Judges named for the Royal Highland hot-seat for 2022

Tasked with placing the country’s top cattle, sheep, horses and goats come from far and wide, the list includes local names to those travelling from as far afield as Australia to judge Scotland’s biggest and best display of livestock.

RHASS chief executive, Alan, Laidlaw commented: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming back some familiar faces to the judging line up this year, with many of our judges returning after being asked to initially judge at the cancelled 2020 Royal Highland Show.

“Our esteemed roster of judges includes some of the best, brightest and most respected professionals that the livestock world has to offer and I can’t wait to see them and our competitors in action in the show rings this June.”

Livestock entries will open in early April when the schedule of competitions will also be released.

Overall young handler

Following the inaugural year of the Dalchirla Trophy for overall young handler in 2019, the honour has fallen to renowned Limousin breeders and regular show-goers, Sarah Jane Jessop and Dougie McBeath to choose the champions. The choice of judges rotates around the different sections each year, with Sarah and Dougie chosen by the chief stewards of the beef section.

Beef section

Esmor Evans, owner of the famous Maerdy herd, in Flintshire, Wales, will have the tough task of placing the overall beef inter-breed and teams, while James Playfair-Hannay, who commentates on cattle and the grand parade at the show, will be judging the Beef Shorthorn.

Another successful show competitor judging in 2022 will be Tracey Nicol, who will be placing the beef young handler. She works alongside husband, Davie, running their prizewinning Charolais herd at Balthayock for Major Walter and were overall beef champion in 2019 with Balthayock Nessie.

 

 

Alistair Cormack will be judging the Aberdeen-Angus section this year. He won the Royal Highland in 2017 during the Aberdeen-Angus World Forum out of 143 cattle. He also took three bulls and a heifer to the October bull sales in 1989 – the heifer was female champion, the bulls were senior, intermediate and junior champions, plus overall and reserve overall – an unbeaten record.

Another well-known face in the beef section will be Wilson Peters, judging commercial cattle. Farm manager at Monzie Estate, in Crieff, he is well known for having producing the Scottish National Fatstock Champion on five occasions.

Dairy section

The dairy section will see the return of the Queen's Cup this year, being awarded by Jimmy Hodge, Eyemouth, Berwickshire, for the overall champion. He ran the 550-cow Lemington Holstein herd, which was synonymous with showing until its dispersal in 2007.

 

 

Glyn Lucas, an auctioneer at Harrison and Hetherington in Carlisle, is taking charge of the any other breed classes after a strong inaugural year in 2019.

The prize for dairy calf and showmanship will be awarded by Michael Yates, Castle Douglas, part of a well-known family which rund Eastford and Logan Holsteins and enjoyed their own successes at the show, winning the Holstein section in 2006 and 2013. He is also currently the only person to have been champion handler at the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show three times.

Sheep section

The sheep section is in great hands this year, as former RHASS chairman and chief steward of sheep, Clark Stewart will be placing the inter-breed. From Cupar, in Fife, he is a prominent pedigree Border Leicester, Suffolk and Texel breeder.

The Texel class will be judged by Robbie Wilson, of Turriff, Aberdeenshire, who has won the Suffolk section five times and Texels twice at the show.

William Dunlop, the renowned Blackface breeder running 1600 breeding ewes at Elmscleugh, in East Lothian, will be placing the sheep pairs and young handlers.

 

 

Another former RHASS chairman, John Dykes, West Linton, Peebles-shire, will be utilising his 60 years of breeding experience judging the Bluefaced Leicester traditional type.

Alan Kennedy, Parkgate, Dumfries, will be overseeing the Charollais – Alan has won 10 inter-breed championships in succession at Dumfries Show, and also competed to a high level in sheep shearing at the Royal Highland.

Heavy horse section

In this section, two judges are travelling from Australia – Colin Brown, who runs McMurchie Clydesdale Stud, in New South Wales, alongside his wife, Karen, will be judging Clydesdale males; while Max Marriott, of Aarunga Stud, in Victoria, will be placing the Clydesdale females. Marguerite Osborne, third generation breeder of the na Dailach Highland pony stud in Kirriemuir, Angus, will be taking the reins for the Sanderson Trophy. She's well-known and respected, being former president of Highland Pony Society and secretary of Clydesdale Horse Society.

Anne Mitchell will be casting her experienced eye over the Highland pony females. Her Dunedin Stud in Denny, Stirlingshire, has produced supreme champions at Olympia, HOYS, Royal International, and the Royal Highland Show.

Light horse section

The prestigious St Johns Wells Trophy will be awarded this year by Sylvia Ormiston, of Ballater, Aberdeenshire, who is also judging the working native pony in harness section. Sylvia has the responsibility of running the Balmoral Highland pony stud for HM The Queen.

