The Scottish Farmer

At last week’s Royal Ulster Winter Fair in Belfast the championship headed off south again – with a fair bit of wind behind it, it has to be said given the prevailing stormy weather conditions.

Scots triumph at Smithfield

A Charolais heifer made history by securing the supreme championship at the inaugural East of England Smithfield Festival, Peterborough, last weekend – the first time a pure Charolais has won the Smithfield title and the first time since 1979 that any pure bred has achieved such a feat.

Felina tops the senior horses at Lothian and Borders

A LAST minute change of judge saw Strathaven’s Allan Steel officiate at the Lothian and Borders Foal Show.

Collessie Pride takes top spot at Forfar

THE FORFAR Foal Show was once again well supported by the north and east Clydesdale contingent.

BB X heifer heads Christmas Classic

A bumper show of quality beef calves met a good trade at the this week’s Aberdeen Christmas Classic, where despite a top price of just £3400 compared to £4600 at last year’s event, overall averages improved by 70p per kg.

Elize leads calves at Black Beauty Bonanza

Champion calf at the 13th Black Beauty Bonanza show of Aberdeen-Angus calves and yearlings at Thainstone was Deveron Elize L348 from Hamish and Margaret Sclater of Denhead of Dunlugas, Turriff.

Lucinda wins again at Stirling

CLYDESDALE HORSE spectators in the warmth of the indoor ring at the Stirling Agricultural Centre’s were spared from any hint of seasonal weather conditions, which have in the past blighted the event and which are renowned for putting a winter edge on the society’s Winter Fair.

Lanark Foal Show win for Steels

It was Jackton’s Mary Rose which took the championship at the Lanark, Biggar and Peebles Foal Show where there was an impressive turnout of foals parading before judges Jim Aitken and Dave Young.

Bumper sheep show won by Texel

A GOOD dry day combined with the opening up of all livestock sections, ensured a bumper turnout of both exhibitors and spectators, at Abington Show, last weekend, where the coveted overall champion of champions accolade was presented to the lead Texel, a home-bred gimmer from first time exhibitors, Gordon and David Gray, who run the Ettrick flock at Selkirk.

Welsh gelding scoops top award at Chapelton

SCOOPING the top award at Chapelton Show was the pony champion from Lauren Watt, West Nerston House, East Kilbride.

Highland Cattle club competition

THE West of Scotland Highland Cattle Club held their annual show last weekend at Pollok Estate, with kind permission from Glasgow City Council.

Molly leads at Lourin Fair

AS THE summer show season draws to an end, Lourin Fair, at Old Rayne, was the penultimate show for Clydesdale exhibitors in the North East before Aberdeen Clydesdale Show.

Porters take three Islay championships

HISTORY WAS made at Islay Show, last week, when one family managed to win all three beef championships that were up for grabs.

Limousin cross wins Orkney County

THE BEEF winner at last week’s County Show, on Orkney, was a home-bred 16-month-old Limousin cross bullock from John and Linda Johnston and their nephew, Derek, of Hewan, Shapinsay.

Mid Argyll ploughs on against the weather

THE ORGANISERS of Mid Argyll Show, in Lochgilphead, literally moved heaven and not a little bit of earth to ensure their show went ahead last weekend.

Duo wins Colmonell

WINNING Colmonell Show’s top prize was the leading beef entry from new British Blue breeders, James Townend and Ben Haigh of Lucewater Blues.

Remember Me leads Peebles Show

AFTER THREATS of cancellation due to the heavy rain last week, Peebles Show went ahead and enjoyed a fine day, with a strong turn out of stock.

Bastille is best at Kinross

SURVIVING THE worst of the weather, Kinross-shire Agricultural Society’s show dawned clear and dry for its 181st event, held once more in the grounds of Kinross House – albeit without the light horse contingent, after the classes were cancelled to maintain optimum conditions underfoot in the grounds of the Fothergill’s new home.

Grantown goes on!

THE STRATHSPEY Farmers’ Club show has long been a real advert for Speyside stockmanship and despite adverse weather in the run up to the event, it’s 2011 Grantown Show proved no different.

Hereford leads at Perth

Dorepoll 1499 Einsteine collected his third beef interbreed supreme title for Balbuthie’s John and Margaret Cameron, when he topped the line-up at the Perth showground, on the city’s South Inch.

Douganhill Texel hat-trick

Douganhill Farms’ Brian MacTaggart and son David, scored at hat-trick at last week’s bumper livestock show at Dumfries, bringing out their third consecutive inter-breed winner amongst the busy sheep lines with yet another home-bred Texel female from this noted Castle Douglas-based flock.

