and K Rhind and Son’s Newton-Struthers Eldorado Y648, by Idvies Ed; 3, AM Shepherd’s Orbliston Black Bonanza Y271, by Schivas Methlick Boy. Junior – 1, AN Calcott and Son’s Blelack Hill Blue Lightening Y006, by Kilmaluag Eriskay; 2, Mr and Mrs H Thomson’s Tynet Picasso Y123, by Warrenho Dalmigavie. Baby – 1 and reserve bull calf, Trustees of the late Gordon R Brooke’s Gordon Profit Y814, by Cheerbrook Profit; 2, J Robert Galloway’s Cardona Jeweliot Eric Y399, by Stouphill Mr Peroni; 3, J Robert Galloway’s Cardona Edwin Y417, by Stouphill Mr Peroni.
Yearling bulls – Senior – 1 and yearling champion bull, NA Wattie’s Tonley King Paco X812, by Tonley Jester Eric; 2, AJR Farms’ Logie Prince Philip X205, by Cardona Jeweliot Eric; 3, GC McConachie’s Culfoichmore Rascal X992, by Blelack Lord Herbert. Junior – 1 and reserve yearling bull, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Mr Punch X628, by Varis Punch; 2, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Lord Incubus X753, by Wolflaw Proud Ironbrew; 3, Trustees of the Late Gordon R Brooke’s Gordon Pistol Pete X751, by Rawburn Makka Pakka.
Stockmanship (Judge: Mrs S Johnstone)
Junior – 1, Emily Gordon; 2, Blair Myles; 3, Willow Henderson.
Intermediate – 1, Grant Rhind; 2, Finlay Hunter; 3, Andrew Reid.
Senior – 1, Graeme Rhind; 2, James MacIver; 3, Hannah Lorimer.
Bonanza females reach 10,000gns
A top price of 10,000gns was paid at the inaugural sale of Aberdeen-Angus females held on the evening of the Black Beauty Bonanza at Thainstone,.
Held in conjunction with the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club, Dowbiggin Marketing and Aberdeen and Northern Marts, seven of the 12 animals forward sold to new homes across the UK.
Sale topper was Stephanie Dick’s January-born calf named Stephick Emilie Y258, which is by Retties JFK and out of Stephick Emilie V563. She sold south to Daniel Cooke, Blackrod, Bolton, who had travelled up specially to purchase her.
Neil and Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, received 5200gns for their third prize winning heifer calf, Tonley Ester Y928.
This March-born youngster is backed with the best of genetics, being a daughter of the successful breeder Tonley Jester Eric, and a maternal granddaughter of a previous Tonley Ester, which has bred sons to 13,000gns, 10,000gns and 7000gns.
The buyers were AN Calcott and Son, the new Aberdeen-Angus breeders at Blelack, Dinnet, near Aboyne.
Hugh Thomson, chairman of the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club, and his wife Cara, from South Ardoyne, near Insch, received 4000gns for a February-born heifer calf when sold to J Elrick, Kiltry Knock, Alvah, Banff.
This was Tynet Duchess Y116, the first daughter of Thrunton Poldark to be sold, out of Ardoyne Daydream Duchess.
Two animals made 3000gns apiece. First was Neil and Mark Wattie’s 29-month-old heifer, Tonley Emily W770 which sold due to calf in April to Gretnahouse Krack Light W221. Another by Tonley Jester Eric, out of a Rawburn Edge-sired dam, she sold to Peterhead with AM Henderson, Yonderton, Hatton.
The other at 3000gns was the January-born, Mosston Muir Ivy Y431 from Alan Rennie, Guthrie, Forfar, which stood second in her class earlier in the day. Sired by Balmachie Ranald, and out of Mosston Muir Ina, she sold across the water to C McBrien, Enniskillen, Fermanagh, who was buying online.
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