YOUNG Farmers from the North Region entertained another large crowd at their annual talent competition, Northern Spotlights, held at ANM’s Thainstone Exchange, Inverurie, last Saturday.
The event, hosted by current north chairwoman, Lynne Macarthur, saw five teams take to the stage, each performing a jam-packed 10-minute sketch, with acts ranging from Strichen’s bull that wasn’t working right to Echt giving an insight into what really happens at their show dance!
“It was a great show with lots of enthusiasm and great acting. Still in its infancy, the competition is coming on great,” said Mrs Anne Hamilton, a previous producer for Carluke YFC, who judged the competition alongside Miss Anne Dickinson and Allan Grant.
The 2017 winners was Mid Deeside and Vale of Alford with their ‘Half baked’ performance that scored 89 points. Their show, produced by cast members, featured an interesting version of ‘The Great British Bake Off’, with all time favourite Mary Berry (Catherine Urquhart) having firstly gone missing after a night out in Inverurie’s nightclub, Edwards.
Second on 88 points was Turriff JAC’s ‘CS Aye: Murder at Ingliston’. Written by club member, Neil Stephen, and accompanied by Robert Auchnie, it showcased a sheep murder in the judging pens at the Highland Show, with Douglasbrae roped in to take it away!
Finishing in third place in a second consecutive year, on 84 points, was Deveron and Speyside District with the action-packed ‘Cindi and the Munters’, which included Cindi herself ‘elbow deep’ in a ewe. Their performance was  produced by Iain MacDonald.
Celebrations continued for Turriff JAC when Murray Stephen (Inspector Clueless) was placed best act outwith the winning team, with Deveron and Speyside’s Ellie Robertson in reserve.