Kintyre’s Blue raider takes supreme

LORN SHOW had another successful event last weekend, with the weather only putting a dampener on things just as the show was clearing up from its bonny site at Dunstaffnage, just outside Oban.

Eva maintains her winning ways

THE WEATHER dampened all but the spirits of the livestock exhibitors on the Black Isle’s main showing day, last Thursday, at Mannsfield Park.

Silver Bell rings up another championship

IT MIGHT be not the biggest show in the world, but it certainly boasts some of the best quality animals around – and that includes a line-up of dairy cows which would dwarf much larger events.

Sun shines on Gail

Torrential rain soon gave way to warm sunshine for the coveted overall champion of champions competition at Stewartry Show, last week, where well-known livestock breeder Muriel Johnston, Courthill, Crocketford, gave the winning slap to the Holstein leader, a massive milky second calver in milk from Brian and Michael Yates’ East Logan herd.

Win proves a Royal Breeze for Holstein

THE 200TH Wigtown Show was certainly a day to remember for spectators and exhibitors alike, with the sun shining and a fleeting visit of the Princess Royal, Princess Anne adding to the momentous occasion.

Craigie Show cancelled

Following torrential rain at the weekend and another full night of heavy rain, last night, the organisers of Craigie Show decided early this morning to cancelled today’s Craigie Show, at Carnell, Hurlford, Kilmarnock.

Cheeklaw Angus makes her mark

EXHIBITORS and spectators were out in force to support last week’s Border Union Show, in Kelso, which not only witnessed national shows for Hereford cattle and Hebridean sheep, but also a glorious day.

Wellhouse leads big dairy turnout at Stranraer

GLORIOUS SUNSHINE prevailed throughout for one of the biggest dairy cattle shows in the country, at Stranraer last week, where Hew and Wilma Howie, Wellhouse, Kirkcolm, dominated most of the proceedings.

Champion success for Pageboy at Banchory

WITH A record attendance and a packed ringside brought out by some topping weather, Banchory Show was a huge success last Saturday.

Clydesdale supreme for Mill at East Kilbride

CHAMPION OF champions at East Kilbride was the Clydesdale from Isle of Bute breeder, John McMillan, Greenan Mill. This was Mill Lady Di, a three-year-old home-bred mare by Dillars Scottie Boy and out of Headowark Brigit. She was champion at the recent Kittochside event.

Natives breeds rule at the Highland

Native breeds ruled supreme in the huge sheep section at the Highland, which saw the Blackface take centre stage followed by it’s nearest rival, the North Country Cheviot in reserve, and the Suffolk and the Mule standing third and fourth, respectively.

Trojan is top beef at Ingliston

The Beef Shorthorn breed leader, the six-year-old stock bull, Trojan of Craigeassie, from Harry Horrell was chosen as the show’s best beef animal at Ingliston, in front of the leading Hereford – Simon and Tim Livesey’s home-bred stock bull, Normanton 1 Eastern Promise.

Rose rules in the dairy lines

In the dairy inter-breed at the Highland Show, the black and white winner just edged out the challenge of the Ayrshire breed leader for supreme.

Amazing Grace tops wet Alyth

Exhibitors and spectators were fairly thin on the ground at a wet, cold Alyth Show, but it the sun was shining on Forfar joiner, Sandy Aitken, who not only won the Clydesdale championship but also the overall champion of champions with his three-year-old mare, Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace.

Highlander wins at Arisaig

THE SUPREME champion of the Road to the Isles Show this year at Arisaig, was the Highland breed champion, Albanach Molach 4 of Glenkinglass, from Mr and Mrs RD Schuster, Duiletter, Glenstrae.

Shorthorn takes Stirling overall title

THE SHORTHORN bull, Podehole Beefeater built well upon his Ayr Show overall beef championship honours when he romped to the top of the beef cattle line-up at Stirling, on Saturday.

Bute boy bags Largs

BUYING A ferry ticket from Bute was a good move for James McAlister of Bruchag last weekend, as his Ayrshire section champion at Largs Show was eventually picked out as the day’s supreme champion.

Sweeping up at Houston

FOR THE first time Houston Show welcomed all comers to its new status as an open show. The move drew in a few new exhibitors, but the top champion of champions award stayed in the West Renfrewshire locality, courtesy of Tom and Sheena Gatherer’s beef leader from Brownsfield, Inchinnan.

