The Spence family of Norton secured their third win on the trot in the cattle lines at Dounby, by taking not only the inter-breed prize but also the reserve supreme, in a line-up that many remarked was as good as they had seen at the show in many years.
There was plenty of discussion between the trio of inter-breed judges – local breeders Phyllis Harcus and Malcolm Lennie, and Alyth’s Walter Wylie – when selecting the special prize recipients but there was perhaps less debate about what the overall winner should be.
Doing the business for Norton was the February 2023-born Charolais heifer Dounby Unique, by the 7000gns Fury Leader and out of Dounby Nancy, which herself was the reserve champion in the pure-bred continental section.
Allan Spence praised her for improving the herd: “The cow that I have here today is really at the backbone of the Charolais I have. She maybe isn’t the biggest and best cow to look at but she has really bred well for me.
“She was the mother of Ruth that won last year and the mother of the one that won here today. She is really doing a good job for me.”
Judge Mr Wylie said she was a ‘very well-balanced heifer with tremendous character, and ‘tremendous on her legs’.
The Spences’ reserve supreme had earlier come through the cross-bred classes. This was the 17-month-old Charolais cross heifer Dounby Gingersnap, by the home-bred bull Dounby Maverick and out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow.
Despite the weather being miserable as the livestock was unloaded in the morning, it turned in to a fairly decent, dry day for the second biggest of Orkney’s agricultural shows with a bit of wind to keep the animals cool and even the odd glimpse of sunshine.
In the sheep lines, Raymond Flaws of Nisthouse in Evie, who has significantly cut back his numbers in recent years, proved that he still has the quality among his flock, scooping the supreme with a Beltex gimmer. She is sired by the 3500gns Hackney Gerwyn and out of an Airyolland Avicii-sired dam.
Reserve went to another veteran breeder, Elsie Wishart, of Newbigging in Harray, with a North Country Cheviot ewe lamb by Bardnaclavan Dunkirk out of a Durran Xiamen-sired ewe.
A Shetland pony stallion from the Millquoy stud that had success at the Royal Highland Show in June was the overall winner in the horse and pony section. Millquoy Jedi, a six year-old was the reserve male champion at Ingliston as well as the overall champion in Dounby last year. He is by Drum Premier and out of Millquoy Jade – a former winner here.
Leading Awards
Beef Shorthorn (Judge: Phyllis Harcus, Messigate, Tankerness, Orkney). Champion – B and S Slater, Newbigging, Dounby, with the three-year-old bull Knowehead Rolo, by Knowehead Machine, out of Knowhead Hazel Cassa. Reserve – Laga Farms Ltd, Evie, with the six-month-old bull calf Laga’s Untouchable, by the 7000gns Coxhill Pioneer, out of Laga’s Narnia.
Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: Phyllis Harcus). Champion – G and C Flett, Leary, Birsay, with Leary Lady Diana, by Haymount War Smith, out of Ballathie Ladybird. Reserve – B and S Slater, Newbigging, Dounby, with Newbigging Elma a March 2022-born heifer, by Newbigging Esquire, out of Newbigging Ella.
Cross-bred coloured (Judge: W Wylie, Cambridge View, Alyth, Perthshire). Champion – Messrs Spence, Norton, Dounby, with the 17-month-old Charolais cross heifer Dounby Ginger Snap, by Dounby Maverick, out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow. Reserve – RJ Taylor, Brencherhouse, Birsay with an eight-month-old Limousin cross heifer calf, by Tweeddale Oh Boy, out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow.
Any other pure breed continental (Judge: W Wylie). Champion and reserve – Messrs Spence, Norton, Dounby with the 18-month-old heifer Dounby Unique, by Fury Leader, out of Dounby Nancy. The reserve was the six-year-old cow Dounby Nancy, by Skaill Elite, out of Dounby Jet.
Black/Blue cross (Judge: M Lennie, Seaview, Sanday). Champion and reserve – L Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness with Simone, a seven month-old Limousin cross calf, by Procters Orion, out of a Limousin cross cow. The reserve was Mimi, a seven month-old Limousin cross heifer calf, by Powerhouse Italic, out of a Limousin cross cow.
North Country Cheviot (Judge: J Mackay, Biggins, Killimister, Wick). Champion – Elsie Wishart, Newbigging, Harray with a ewe lamb, by Bardnaclavan Dunkirk, out of a Durran Xiamen sired ewe. Reserve – LS Flett and Co, Nistaben, Harray/Garson Farms, Sandwick/Elsie Wishart, Newbigging, Harray with an aged tup.
Suffolk (Judge: A Coghill, Skinnet, Halkirk, Caithness). Champion – H Reid, Howe, Stromness, with a ewe lamb, out of a ewe bought from Ivan Scott. Reserve – TA Linklater, Stonelea, Stenness with a ewe by Limestone Legacy, out of a Crewelands Megastar-sired ewe.
Texel (Judge: A Dunlop, Corstane, Broughton, Biggar). Champion and reserve – LS Flett and Co., Nistaben, Harray with a two-crop ewe by Garngour Drambuie, out of an Allanfauld I’m The Man-sired ewe. Reserve was a ram lamb.
Charollais (Judge: A Coghill). Champion and reserve – Sheena Coghill, Muce, Birsay with a one-crop ewe, by Thackwood Viking, out of a home-bred ewe that was Orkney County Show champion last year. Reserve was a ram lamb.
Beltex (Judge: A Dunlop). Champion – R Flaws, Nisthouse, Evie, with a gimmer, by Hackney Gerwyn, out of an Airolland Avicii ewe. Reserve – Bimbister Partnership, Lenahowe Sandwick, with a ram lamb.
Any other pure breed (Judge: J Mackay). Champion – Bimbister Partnership, Lenahowe, Sandwick with the Blue Texel gimmer Orkney Elena, by Matt’s Gaffer, which bred the Blue Texel reserve champion at the Royal Highland, out of a Turbo Blue ewe. Reserve – Tamarah-Ann Ritch, Feaval, Sandwick, with a ram lamb.
Cross-bred (Judge: A Coghill). Champion – Sheena Coghill, Muce with a home-bred Beltex cross ewe. Reserve – R Wood, Brekka, Quoyloo with a gimmer.
Horses and ponies – Champion – Millquoy Shetland Pony Stud, Heddle Cottage, Finstown with the five-year-old Shetland stallion Millquoy Jedi, out of Millquoy Jade. Overall champion at Dounby last year and in 2019. Reserve – S and H Nixon, Mill Cottage, Stenness with the ridden horse Tigernach Hartson Bruadar.
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