A chillier start to the day at New Deer attracted a strong attendance of exhibitors and spectators to see Delfur Farms’ three-year-old Simmental, Delfur Nifty, add another title to her kist.
Overall judge Jimmy Wilson, Mintlaw, was most impressed by the line-up of champions and said the Simmental stood out not only because she is a good beast, but also because she is making a cracking job of her calf.
Shown by herd manager Garry Patterson and owned by former MSP Sir Edward Mountain, this is one of many championships secured by the female over the past year. Nifty, which is by Ballymoney Larry, was paraded with her heifer calf at foot by Islavale Magnum.
Pipped to the post were the inter-breed champions in the horse, sheep and feather and fur sections.
Supreme horse was the 12-year-old ex-racehorse gelding Time Down Under from the Tylo Stud.
A one-crop Texel ewe from Graeme and Andrew Knox, Mid Haddo, was supreme sheep,when picked out by inter-breed judge Gregor Ingram. She is by the 20,000gns Sportsmans Grand Slam and stood third at the Royal Highland.
Reserve sheep was the cross single champion from James Lowe, South Tarwathie, Strichen.
Leading the fur and feather section was Mopsy, a two-year-old white New Zealand rabbit from Chloe Shorten, Keith.
It was a good day for Michael and Mark Robertson, Fodderletter, when their commercial heifer BB took reserve cattle honours, selected by inter-breed judge Ellis Mutch.
Fodderletter also took the inter-breed group of three and pair awards. Reserve group of three was a trio of Belted Galloways from Alana Clark, Huntly.
In the sheep lines, champion group were Suffolks shown by Craig Paterson, Cranorskie flock, Aberchirder, with Texels from the Knox family in reserve.
Leading awards
Aberdeen Angus (Judge: H Rennie, Insch). Champion – G and Fiona Willox, Meikle Pitinnan, Oldmeldrum, with the two-year-old heifer Cardenwell Miss Bertha, by Westbank Ivan, out of Cardenwell Bluebell. Reserve – B Macangus, Little Glencoe, Maud, with the November 2025-born bull, Little Glencoe Pele, by Auchincrieve Jerusalem Eric, out of Little Glencoe Perdita. First outing. Bull, heifer calf – J and A Strathdee. Cow, senior heifer – G and Fiona Willox. Junior heifer – Rebecca Cheyne. Bull calf – B Macangus.
Charolais (Judge: G Wright, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch). Champion – B Duffton, Huntly, with the three-year-old cow Utopia Unique, by Stranagone Reagan, out of Utopia Jacqueline. She was shown with her Thrunton Fairfax-sired bull calf at foot having won multiple championships last year. Breed champion at Fettercairn and reserve at Echt this year. Reserve – D Stubbs of AJR Farms, Ellon, with Newlogie Totaleclipse, a September 2022-born cow by Rosanna Rudolph, out of Newlogie Royaleclipse. Bull – J and Sandra Middleton. Cow – B Duffton. Heifer, heifer calf – D Stubbs. Bull calf – Wendy Kingaby.
Limousin (Judge: G Wright). Champion – R and Kathleen Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith, with the four-year-old bull Woodmarsh Tornado, by Ampertaine Foreman, out of Millington Highlight. He was second at the Royal Highland Show. Reserve – R and Kathleen Davidson with the January 2023-born Corsairtly Universe, by Whinfellpark Ronaldo, out of Corsairtly Orbit. First at the Royal Highland. Senior bull, junior bull, cow, bull calf – R and Kathleen Davidson. Heifer – S Mitchell.
Simmental (Judge: G Wright). Champion, inter-breed cattle and show supreme – Delfur Farms, Rothes, with Delfur Nifty, which stood reserve inter-breed at Echt. She is by Ballymoney Larry, out of Delfur Joyful and was reserve champion at the Royal Highland and champion of champions at Angus Show. Shown with heifer calf by Islavale Magnum. Reserve – Delfur Farms with the January 2025-born bull, Delfur Supernova, by Islavale Magnum, out of Delfur Hells. He was breed champion at LiveScot and reserve junior male champion at Stars of the Future. Senior bull – C and M Bruce. Junior bull, cow, heifer, heifer calf – Delfur Farms.
