Princess Royal stars at Sutherland

Leading the field, for ELM Laing, Westerfearn, Ardgay, was the home-bred seven-year-old Aberdeen-Angus cow, Westerfearn Princess Royal, by Belhaven Tabernacle. She first scooped the native cattle honours, supreme cattle title and ended the day as champion of champions.

Inter-breed sheep was the commercial champion, a one-crop Suffolk cross Texel ewe with twin cross Texel lambs at foot from Gavin and Norma Breathet, Woodside Croft, Blackpark, Ardersier. She was bought as a lamb and was on her first outing.

Alexander Manson, Upper Bogrow, Edderton, took the native horse inter-breed championship with his Highland champion, Scaraben Eilidh Donn, a four-year-old mare by Scaraben Runa, being shown for the first time, with the reserve supreme going to the lead Shetland in the miniature pony, Hjatland Lily, a six-year-old mare from E and S Knight, St Catherines Cross, Fearn.

LEADINGawards

Pure native breed (Judge: D Leslie, Redhill Farm, Elgin). Champion, inter-breed beef and overall champion of champions – ELM Laing, Westerfearn, Ardgay, with Westerfearn Princess Royal, a seven-year-old, in-calf, Aberdeen Angus cow, by Belhaven Tabernacle. Reserve – TJ and G Maclean, 1 Raddery, Fortrose, with the Raddery Esprit IT 205, a 16-month-old Aberdeen Angus bull by Deveron Master Bambury, destined for the breed sale at Stirling sale in October. Bull, yearling heifer, pair – TJ and G MacLean. Cow, heifer in calf, bull calf – ELM Laing.

Pedigree cattle (Judge: D Leslie). Champion – WJ and J Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers, with the 15-month-old Simmental bull, Corskie Infinity by the 45,000gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie. Reserve junior male at the Royal Highland Show. Reserve – M Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with the 11-month-old Limousin bull calf, Fodderletter Nimrod by Spittalton Gold. Senior continental bull, cow, cow with calf – W Hendry, Ordhill Farm, Longmorn, Elgin. Junior continental bull, yearling heifer, pair –WJ and J Green. Heifer in calf – Sarah Balfour, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul. Heifer calf – JM and SM Anderson, Cloy Farm, Fortrose. Bull calf – M Robertson. YFC calf – Laura Green, Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Moray.

Highland cattle (Judge: T Sample, Edinburgh). Champion – Tordarroch Estates, Farr, Inverness, with the two-year-old home-bred heifer Heather of Tordarroch, by Hamish of Knockdon. Reserve – Leys Castle Farm, Leys Castle, Inverness, with the two-year-old bull, Duke The 11 of Leys, by Jock of Lyntoun. Reserve male champion at North of Scotland Club show and reserve male at Grantown and Black Isle shows, last year. Bull, pair – Leys Castle Farm. Three-year-old heifer, yearling heifer, pair – Allanfearn Highlanders, Newhouse, Heights of Inchvannie, Strathpeffer. Two-year-old heifer, cow with calf, calf, heifer calf under 1year – Tordarroch Estates.

Commercial (Judge: D Macarthur, Mid Fleenas, Nairn). Champion – D Morrison, Burnside, Kinlochbervie, with Amari, a yearling cross Limosin heifer. Reserve – M Munro, Invercharron Farms, Ardgay, with Baby Shambles, a 10-month-old home-bred Limousin heifer calf by Bailea Cavalier. Cow, heifer calf, stot calf, 2018-born calf – M Munro. Yearling, pair – D Morrison. Heifer in calf – J and D Fraser, Easter Clune Farm, Lethen, Nairn. YFC calf – Georgia Fraser, Little Croy Farm, Croy, Inverness.

Crofters cattle (Judge: D Macarthur). Champion – D Morrison, with a cross Limousin yearling stot. Yearling, pair –D Morrison. Cow, cow with calf – W Kennedy, 189 Fleuchary, Dornoch.

North Country Cheviot lowground (Judge: A Swanson, Tister, Halkirk). Champion – A Polson, Smerlie, Lybster, with a four-crop home-bred ewe by Durran Prospector. Reserve – K and R Sutherland, 24 Sinclair Square, Halkirk, with an April-born tup lamb by Smerlie Vanwinkle. Tup, shearling, ewe – A Polson. Tup lamb, group of three – K and R Sutherland. Gimmer – A Mackay, South Balkeith Farm, Tain. Ewe lamb – G Cormack and Sons, Wester Dunnet, Thurso.

North Country Cheviot hill farmers (Judge: J Sutherland, Durness). Champion – Badanloch LLP, Kinbrace, with a home-bred gimmer by North Loch Naver Nomad. Reserve – North Loch Naver Estate, with Badanloch Battleship, a four-shear tup by North Loch Naver Nomad. Tup – North Loch Naver Estate. Two-shear ram, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – Badanloch LLP. Shearling – Mill House, Stainland, Thurso. Tup lamb – Jan Mackenzie, Langdale, Strathnaver, Kinbrace. Wedder lamb – A Robertson, Nicolson Farms, Clebrig. Gimmer pair – Morven Coghill, Blingery Farm, Wick.

NCC hill crofters (Judge: J Ballantyre, Clynelish, Brora). Champion – A Robertson, 183 Strathtongue, Clebrig, with a tup lamb. Reserve – A Robertson, Clashbreac, Lairg, with a gimmer. Aged tup, tup lamb – A Robertson. Two-shear tup, shearling, ewe – Rosemary Cameron, Thistle House, Portskerra, Melvich. Gimmer, wedder lamb, untrimmed tup lamb, untrimmed ewe lamb, group of three – A Robertson. Ewe lamb – Owen Martin, 80 West Saval, Lairg.