Lucinda Russell will be judging the retraining of racehorse class this year. She runs a successful racing yard in Kinross, famously training One for Arthur which won the 2017 Aintree Grand National. She trains with her partner, Peter Scudamore, an eight-time champion jockey.

Nigel Hollings will judge the HOYS supreme in hand championship. He has ridden and produced many champions in the show ring from ponies to heavyweight hunters, including the Riding Horse of the Year, Fair Breeze (also HOYS supreme showing champion) and Hack of the Year, Royal Angel, plus numerous other HOYS pony winners.

Sandy Anderson will be judging the Welsh ponies (Section B). Chairman and owner of Grandstand Media, which runs the Horse of the Year Show, he is also owner of the successful Thistledown Stud, which bred 21 ponies that qualified for the 2021 HOYS.

Goat section

Dairy goats, kids, milking and Boer goats will be judged this year by Margaret Hardman, from Sheffield, Yorkshire. She is an experienced and decorated competitor, and also the vice chair of the British Goat Society committee.

The judges:

BEEF CATTLE

 

 

Native inter-breed teams – Mrs Audrey Anderson, Arbroath, Angus.

Beef Breeder competition and junior inter-breed – Michael Durno, Ballindalloch, Banffshire.

 

 

Inter-breed team and individual inter-breed – Esmor Evans, Mold, Flintshire, Wales.

Inter-breed pairs – Colin Wight, Biggar, South Lanarkshire.

Young handlers – Mrs Tracey Nicol, Perth, Perthshire.

Beef Shorthorn – James Playfair Hannay, Kelso, Roxburgh.

Aberdeen-Angus – Alistair Cormack, Chirnside, Berwickshire.

Galloway – Alan McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow.

Belted Galloway – Ian Park, Fort William, Inverness-shire.

Highland – Donald MacNaughton, Kelty, Fife.

Hereford – William McLaren, Auchterarder, Perthshire.

Lincoln Red – Scott Donaldson, Carlisle.

British Charolais – Chris Curry, Morpeth, Northumberland.

British Simmental – Joe Wilson, Newry, Co Down, NI.

British Limousin – Mike Massie, Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

British Blonde – David Knight, Chippenham, Wiltshire.

British Blue – Mark Hartley, Nelson, Lancashire.

Salers – Glen Walsh, Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Commercial cattle – Wilson Peters, Crieff, Perthshire.

DAIRY CATTLE

Inter-breed – Jimmy Hodge, Eyemouth, Berwickshire.

Ayrshire and British Red and White – Gilmour Lawrie, Prestwick, Ayrshire.

Holstein – John Garnet, Milnthorpe, Cumbria.

Dairy Shorthorn – John Teasdale, Dumfries.

Jersey and AOB – Glyn Lucas, Carlisle.

Dairy calf and showmanship – Michael Yates, Castle Douglas.

SHEEP

 

 

Inter-breed – Clark Stewart, Cupar, Fife.

Pairs and young handlers – William Dunlop, Dunbar, East Lothian.

Suffolk – Gordon Mackie, Forfar, Angus.

NCC – John McClymont, Leven, Fife.

Blackface – Andrew Woodburn snr, Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Lleyn – John Morton, Kirkland, Penrith.

Ryeland – Aled Morgan, Crymych, Dyfed, Wales.

Commercial sheep – Robert Struthers, Carluke, Lanarkshire.

Border Leicester – Richard Evans, Chirk, Wrexham, Wales.

British Berrichon – C Morse, St Clears, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Jacob – Scott Robertson, Dufftown, Banffshire.

NCC hill – M Cook, Halkirk, Caithness.

 

 

Cheviot – David Goodfellow, Hawick, Roxburghshire.

Texel – Robert Wilson, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

Hampshire Down – J Barnard, Newton, Dorset.

Swaledale – Joe Nattrass, Alston, Cumbria.

Bluefaced Leicester traditional – John Dykes, West Linton, Peebles-shire.

Bluefaced Leicester coloured – Alex Brown, Thornhill, Dumfries-shire.

Charollais – Alan Kennedy, Parkgate, Dumfries.

Hebridean – Mrs Helen Brewis, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.

North of England Mules – Geoffrey Porter, Richmond, N Yorks.

British Rouge – Mrs Jayne Tannahill, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, NI.

Beltex – David Thornley, Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Zwartbles – Caroline Anderson, Ingoe, Northumberland.

Scotch Mule – Billy Kerr, Maybole, Ayrshire.

Bleu du Maine – Samuel Small, Randalstown, Co Antrim, NI.

Shetland – Brian Ridland, Evie, Orkney.

Blue Texel – Clive Richardson, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, NI.

GOATS

All goats – Mrs Margaret Hardman, Sheffield, Yorkshire.

HEAVY HORSE

Clydesdales in hand: Males – Mr Colin Brown, New South Wales, Australia; females – Max Marriott, Victoria, Australia.