Allanfauld Texel stands supreme at Campsie

FOR THE third year in a row Archie and John MacGregor, of Allanfauld, topped the Texel section at Campsie Show, held at Bogton Farm, Torrance – but this year their champion went two steps further than their previous winners when it won not only the sheep interbreed title, but also the champion of champions award for the best animal in the show on the decision of all of the interbreed judges.

Blackface takes supreme at Newmilns

Overall champion of champions at a breezy Loudon and Galston Show was the sheep interbreed champion, the Blackface from Andy Woodburn and Sons, Netherwood, Muirkirk that was Allan Wight’s choice for the overall title.

Holstein triumphs at Fife

Two years ago, James led the line-up with the Ayrshire cow, Middle Mitzys Border Subliem, a third calver in milk, but this year it was the home-bred Holstein, Northshields Matrix Merle Ex90, a fourth calver in milk by Weeton Matrix, that took centre stage.

Poppy shines in the rain at Dalry Show

Torrential rain greeted exhibitors at Dalry Show where the Clydesdale filly Pacemuir Poppy was the judges choice for the supreme title.

Great turnout of stock at the Knapps for Kilmacolm

A FEW heavy showers failed to put the hames on a great turnout of Clydesdales, dairy cows and Highland cattle at Kilmacolm, last Saturday, with the Knapps loch again providing a really classic show scene.

Holstein triumph at busy Ayr Show

Brian Weatherup’s stylish Holstein cow in milk, Parkend Jacob Betsy, from Crossgates, Fife, was crowned supreme champion of champions at a busy Ayr Show which not only attracted a bumper entry of quality dairy stock, but also a first class line-up of beef, sheep and horse winners.

Scots select top sheep at Balmoral

THE TOP sheep at last week’s Balmoral Show, in Belfast, was decided on the last day of the three-day event with the accolade going to a Charollais gimmer shown by Mrs Diane Christie, from Comber, Co Down.

Southern success at Balmoral

A LIMOUSIN cow from a breeder in the south of Ireland has won the inter-breed beef championship at the north's leading agricultural event, the Balmoral Show, held in Belfast this week.

Jennifer takes top award at Catrine

Topping the prime cattle and then the cattle overall on his first time out, the black bullock, bred by Shona Stevenson – formerly Laird – now goes forward to this week’s Ayr Show and then the YF Rally.

Simmental success at Neilston

Local Simmental breeder, David Craig, from Kennox Cottage, Stewarton, went straight to the top at Neilston Show, to win the supreme overall award with his previously unshown cow, Annick Helen’s Tara.

Suffolk tops Dundonald sheep

Topping the sheep section at a quieter than usual Dundonald Show, was a one-crop Suffolk ewe from William Borthwick, Auchinraith, Mauchline, shown by his son, Fraser.

Texel wins supreme overall at Beith

A HOME-bred Texel ewe hogg by a Knock sire on her show debut secured the overall champion of champions accolade at Beith Show, for Robert McInnes and Stuart Heads, Aitkenhead, Fenwick.

Paradise at sunny Ochiltree

FOR THE second consecutive year, Bryce and Robert Sloan’s home-bred Holstein show cow, Townlaw Paradise Midge Ex92, a third calver in milk from Darnlaw, not only secured the overall dairy championship but also the supreme overall at a busy, sunny Ochiltree Show.

Kilmaurs Show kicks off season

Kilmaurs Show kicked off the show season with a bright, breezy, but chilly day, at the Scott Ellis Playing Fields.

A real Lady heads the 150th National Stallion Show

A CENTURY and a half after the inception of the Stallion Show under the Glasgow Agricultural Society banner, the show’s heritage stands ever firm within the Clydesdale horse breed as one of the leading competitions of the year.

Cap the clear nursery winner

Dumfriesshire shepherd, Colin Armstrong, of Moffat, and his Lockerbie bred dog, Cap, won the Scottish Nursery final at Meikleholm.

Kattana Sian lifts supreme title

LIFTING THE overall supreme horse and pony championship at the Royal Northern Spring Show was Lorna Gilbert’s Kattana Sian, winner of the hunters and hack section.

Spring Show sunshine!

FARMERS AND show enthusiasts again turned out in their thousands to support the Royal Northern Spring Show, at Thainstone on Wednesday, in, for once, glorious weather.