Beltex (Judge: D Douglas, Braes of Coulmore, North Kessock). Champion – J Scott and Partners, Fearn Farm, Tain, with the three-crop ewe Fearn Winnie by Callacrag Ruben. Reserve – R Munro, Runachloie, Gruids, Laird, with the three-shear ram Bharangyne Action Man by Broxty Wishfull Thinking. Tup, group of three – R Munro, Runachloie, Gruids, Lairg. Shearling, tup lamb – T MacLean, Caberfeidh, Upperton Farm, Glenurquhart. Ewe, gimmer – J Scott and Partners. Ewe lamb – A Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale, Halkirk.

Texel (Judge: K Jarvie, Cherryfield, Crieff). Champion – A Chisholm, Wester Moy, Urray, Muir of Ord, with a gimmer by Arkle Ying Yang and reserve with a mid-February ewe lamb, also by Arkle Ying Yang. Tup – J Scott and Partners. Shearling tup, ewe – L Nicol, 133 Knockomie Rise, Forres. Gimmer, ewe lab, tup lamb, group of three – A Chisholm.

Suffolk (Judge: B Manson, Skaill, Thurso). Champion – Louise McAuley, 3 Easter Coxton, Elgin with a shearling tup by Cairnorrie Big Impression. Reserve – M and I Bissett, Mariain, Culnaskeath, Evanton, with the three-shear tup, Muirton His Royal Highness, by Muirton One Direction. Aged ram – M and I Bissett. Shearling tup, tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – Louise McAuley. Ewe – K and C Munro, Ashton Farm Cottage, Inverness.

Shetland (Judge: Ms Morven Macfarlane, Carnwath). Champion – Isla MacIntosh, West Knockbain Mains, Munlochy, with an aged tup. Reserve – S and L Brown, Balmore, Bogallan, North Kessock, with a ewe. Aged ram, group of three – Isla Mackintosh. Shearling tup – Janet Charge, Helendale, Culrain, Ardgay. Ewe – S and L Brown. Gimmer – Deborah Richardson, Rosebank House, Clashmore, Dornoch. Ewe lamb, any other colour – N Shelton, Larkins, Upper Lybster. Tup lamb – Sally Wild, Upper Meadows, Eaglefield Road, Dornoch.

Blackface (Judge: R MacIntyre, Tulloch, Dingwall). Champion – C McIntyre and Gemma McIntosh, Upper Croft, Na Garn, Boat of Garten, with a two-shear Dunruchan-bred ram bought for £4000 last year, with a half share retained by Dunrachan. Reserve – C McIntyre and G McIntosh, with a gimmer by the £3000 Crosswoodburn and out of a ewe by the £1000 Northern Sychie. Aged ram, shearling tup, ewe, gimmer, group of three – C McIntyre and G McIntosh. Ewe lamb – Joanne MacIverm Blackmuir Croft, The Heights of Docharty, Dingwall. Tup lamb – Crakaig Blackies, Blackpark Croft House, Ardersier.

Zwartbles (Judge: R MacKenzie, Muir of Ord). Champion – C and S Bissett, Mariain, Culnaskeath, Evanton, with the shearling tup Carrah Elite by Donbraid Big D. Reserve – K and W Anderson, Cairnhill, Farr, Inverness, with a late January-born ewe lamb by Carrah Diesel. Aged ram, ewe lamb, tup lamb – K and W Anderson. Shearling tup, ewe, gimmer, group of three – C and S Bissett.

Commercial cross sheep (Judge: R MacKenzie). Champion – G and Norma Breathet, Woodside Croft, Blackpark, Ardersier, with a one-crop Suffolk cross Texel ewe with twin cross Texel lambs at foot. Ewe, gimmer, ewe any breed or cross with twin lambs – G and N Breathet. Ewe lamb – Dorothy Allison, Inver-Bay, Lower Arboll, Tain.

Any other breed (Judge: R MacIntyre). Champion – Jan MacKenzie, Langdale, Strathnaver, Kinbrace, with Langdale Diamond, a three-shear South Country Cheviot tup by Catslackburn Ace. Tup, ewe – Jan MacKenzie. Gimmer, ewe lamb, tup lamb – Janie Fraser, Greenlands Farm, Arabella, Tain.

Young handlers (Judge: Mrs Isobel Sorley, Dornoch). 10 – 16 years – 1, Neve Sutherland. Nine years and below – Kyle Darvill, Burn Bank Crofts 2 and 7, Linside, Invershin.

Highland ponies (Judge: Mrs Kirsty Blackmore). Champion and native inter breed champion – A Matheson, Upper Bogrow, Edderton, with the four-year-old mare Scaraben Eilidh Donn by Scaraben Runa. Reserve – A and Carolyn Munro, The Stables, Loandhu, Fearn, with a mid-April born colt foal by Loandhu Silver Shgadow. Class winner at breed show in Strathallan.

Shetland (Judge: D Burnett, Ellon). Champion and native inter-breed reserve – E and S Knight, St Catherines Cross, Fearn, with the miniature six-year-old mare Hjatland Lily. Reserve – Caroline Window, Carrisgill Shetlands, Roster, Lybster, with Esthers Imogen a six-year-old standard mare by Brockville Endeavour. Reserve miniature – Steph Mitchell, 47 Windsor Place, Conon Bridge, with Tillyorn Violet, a seven-year-old mare by South Keith Mey Heather.