HOYS Ridden Clydesdales (ride) – Ms Laura Henry, Leuchars, Fife; (conformation), young handlers and stockmen – Mrs Audrey Aitken, Newmarket, Wigton.

Highland ponies in hand: Males – Mrs Jean Connell, Auchtermuchty, Fife; females – Miss Anne S Mitchell, Denny, Stirlingshire.

Shetland ponies in hand – Ms Wendy Toomer Harlow, Basildon, Essex;

Miniature – Mrs C Hodder, Yeovil, Somerset

HARNESS, GROOMING, TURNOUTS

Harness grooming and decoration – Dave Proctor, Letham, Angus.

Working native pony in harness – Mrs Sylvia Ormiston, Ballater, Aberdeenshire.

Heavy horse turnouts – Owen Garner, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.

PRIVATE DRIVING

Shetland, Highland and private driving (HOYS Qualifier) – Nigel Fuller, Rawreth, Essex.

LIGHT HORSE

Hunter in hand and HOYS Hunters under saddle, weights and small (conformation) – David Dixon, Guisborough, Cleveland; (ride) – Michael Cooper, Manchester, Lancashire.

HOYS Hunters under saddle, working hunters (conformation) and HOYS ladies' side saddle (conformation) – Tim Wiggett, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire; (ride) – Mrs Lesley Jones, Comber, NI.

Hunters under saddle, novice (conformation) – Tim Wiggett; (ride) –Mrs Lesley Jones.

Sports horse in hand – Michael Cooper, Manchester, Lancashire.

Retraining of racehorse final (conformation) – Ms Lucinda Russell, Kinross, Perthshire; (ride) – Ms Morag Snow, Leven, Fife.

Highland ponies under saddle (conformation) – Mrs Heather Prescott, Ormskirk, Lancashire; (ride) – James Munro, Wick, Caithness.

Welsh Mountain ponies (Section A) – Mrs Julie Perrins, Wakefield, Yorkshire. Section B – Sandy Anderson, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Cob (Section C) – Mrs Sharon Charlton, Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Cobs (Section D) – Vic Moore, Ebbw Vale, Gwent, Wales

M and M ponies in hand – Mrs Ann Nicholls, Halmore, Gloucestershire.

Connemara – Mrs Ann Nicholls.

Pony breeding – David Puttock, Newent, Gloucestershire.

Riding horses and novice (conformation) – David Dixon, Guisborough, Cleveland; (ride) – Michael Cooper, Manchester, Lancashire.

Arabs, Anglo Arabs and part-bred in hand – Mrs Kirsty Brown, Wigan, Lancashire; under saddle – Mrs Penny Hollings, Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham.

Cobs (conformation) – David Dixon; (ride) – Michael Cooper.

St Johns Wells Trophy – Mrs Sylvia Ormiston, Ballater, Aberdeenshire.

M and M in hand overall (Waxwing Trophy) – Mrs Kathleen Scott, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

HOYS Cuddy breeder supreme in hand qualifier – Nigel Hollings, Blackburn, Lancashire.

HOYS M and M WHP (conformation) – Mrs Nicola Shuttleworth, Northallerton, North Yorkshire; (jumping) – Miss Kerry Wainwright, East Adlington, Cheshire.

Side saddle – Miss Marjorie Grant, Scone, Perth.

HOYS SHP and lead rein/first ridden (conformation) – Mrs Penny Hollings, Stockton on Tees, Co Durham; (ride) – Mrs Clare Dew, Welwyn, Hertfordshire.

Show ponies and lead rein/first ridden –Mrs Karen Slight, Biggar.

HOYS M and M lead rein/first ridden (ride) – Mrs Gillian McMurray, Lockerbie; (conformation) – Mrs Kathleen Scott, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

HOYS junior M and M ridden (conformation) – Mrs Nicola Shuttleworth, Northallerton, N Yorks; (Ride) – Miss Kerry Wainwright.

Donkeys in hand – Mrs Linda Impey, Chelmsford, Essex.

HOYS WHP (jumping) – David Puttock, Newent, Gloucestershire; (conformation) – Ms Sarah Chapman, Llandinam, Powys.

HOYS part-bred ridden (conformation) – Chris Bartram-Lawson, Peacehaven, East Sussex; (performance) – David Bartram-Lawson, Peacehaven.

HOYS M and M under saddle, Fell, Dales, Highland, Connemara, Welsh Section D (conformation) – Mrs Ann Nicholls; (ride) – David Puttock.

HOYS M and M under saddle, Welsh Section C, B and A, New Forest, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland (conformation) – Richard Miller, Ferryside, Carmarthenshire, Wales; (ride) – Ms Debbie Spears.

HOYS coloured horses and ponies under saddle (ride) – Nigel Fuller, Rawreth, Essex; (conformation) – Ms Cathy Wood, Barnstaple, Devon.

Coloured horses and ponies in hand – Mrs Nicola Pargeter, Northallerton, Yorkshire.