Fife-based new entrants, Craig and Katreen Malone, Pitcairn, had a field day at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' annual show and sale of commercial beef breeding cattle at Thainstone, on Tuesday, producing both the champion and reserve winners.

The couple, who also run a successful commercial and pedigree sheep enterprise, first secured the championship with a Limousin cross British Blue heifer with Limousin cross heifer calf at foot by Lodge Hamlet. Bought as a bulling heifer from William and David Moir, Moir Livestock, Fraserburgh, this outfit also secured the lead price of £4700 when selling to one of the pre-sale judges, Kris Sutherland of Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath.

Their reserve winners, a Limousin cross heifer with Limousin cross bull calf by Powerhouse then made £3000, selling to Caithness producer, DA Manson, 31 Larel, Halkirk.

Adding to the celebrations, Pitcairn also sold the second prize Simmental heifer with it's bull calf for £3600 to Ian Stewart, Reisgill, Lybster, while their champion in the section, a heifer and bull calf made £3000 again to Dunbeath Farms.

A cracking show throughout saw several other lots sell for £3000 or more.

Matching the £3600 bid was the third prize Limousin heifer with heifer calf from father and son team, Charlie and Keith Ogg, Buchaam, Strathdon – an unregistered pure Limousin with calf by Nochnary Keano, a British Blue sire.

Caithness producer Ian Stewart, was back in action to buy the third prize Simmental heifer with heifer calf at £3250, from I and M Keith, Auchtygall, Peterhead and the second prize Limousin heifer with heifer calf from William Law, West Cruichie, Drumblade, Huntly, made £3000 to Donald and James Fraser, Easter Clune, Lethen, Nairn.

A heifer calf from Danny Leslie, Redhill, Mosstowie, Elgin, won the best Simmental sired calf award and sold with its mother for £2550 to Brian McIntosh, Mains of Tarryblake, Rothiemay.

LEADING awards

Sim heifer – With male calf – 1 and 2, C Malone, Pitcairn £3000 and £3600; 3, I and M Keith, Auchtygall, Peterhead £3250. With heifer calf – 1 and 2, Ardhuncart Farms, Ardhuncart, Kildrummy £2950 and £2650; 3, WJ Morrison and Sons, Fairburn, Longmanhill £2400.

Lim heifer – With male calf – 1, C Malone, £3000; 2 and 3, C and E Ogg, Buchaam Farm, Strathdon £2950. With heifer calf – 1, C Malone, £4700; 2, W Law, West Cruichie, Drumblade £3000; 3, C and E Ogg, £3600.

Any other breed – With male calf – 1, WJ Morrison and Sons, Fairburn £2500; 2 and 3, I and M Keith, Auchtygall £2650 and £2800. With heifer calf – 1, WJ Morrison and Sons, £2250; 2 and 3, I and M Keith, £2650 and £2400.

Heifer of any breed with calf by Sim bull – 1, D and DM Leslie, Redhill, Mosstowie £2550.

LEADING prices Heifers with bull calf – Sim – Pitcairn Farm £3600; Lim – Lost Farm, Strathdon £3350; Sim X – Auchtygall £3250; Short X Auchtygall £2650; Short – West Cruichie, Drumblade £,450; Sal – Lost, Strathdon £2300; BB – West Cruichie £2350; Char– Floors, Grange £2150; Hfd X – Cranna £2000.

Heifer with heifer calf – Lim X – Buchaam £3600; Sim – Lost £3350; Lim – Lost Farm £3050; Sim X – Ardhuncart £2950; BS X Auchtygall £2800; BB – West Cruichie £2450; Short X – Cranna £2300; Sal – Fairbairn £2250; Char – Fairbairn £2100.

Cow with spring-born bull calf – Lim X – Meikle Coull, Tannadice £2100; Lim – Ingliston £1850; Hfd – Rennieshill £1850; AA – Ingliston £1800; Char – Rennieshill £1800; Sim X – Whitehouse Lumphanan £1600.

Cow with spring-born heifer calf – Sim – Rennieshill £1950; Lim – Rennieshill £1900; Sal – Rennieshill £1900; Hfd X – Rennieshill £1800; Sim X – Rennieshill £1700; Lim X – Whitehouse, Ingliston £1650.

Bulls – BBX 3yr – Middleton of Potterton £5200; Lim 3yr £3400; BB 2 1/2yr – Bridgeton Muir of Fowlis £2800.