Highland cattle (Judge: S Hunter, Shotts). Champion – JL Hall, Gallabog Croft, Balgaveny, Rothienorman, with the three-year-old heifer Grace of Congash, by Hector of Earn, out of Lorraine 2 of Boquhapple. Reserve – Victoria and K Thomson, Frosty Brae, Maud, with the five-year-old cow Emma of Congash, by Hector of Earn, out of Mairina of Congash. First at Echt. Bull, cow, bull calf – Victoria and K Thomson. Heifer calf – J Fraser. Senior heifer – JL Hall. Intermediate heifer, junior heifer – Michelle Greaves.
Beef Shorthorn (Judge: H Rennie). Champion – Rattray Estate, Peterhead, with the two-year-old bull Westbroad Vernon, by Shawhill Leroy, out of Westbroad Rosette. Purchased as a calf at foot at the Westbroad dispersal, he was second at the Royal Highland. Reserve – Alison Watt, Birkenburn, Keith, with the six-year-old cow Strathisla Polly, by Meonhill Lion King, out of Strathisla Lori. Shown with her heifer calf at foot. Senior bull, senior heifer – Rattray Estate. Junior bull, bull calf – A and Alice Haigh. Cow – Alison Watt. Junior heifer – Fiona Davidson.
Cross cattle (Judge: Ally Fraser, Nairn). Champion and reserve inter-breed cattle – M and M Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with the January-born Limousin cross heifer BB, bred by Balfour Baillie and bought at the Thainstone Spectacular. She was junior champion at Stars of the Future and champion at Rising Stars. She was champion at Stirling and champion of champions at Echt. Reserve – G, C and J Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith, with the home-bred heifer Violet, that stood first in her class at the Royal Highland Show and Echt. She is an embryo bred from Solwayview Rainbow, and by Trueman Idol. Breeding heifer, two-year-old heifer, two-year-old bullock, bullock calf, pair of yearling heifers – B Duffton. Yearling heifer, yearling bullock – M and M Robertson. Heifer calf 2025-born, small holder bullock or heifer, small holder calf – Lily Smith. Heifer calf 2026-born – B Paterson. YF heifer – G, C and J Hendry. YF bullock – Cally Harper. Novice – Jasmine Strachan.
Any other continental breed (Judge: G Wright). Champion – B Duffton, Huntly, with 17-month-old privately purchased British Blue bull Almeley Viking, by Ballygrange Dalton, out of Almeley Fay. Reserve – B Duffton, with January 2022-born Harelaw Star, by Henilli Wishmaster, out of Woodend Leonna. Champion at Fettercairn and reserve at Echt.
Any other native breed (Judge: H Rennie). Champion – Alana Clark, Huntly, with the champion from Echt, the Belted Galloway bull Barwise Ergo, bought for 6000gns in Skipton. Reserve – Louise Malcolm, with the home-bred Hereford bull Claymires Caspa, by Auchvale Topline, out of Claymires Clover.
Texel (Judge: K Jarvie, Greenloaning, Perthshire). Champion and inter-breed sheep – The Knox Family, Mid Haddo, Fyvie with a home-bred one-crop ewe by the 20,000gns Sportsmans Grand Slam out of a home-bred daughter of Harestone Eldorado. She was third at the Royal Highland. Reserve – R Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff with a gimmer by Clanfield Golden, out of a ewe by Harestone Eldorado. She is an ET sister to last year’s Highland Show champion and her full brother sold for 12,000gns two years ago. Aged tup – M Seed. Shearling, ewe – The Knox Family. Gimmer, ewe lamb – R Wilson. Tup lamb – D McKerrow.
Suffolk (Judge: M Leggat, Huntly, Aberdeenshire). Champion – JGS and D Duncan, Jacobshall, Huntly with a two-crop ewe on her show debut. She is by Bridgeview Balvenie and bred from a Ballynacannon Beastie Boy daughter. Reserve – C Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder with a gimmer by Lakeview Double Choice and out of a Birness Banter-bred ewe. Shearling, tup lamb – JA Lorimer. Ewe – JGS and D Duncan. Gimmer, ewe lamb – C Paterson.
Charollais (Judge: J Hunter, Insch, Aberdeenshire). Champion – T Dalgarno, Clackriach, Maud with a gimmer on her show debut by Foxhill Bandit and out of a Knockin Wilterweight-bred ewe. Reserve – Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Barnyards, Mintlaw with a home-bred gimmer by Foxhill Bandit, she took champion at Echt. Shearling, tup lamb, ewe lamb – Eilidh and Erin Duncan. Ewe, gimmer – T Dalgarno.