Sheep Park’s sixth win in seven years

IT PROVED to be a roll-over year amongst the sheep lines, with Angus Greenlaw, Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly, again winning the prime sheep, while Willie and John Brown, Hilton of Culsh, New Deer, dominated the breeding sheep.

New racehorse trainer for Carluke yard

BELSTANE RACING Stables at Carluke has a new trainer in the form of former top jockey, Keith Dalgleish, who had been acting as assistant to Noel Wilson and latterly Val Donoghue.

Emerald wins last show of foal season

JOHN AND Jaqueline Adamson’s Irish-bred Clydesdale filly foal, Bencannon Emerald, from Glenside Farm, Plean, won both the foal and overall championship at Kilpatrick Foal Show, which was held at Ayr Mart, on Saturday (January 8).

Majestic leads at the Winter Fair

The onslaught of snowy weather conditions certainly served as a deterrent to those making the trip to the equestrian arm of the Scottish National Fatstock Club’s Winter Fair, held at Stirling Market, last weekend, but for those that made it to the market, the quality of competition was not diminished.

Pussy Cat Doll is a Classic winner

IT WAS a classic 21st anniversary present for the Paton and Hunter families at Thainstone this week – they were celebrating with their second double in 21 years of exhibiting at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic, on Tuesday.

Laird success at All-Breeds Calf Show

Scotland’s young Holstein breeders were again to the fore of the All-Breeds All-Britain Calf Show at Stoneleigh Park, last weekend, winning many of the top awards to include the champion Holstein calf and champion showmanship in the black and white section.

May wins by a margin at Yetholm

A steady run from Alex Watson’s May (F McCullough’s Craig, T Henning’s Skye) led the day by a narrow margin at Yetholm. The Mule ewes behaved exceptionally well on a good flat course but handlers found them difficult to pen.

Worth the wait for Woodneuk

NO-ONE WHO attended last weekend’s International Highland cattle show in Glasgow’s Pollok Park will forget the occasion anytime soon, memorable as it was for perhaps the most prolonged judging session ever lavished on a single breed contest.

Highland Gathering

Highland cattle breeders have muddled around for the last century, resulting in the production of exactly the same animal as during the 1880s.

VIDEO Aberdeen Clydesdale Show 2010

VIDEO Campsie Show 2010

Glenkinglass fold triumphs again

THERE WASN’T much glimpse of the nation’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, due to low cloud at this year’s Lochaber Show, but, for the most part, the day held dry for most of the proceedings.

Blackie is best at Muirkirk

The best from a strong show of Blackfaces secured the show supreme spot at the 25th Muirkirk Show, held at Blackside Farm, last weekend.

Galloway wins again at Moffat

Jim and Selina Ross’ well-known Galloway show cow, Doon of Urr Nerys 42, added yet another notch to her belt at Moffat Show, last weekend, when the inter-breed judge, Muriel Johnston, crowned this rising 10-year-old cow champion of champions.

Punk Rocker headlines again

Winning its fifth championship of the year at a sunny Kinross Show, last weekend, was John Tough’s Texel shearling, Aultmore Punk Rocker, which went on to be crowned supreme sheep by judge George Milne, development officer for NSA Scotland.

Babs is best dairy animal at Dumfries

Leading a strong dairy section at Dumfries Show last weekend, was the Holstein, Meiklefirth Empire Babs, winning at Dumfries for the third year in a row.

Texel wins again at Stewartry

For the second consecutive year a home-bred Texel ewe shown by Brian and David MacTaggart, of Douganhill Farms, Castle Douglas, went straight to the top at Stewartry Show, claiming not only the inter-breed sheep but also the supreme overall champion of champions.

Clydesdale wins supreme overall

A bumper show of livestock complete with a new poultry section with more than 600 birds saw Wigtown Show’s coveted overall champion of champions award go to the well-known Clydesdale mare, Hawkhill Katy from Johnny and Jacqueline Adamson.

Treble top for Scottish champions at Gt Yorks

TREBLE TOP Scottish champions in the sheep sections at the Great Yorkshire Show (left to right) Shetland champion from Rena Douglas; Ryeland champion from Susan Bryden and the Jacob champion in the hands of Gordon Connor

Hownam Grange does the double in the sheep lines

Once again North Country Cheviot sheep from Jim and Willie Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso, dominated the proceedings in the inter-breed sheep competition at the Highland, winning the supreme overall with a home-bred gimmer, which the following day teamed up with the male champion from Peebles breeder, Martin Taylor, to secure the trophy for inter-breed pairs.

