Perkhill cow leads the way at Tarland

In the sheep section, it was the Texel gimmer from Steven Stewart’s Leylodge flock that captured the judges, taking inter-breed sheep honours. Steven’s home-bred gimmer, sired by Clanfield Golden and out of a Holylee Foreman-sired dam, was also champion at Fettercairn.

Reserve overall in the sheep section was a North-type Blackface ewe lamb on its show debut from Steven Smith, Scarhill. It is sired by a £2000 Craigneich tup and out of a home-bred ewe by a £15,000 Calla tup.

Taking the inter-breed title in the cattle section was the five-year-old home-bred Aberdeen Angus cow Perkhill Black Midday from Alex Davie, Perkhill, Lumphanan. She is sired by Perkhill Charlie Brown and out of Perkhill Black Midday.

Overall beef cattle judge Duncan Low, Pittenkerrie, Banchory, found his reserve in the 16-month-old Limousin bull, Millers Artist, a Burnbank Sargeant son from Ian Miller, Miller Farms, Midmar. This youngster boasts a kist full of awards having stood champion at Echt and Turriff and reserve at Fettercairn.

Supreme horse was Samantha Winn’s Greateaves Tik Tik Boom, a two-year-old colt. Sired by T Londell and out of Greateaves Tik Tik, this youngster had a superb day picking up CHAPS youngstock, coloured champion, potential ride, and drive youngstock before winning the overall horse honours.

Aberdeen Angus and overall cattle champion - Five year old cow from Perkhill. (Image: Rachael McConachie)

LEADING awards

Aberdeen Angus (Judge: W Lawson, Alford). Champion – A Davie, Lumphanan with the five-year-old cow Perkhill Black Midday, by Perkhill Charlie Brown and out of Perkhill Black Midday. Her bull calf, Perkhill Black Middas, was calf champion at Echt and Banchory. Reserve – A Davie, Lumphanan, with the April 2025-born Perkhill Charlie Brown, by Blelack Lord Balvenie and out of Perkhill Cherry Blosson. First outing. Bull, cow with calf – A Davie. Heifer – Rebecca Cheyne.

Charolais (Judge: W Lawson, Alford). Champion – B Duffton, Huntly, with the three-year-old cow Utopia Unique, by Stranagone Reagan, out of Utopia Jacqueline, shown with her Thrunton Fairfax-sired bull calf at foot having won multiple championships last year. Champion at Fettercairn and reserve at Echt this year and reserve at Turriff and Black Isle. Reserve – J Allardyce, Alamein Farm, Tarland, with the 14-month-old Kinclune Affordable bought at the Kinclune dispersal in November. Sired by Goldies Rocky and out of Kingclune Soraya. First at Banchory. Bull, heifer – J Allardyce. Cow with calf, calf – B Duffton.

Limousin (Judge: W Lawson, Alford). Champion – I Miller, Miller Farms, Midmar with the sole entry, Millers Artist, a 16-month-old bull by Burnbank Sargeant out of Spittalton Oanna. Champion at Echt and Turriff and reserve at Fettercairn.

Highland (Judge: D Scott, Leys Castle). Champion – Morag Middleton, Fettercairn with the two-year-old heifer Lulu Ruadh of Barna, by Eoin Mhor of Black Glen and out of Boideach 4 of Broomrigg. Second at Banchory. Reserve – R Fletcher, Cushnie, Alford with the three-year-old Alexander of Blairordens by Angus 2 of Earn and out of Iona of Craig Leek. Bull – R Fletcher. Cow, bull calf – K and V Thomson. Senior heifer, heifer calf – Sophara Livestock. Intermediate heifer, steer – Morag Middleton. Junior heifer – A Johnson.

AOB native cattle (Judge: D Scott, Leys Castle). Champion – Alana Clark, Huntly, with the Belted Galloway bull Barwise Ergo, bought for 6000gns at Skipton. Champion at Black Isle, Banchory, New Deer and Echt. Reserve – Joanna Greaves, Logiemuir, with a yearling heifer bought for 1200gns from J Alan. Sired by Coulmony Callum and out of Lomond Frizzante. First at Fettercairn, New Deer and Echt. Bull – Alana Clark. Heifer – Joanna Greaves.