Cheviot (Judge: G Graham, Lockerbie). Champion – A Polson, Stonehaven with his champion park-type North Country Cheviot gimmer from the Royal Highland. Sired by Kilvaddy Class Act and out of a home-bred ewe, she was champion any other breed at Echt. Reserve – A Polson with the two-shear-tup £4800 Upper Cornquoy First Class. He was placed at the Royal Highland and stood reserve at Echt. Aged tup, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – A Polson. Shearling, tup lamb – W and J Brown.
Beltex (Judge: Kirsty Morton, Denny, Stirlingshire). Champion – W and J Brown, Hilton of Culsh with home-bred gimmer H.O.C Lexi, bought inside her mother from Lanark, she is by Faughhill Kaiser and out of Carstairs Jersey, this is her first outing. Reserve – G Ireland, Glenisla, Huntly with the three-crop ewe Glenisla Hubbabubba. By Heatheryhall Fast and Furious and bred from Blackjack Echofalls, she stood champion here in 2023. Aged tup, shearling, ewe, tup lamb, ewe lamb – G Ireland. Gimmer – W and J Brown.
Blue Texel (Judge: Kirsty Morton). Champion – Holly Buchan, Methlick with the tup lamb Gight Legacy by a Grahams tup and out of a Rae-bred ewe. First outing. Reserve – C Crawford, New Deer with Saltire Just-The-Job, a one-crop ewe by a Quarryview sire and out of Saltire Blue 3-style. She was purchased from Stuart Wood’s online sale as a gimmer last year. Aged tup, gimmer – A Cumming. Shearling – Holly Buchan. Ewe, ewe lamb – C Crawford.
AOB (MV) (Judge: M Leggat). Champion – Cara and Iona Mallarkey, Airdlin Mains, Ellon with the Dutch Spotted gimmer Airdlin Irresistible, by Airdlin Hot Stuff and bred from Cooperage Flirty. Reserve – JM and WS Skinner, Drumblade with the Dutch Spotted shearling tup Brideswell Impulsive. Out of Coxhill Gooseberry and sired by Tiptop Gaboo, he was placed at the Royal Highland. Aged tup, shearling – JM and WS Skinner. Ewe – C Cruden. Gimmer, tup lamb, ewe lamb – Cara and Iona Mallarkey.
AOB (Non-MV) (Judge: R Blackhall, Banchory). Champion – J Millican, Newton of Hassiewells, Rothienorman with a two-crop Bluefaced Leicester ewe by R3 Burton and out of a J22 Riddings-bred ewe. First outing. Reserve – A Leek, Lonmay with a home-bred Blackface gimmer by a son of the £32,000 Orchilmore bought from Towiemore, out of a home-bred ewe. Aged tup, gimmer – A Leek. Shearling, ewe, ewe lamb – J Millican. Tup lamb – I Jackson.
Jacob (Judge: Barbara Webster, Newburgh, Fife). Champion – I Forsyth, Milden with Adamski Quantum, a shearling purchased from Adam Christie at Carlisle last year after standing champion at the Royal Highland. He is by Adamski Leonardo out of an Adamski-bred dam. Reserve – Jennifer Milton, Keith with the tup lamb Cardswood Ignatius. On his show debut, he is by Dunmore Gannett and out of a Cardswood ewe. Aged tup – M Milne. Shearling – I Forsyth. Ewe, gimmer, tup lamb, ewe lamb – Jennifer Milton.
Ryeland (Judge: R Aitken, Alford, Aberdeenshire). Champion – J and N Dodds with the tup lamb Monks Myre Geronimo. Sired by Snelson Eros, he is out of Monks Myre Domino. He was at Echt. Reserve – C Thomson, Maud with a ewe lamb that was first at Echt. Aged tup, ewe lamb – C Thomson. Shearling, ewe – Kim Harding. Gimmer, tup lamb – J and N Dodds.