Coalition seeks EID appeal

BRITAIN’S NEW coalition government has made an early move to win the hearts of the nation’s sheep farmers, using the Royal Highland Show to reveal that it is formally seeking a review of Europe’s controversial sheep EID regulations.

The Royal Highland Show 2010

Horse crowned supreme at Alyth

A “magnificent” Cleveland Bay gelding ruled supreme at Alyth Show, when umpire George Fleming from Aberbothrie, had to brought in as the three inter-breed judges failed to come to a unanimous decision.

Krystie wins Road to the Isles

Numbers in quite a few of the sections were down on the year at this year’s Road to the Isles Show, held near the beach at Camusdarach, near Arisaig, most notably in the commercial cattle and Highland sections.

Simmental and Charollais lead at Angus

In the contest for the overall cattle inter-breed at Angus Show, held in the grounds of Brechin Castle, it was the Simmental leader that prevailed, by amassing the most collective points from all the cattle judges.

Limousin leads cattle at Stirling

A strong turn-out of Limousins produced the overall cattle champion at a busy Stirling Show, last weekend.

Blue do at Straiton

Bluefaced Leicesters from John Kerr’s Craigskean flock from Maybole, led the way at sunny Straiton, last weekend, winning not only the breed championship but also the inter-breed sheep, inter-breed group of three and the coveted overall champion of champions.

Blonde tops Houston

A FORMER Highland Show champion stepped up to the plate to take the champion of champions award at a sun-baked Houston Show which also reported a record show attendance.

Clydesdale leads West Fife

Glorious sunshine, a good turnout of stock and a move to a more central, sheltered location combined to ensure a bumper turnout of spectators for Central and West Fife Agricultural society’s annual show, staged this year at Hilton Farm, Kelty.

Dynamite dominates at Drymen

Tremendous balance was how overall championship judge David Leggat saw his choice of supreme at Drymen, in the commercial beef leader Miss Dynamite.

Black Beauty wins again at Lesmahagow

For the second year in succession, Kevin Watret’s British Blue cow, Solway View Black Beauty collected the champion of champions title at a busy Lesmahagow Show.

Lady Hazel leads at Ayr

Champion of champions at Ayr Show last weekend, was Agnes Jackson’s four-year-old mare, Boat Lady Hazel, a Millisle Perfection daughter, out of the 21-year-old Boat Scottish Lady, that has already won 30 trophies.

Townend wins Scottish silage award

Ayrshire dairy farmers, John Drummond and sons, John, George and Robert, from Townend, Craigie, have come to the fore to win the Scottish Grassland Society’s annual silage trophy with the reserve going to the North of Scotland winner, John Shand, Chapelford, Buckie.

Ayrshire tops bumper Catrine event

A bumper line-up of dairy cattle saw some of the area’s best animals vie for the leading awards at Catrine Show, where the coveted supreme cattle award was presented the champion Ayrshire from father and son Hugh and Grant Woodburn, Killoch, Galston.

Simmental cracker leads the way

AN OUTSTANDING Simmental heifer with a calf at foot led the champion of champions proceedings at a rather cold and blustery Neilston Show, last weekend.

Bonkers best at Beith

The commercial beef champion went onto take show supreme honours at a sunny Beith Show, last weekend.

Kilmaurs kicks off show season

A chilly but dry day welcomed in the first show of the season, Kilmaurs, held at Scott Ellis Playing Fields, Kilmarnock, last weekend.

Paddy powers to the top for Cawdor Cup

SEVEN RESERVE tickets and five decades have past since the last time that the Clark family, of Muirton, in Crieff, lifted the Cawdor Challenge Cup at the National Stallion Show, but a little bit of luck from the Irish brought the family, which has been showing Clydesdale horses for more than a century, the supreme success for 2010.

Cuil wins Bf show

The third annual spring show of Blackface sheep staged at Newton Stewart Auction Mart, attracted a bumper entry of 85 sheep.

All Breeds Dairy Show proves success

Dairy breeders were out in force to support the first National All Breeds Show, at Stoneleigh, which attracted a top quality line up of pedigree cattle from no fewer than six breeds.

Thriller tops Spring Show at Thainstone

HEAVY SNOW showers failed to dampen the spirits of those attending the Royal Northern Spring Show at Thainstone, on Wednesday, which attracted just 500 short of last year’s record breaking 7000+ attendance.

Record entries dispel February blues

The first National All Breeds Dairy show at Stoneleigh, next week, looks set to open with a bang with a record entry of just short of 500 head expected.

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