AOB continental cattle (Judge: Mrs A Haig, Angus). Champion – J Youngson, Westerton with the home-bred heifer Westerton Valentine, by Solway View Popeye and out of a home-bred cow. She was reserve at Turriff in 2025. Reserve – Alison Watt, Birkenbush, Keith with the home-bred 14-month-old British Blonde bull Strathisla Ajax by Strathisla Santiago and out of Strathisla Snowdrop. First outing. Bull, cow with calf, – Alison Watt. Bull or heifer calf, junior heifer – JS Youngson. Heifer – B Duffton.

Beef Shorthorn (Judge: Mrs A Haig, Angus). Champion – Alison Watt, Birkenbush, Keith with the home-bred 14-month-old Strathisla Arty by Fearn Samari and out of Strathisla Lily Morella. Second time out. Reserve – Alison Watt with the six-year-old Strathisla Polly with her heifer calf at foot. Sired by Meonhill Lion King and out of Strathisla Lori. Reserve at New Deer. Bull, cow with calf, junior heifer – Alison Watt. Calf – R and K Williams.

Cross cattle haltered (Judge: Mrs L Wylie, Kirriemuir). Champion – Cally Harper, Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnie, with the bought-in 14-month-old Darcy bred by Ian Miller. Sired by Westpit Reno and out of a Limousin cross cow. Young farmer’s champion at Turriff and Banchory. Reserve – B Duffton, Huntly with the 23-month-old Limousin cross British Blue heifer, Fizzy Lizzy by a Dragon Blues bull and out of a Limousin cross cow. Bred by Guise Farming Partnership and purchased at Carlisle for £2200. Champion at Fettercairn and reserve inter-breed beef at Angus. Cross cow, male calf – JS Youngson. Cross yearling heifer – Cally Harper. Pair of yearling heifers, cross yearling stot, pair of yearling stots, male calf, butcher’s animal – B Duffton. Heifer calf, calf reared by junior stockperson – Lily Smith.

Cross cattle unhaltered (Judge: Mrs L Wylie, Kirriemuir). Champion – Lily Smith, Sunnyhill, Turriff, with the 20-month-old heifer Special K, bred by L Fowlie, Alford. Sired by Pablo Old Spice and out of home-bred Elle. Reserve – Cally Harper, Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnie, with the yearling heifer Flame. All classes – Lily Smith.

Carcase cattle on the hoof (Judge: M Gibb, Drumoak). Champion – B Duffton, Huntly, with yearling bullock. Reserve – B Cameron, Keith, with a prime heifer.

Cattle young handlers – Aged 11yrs and under – 1, Ellie Youngson; 2, Megan Brown; 3, Cameron Brown. 12-16yrs – 1, Tara Adams; 2, Lily Smith; 3, Jess Williams.

Blackface (Judge: S Duncan, Glenlivet). Champion – S Smith, Scarhill, with a ewe lamb by a £2000 Craigneich and out of a home-bred ewe sired by a £15,000 Calla. First outing. Reserve – G McIntosh and C McIntyre, Upper Croft Nagarn, Boat of Garten with a tup lamb sired by home-bred Glenrinnes lamb by a £5200 Craigdarroch and out of a home-bred ewe. Second outing. Aged tup, shearling tup, aged ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – S Smith. Tup lamb – G McIntosh and C McIntyre.

Suffolk (Judge: K Mair, Turriff). Champion – B Insch, Pitprone, Glenkindie with a ewe lamb bought in utero out of a Balquhain gimmer bought from Graeme Christie. Sole entry.

Texel (Judge: M Leggat, Huntly). Champion and supreme sheep – S Stewart, Leylodge, Kintore, with home-bred gimmer by Clanfield Golden, out of a ewe by Holylee Foreman. Champion at Fettercairn. Reserve – Messrs MacKenzie Glass-Smith, Alford with a Langside ewe bought at a flock production sale as a gimmer last year. Sired by Ettrick Everest and out of a Langside ewe. First outing. Aged tup – M Hunter. Shearling tup, gimmer – S Stewart. Ewe – Messrs MacKenzie Glass-Smith. Tup Lamb, ewe lamb – D Grant.

