ABERDEENSHIRE breeders, Kevin and Veronica Thomson, returned home in style on Saturday when their Clackriach fold, from Maud, produced the supreme senior honours in the Highlanders.
With more entries forward on the year, it was the first bull to enter the ring which produced a personal best for the Thomsons, in the shape of Alasdair of Clackriach, a February, 2016-born AI son of Alasdair 4 of Woodneuk.
Out of Heather 8 of Tordarroch, a dam purchased as a four-year-old with her calf at Oban and which has bred well for the fold, this rising star was previously shown as a calf. 
Runner up for the senior title was regular competitors, Donald and Bryon MacNaughton, of the Rannoch fold, Kelty, Fife. That was Skye of Little Rannoch, a January, 2016-born heifer by Fearghus of Balmoral. Reserve female at Perth and reserve champion at Braco, she is out of Skye 3 of Rannoch. 
HM The Queen’s unregistered nine-month-old bull calf, known at home as ‘Ozzy’, went on to stand champion amongst the juniors. Brought out by stockman, Dochy Ormiston, his is a son of Prionnsa Dubh of Craigowmill, Balmoral’s six-year-old stock bull which stood male champion and reserve overall at this year’s Highland. On his first outing, he is out of Connachat 66 of Balmoral. 
Alan Prentice, from Ravenstruther, had plenty to celebrate when he took both the champion and reserve honours among the females.
Standing reserve in the juniors and female leader was the previously unshown Banrigh 8 of Hyndford, an April-born heifer calf by Alexander of Glengorm. Her dam, Banrigh 3 of Hyndford which is by Jacobite of Benmore, stood overall champion at the Highland in 2015.  

LEADING awards:

(Judge: A Bosomworth, Ormsary Cottages, Lochgilphead, Argyllshire). 

Seniors – Bulls born Feb 5 to April 30, 2016 – 1, senior male and senior champion, V and K Thomson’s Alasdair of Clackriach, by Alasdair 4 of Woodneuk; 2 and reserve senior male, HM The Queen’s Coirneal of Balmoral, by Prionnsa Dubh of Craigowmill; 3, D Logan’s Sesh Mhor of Blairlogan, by Logan of Muingarigh. 
Heifers born Jan 10 to Mar 9, 2016 – 1, senior female and reserve senior, D MacNaughton’s Skye of Little Rannoch, by Fearghus of Balmoral; 2, I Adams’ Peigi Padruaig of Killochries, by Padruaig Dubh of Gilden Vale; 3, J and J Singer’s Cora Dhubh of Applecross, by Aonghas Dubh of Ardbhan. 
Heifers born Mar 16 to Aug 15, 2016 – 1 and reserve senior female, M and S Nairn’s Sidonia 5 of Balnabroich, by Cliadhamph Mor of Balmoral; 2, G Easton’s Elspeth 3 of Dunyat, by Uilleam of Balmoral; 3, G Easton’s Claira of Fubhaidh, by Fergus of Ubhaidh. 
Juniors – Bulls born Jan 10 to Feb 14, 2017 – 1, junior male and junior champion, HM The Queen’s Ozzy, by Prionnsa Dubh of Craigowmill; 2 and reserve junior male, I Adams’ Fergus Dubh of Brathens, by Iain Dubh of Gleann Daidh; 3, D MacNaughton’s Chieftain of Rannoch, by Bein Gael of Earn. 
Heifers born Jan 10 to Mar 4, 2017 – 1, S and R Hunter’s Capleach of Hunters, by Gregor of Ume Brae; 2, M and S Nairn’s Iseabel 3 of Balnabroich, by Cliadhamph Mor of Balmoral; 3, V Thomson’s Heather 1 of Clackriach, by Conall Dubh of Tilbouries. 
Heifers born Mar 8 to April 12, 2017 – 1 and reserve junior female, A Prentice’s June 22 of Hyndford, by Alexander of Glengorm; 2, H Irvine’s Millie Dhubh 2 of Craigluscar, by Angus Dubh of Savalmhor; 3, D Logan’s Ban-Iarla Morag 9 of Blairlogan, by Cliadhamph Mor of Balmoral. 
Heifers born Apr 15 to Apr 27, 2017 – 1, junior female and reserve junior, A Prentice’s Banrigh 8 of Hyndford, by Alexander of Glengorm; 2, S and R Hunter’s Neonag of Hunters, by Gregor of Ume Brae; 3, S and R Hunter’s Bo Peep of Hunters, by Gregor of Ume Brae.