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.

It’s the haltered calf show that always proves the biggest crowd puller though and this year was no exception, especially when John Robertson and his son Craig, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, ran away with three out of the top four awards.

Taking all the plaudits was Thriller, an 18-month-old Limousin cross heifer bred by Dermott Small, Ireland, which scaled in at 608kg. Bought privately at the Winter Fair last year after standing junior champion heifer, she was shown by Cameron Sinclair while young Craig showed the remainder of the winning team. Thriller is by the top Limousin sire, Ronick Hawk and out of Pastelle, a pedigree British Blue cow.

While the Robertsons never presented the supreme champion for sale, opting to retain her as a breeding female, they also sold the two top priced calves at £3800 and £3000.

Dearest was the reserve overall champion, an eight-month-old home-bred black Limousin cross heifer by Craigatoke Butch, out of a British Blue cross cow. She passed the weighbridge at 344kg and sold to Wilson Peters, The Cuilt, Monzie, Gilmerton, Crieff.

The reserve overall bullock was Tommy Zoom, a home-bred Limousin cross steer from first time exhibitor Drew Hyslop, who although better known for bringing out leading Limousin bulls as stockman for Robert Graham, Stirling, was showing in his own right from the family home at Balluskie, Barrhill, Girvan. His 13-month-old calf by Shatton Pedro and out of a Charolais cross heifer that was heavy heifer champion at the Winter Fair in 2007, was retained for further showing by the Hyslop family.

Overall, 31 show cattle sold to average £1244.84 per head or 289p per kg. The 15 heifer calves cashed in at £1310 or 322p per kg while the 16 steer calves sold levelled at £1183.75 or 260p per kg.