AOB native sheep – (Judge: G Stephen, Dallas). Champion and reserve – F Chapman, The Parks, Logie Colson with a home-bred park-type Cheviot gimmer bred from home-bred genetics. Second in pen of three at Turriff. Reserve was a bought in park-type Cheviot ewe on debut. Tup, ewe lamb – Alison Ross. Ewe, gimmer – F Chapman. Tup lamb – K Milne.

AOB non-native sheep (Judge: G Stephen, Dallas). Champion – Laura Troup, Shaggart, Sauchen with bought-in Charollais ewe from the Edstaston dispersal last year. Sired by Tullyear Artemis and out of a Rigghead ewe. First time out. Reserve – D Miskelly, Corrybrae, Alford, with the Zwartbles ewe lamb Corrybrae Princess by a Smiddyhill tup and out of home-bred ewe. First outing. Tup, ewe, gimmer, tup lamb – Laura Troup. Ewe lamb – D Miskelly.

Cross sheep (Judge: A Smith, Tarland). Champion – G Forbes, Tillyboy, Echt, with Texel cross ewe lambs. Reserve – R and K Williams, Ranna Farm, Tarland with May-born Suffolk cross lambs by a home-bred Suffolk cross tup and out of home-bred Suffolk cross Mules. First outing. Pen of three cross lambs – R and K Williams. Pen of three Greyface/Mule ewe lambs – J and H Thomson. Gimmers, ewe lambs, pair of gimmers – G Forbes. Male lambs – F Chapman.

Sheep young handlers – 10 yrs and under – 1 and reserve, Emmie Brown; 2, Ada Insch; 3, Tommy Sinclair. 11-14yrs – 1 and champion, Liam Jappy; 2, Archie Brown; 3, Lachlan Insch.

Overall supreme horse champion - Tik Tik Boom from Samantha Winn. (Image: Sam Winn)

Clydesdales (Judge: N Christie, Balfron). Champion – P Wyborn, Breagha, Milton of Cushie with the two-year-old filly Castletown Cleo, bought at six months privately from Ireland. Sired by Doura Aird Ambition and out of Castletown Chloe. First at Banchory. Reserve – Katie Stuart, Finmont, Fife, with Finmont Archie, a two-year-old gelding sired by Dillars Nobleman and out of Finmont Miss Money Penny. Second at the Royal Highland and first at Alyth and Braco. Mare with foal, foal – E and C Stewart. Yeld mare – C Robertson. Colt or gelding one or two years old – Katie Stuart. Filly one or two years old – P Wyborn.

Highland ponies (Judge: J Reid, Insch). Champion and reserve – Lynne McDonald, Tarland, Mains of Coynach, with the home-bred yearling filly Golden Heather of Coynach sired by Islay Malt of Coynach out of July Mist of Coynach. Champion at Echt. Reserve was the two-year-old filly Lady Cairngorm of Coynach sired by Monarch O’ the Glens and out of Pavlova of Whitefield. Reserve at Echt. Stallion, colt, filly or gelding yearling, filly or gelding two or three years old – Lynne McDonald. Gelding, ridden – L Gilliland. Mare – H Middleton.

Standard Shetland (Judge: IM Spence, Aberdeenshire). Champion – K Gibb and M Ritch, Kingswells Stud, with the nine-year-old Harviestoun Rosie sired by Harviestoun Perdhu and out of Harviestoun Rosalina. Champion here in 2024. Broken to ride just four weeks ago. Reserve – Margaret Greaves, Balcraig, Kintore, with two-year-old home-bred colt Elliot of Chapelhill sired by Rocky of Haybrake and out of Tiloulah of Chapelhill. Reserve at the Royal Welsh in 2025. Mare or gelding, ridden – K Gibb and M Ritch. Colt, filly or gelding one, two, or three years old – M Greaves.

Miniature Shetland (Judge: IM Spence, Aberdeenshire). Champion – A Thomley, Rothes with the five-year-old stallion bought as a yearling from Ayrshire. Sired by Milday Leo and out of Hermits Polly Flinders. Reserve at Ayrshire Shetland Pony Group show. Reserve – Jennifer Strachan, Glenkindie, with Clara of Haybrake by Rocky of Haybrake and out of Candy of Haybrake. Stallion, mare or gelding four years and over – A Thomley. Colt, filly or gelding one, two or three years, coloured miniature – J Strachan. Mare with foal – O Burr. Foal – M Greaves.