ALL four top places in the annual McIntosh Donald/Tesco best Scotch steak competition at the Royal Highland Show went to North-east beef producers.
The top award went to Gray and Noel Gall, of Home Farm, Kininmonth, Mintlaw, with a steak from a 300kg home-bred Limousin cross heifer which classified -U4L and was, according to McIntosh Donald site director, Alan McNaughton, a clear winner. 
Competition for the next three places was intense, but the runner-up award went to Robert Mann, Bellfield, Kingswells, with a 332kg Charolais cross bullock (-U3), while a 360kg Aberdeen-Angus cross (R4L) from John Troup, Southbank, Skene, was placed third. A 336kg Beef Shorthorn cross steer (R4L) from Ann Malcolm, Hardhillock, Maryculter, was came fourth.
The other finalists included D Budge, Brae Edge, Castletown, Caithness; M and I Steel, Wickerinn, Banchory; Ellis and Keir, Cairncoullie, Glenkindie; C Nicol and Son, Westerford, Skene; D and A Bruce, Dorsell, Alford; G Robertson, Tillyorn, Corse, Lumphanan; Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Elgin; and L Grubb, Ardallie, Mintlaw.
The steaks selected for grilling and tasting were from the sirloins of 12 carcases whittled down from an entry of 150 cattle at McIntosh Donald’s Portlethen meat plant, at the end of May.