Dorset (Judge: A Morton, Larkhall, Lanarkshire). Champion – F Davidson, Keith with Hydes Isla-Rae, a ewe lamb by Hydes Godfather, out of a Burhos ewe. She won her class at West Fife and stood second at Echt. Reserve – AK and M Byrnes with a shearling tup. Aged tup, ewe – G and L Pirie. Shearling – AK and M Byrnes. Gimmer, ewe lamb – F Davidson. Tup lamb – Dun Eideann Flock.
Small minority breeds (Non-MV) (Judge: E Mutch, Banff, Aberdeenshire). Champion – Lois Thompson and Dr JW Graham with Shieling Eostre, a two-crop home-bred Shetland ewe. On her first outing, she is by Brae Xsmolder and out of Elf of Derwent. Reserve – S and Zoe Robson, Loanhead with Loanhead Brinn. A three-shear Badgerfaced Welsh Mountain ram, he was purchased in Wales three years ago and took champion here last year. Aged tup – S and Zoe Robson. Shearling, ewe, tup lamb, ewe lamb – Lois Thompson and Dr JW Graham. Gimmer – Kirsty Sutherland.
Cross sheep pens of three (Judge: E Runciman, Lauder, Berwickshire). Champion – W and J Brown, Hilton of Culsh with a pen of three Beltex cross Texel gimmers. Out of Beltex cross Texel ewes, they are sired by an Airyolland tup. First outing. Reserve – Sordale Suffolks, Huntly with a pen of Suffolk Mule gimmers by a home-bred Suffolk sire. They were shown as lambs last year and are destined to be sold at the Huntly gimmer sales. Pen of ewes, pen of native sired gimmers – Sordale Suffolks. Pen of Mule or Greyface gimmers – D and DM Leslie. Pen of continental sired gimmers, pen of continental sired lambs, continental cross ewe with pair of lambs, native cross ewe with pair of lambs – W and J Brown. Pen of native-sired lambs – K and J Elphinstone. Breeding ewe lambs – K Moir. Gimmer with lamb or lambs at foot – Cairness Ltd.
Cross-bred singles (Judge: R Dawson, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – J Lowe, South Tarwathie, Strichen with a home-bred Beltex cross Texel shearling. Sired by a Beltex tup purchased from John McLean, Mains of Culsh, he is out of a Texel cross ewe. Reserve – Sordale Suffolks, Huntly with a January-born Suffolk cross ewe lamb by Cranorskie Tank and out of a Cheviot Mule ewe. First outing. Native-bred ewe, native-bred gimmer, native-bred ewe lamb, continental-bred ewe lamb – Sordale Suffolks. Continental-bred ewe – Jacqueline Davidson. Shearling, tup lamb – J Lowe.
Sheep young handlers (Judge: Kirsty Morton). Under 11 years – 1, Theo Cantley; 2, Leon Cardosi; 3, Olivia Topp. Ages 11 to 14 years – 1, Alexander Leek; 2, Sasha Archibald; 3, Iona Mallarkey.
Clydesdale (Judge: Ann Brown, Nigg, Aberdeen). Champion – G Young, Buckie with the eight-year-old mare Arradoul Capella. By Arradoul Balvenie and out of Arradoul Symphony, she was supreme horse here in 2019 and breed champion in 2024. Reserve – The Skinner Family, Strathorn, Inverurie with seven-year-old gelding Lagnaha Boris. Shown by Lauren Andrew, he is by Arradoul Balvenie and out of Singlie Adele. First season competing. Filly – Rachel Dunn. Colt or gelding under three years, young handler –Annabelle Watt. Mare – G Young. Gelding over three years – The Skinner Family. Ridden – Carole Gover.
Shetland ponies (Judge: D MacArthur, Culloden, Inverness). Champion – S Sinclair, Unigarth, Orkney with Unigarth Princess Elizabeth. A six-year-old yeld mare, she is out of Head O Work Elvita and by Wells Real Lucky. She won multiple champions as a four-year-old. Reserve – S Sinclair with the six-year-old brood mare Unigarth Evangeline. Another by Wells Real Lucky and out of Unigarth Elvita, she won many titles in 2023 including at the Royal Highland, Dounby and Black Isle. Gelding over four years – Kenzie Ives McNeil. Brood mare, foal, yeld mare, filly two to three years, group, pair – S Sinclair. Yearling, coloured – Caryl Miller. Young handlers – 1, Tess Fiddes; 2, Kenzie Ives McNeil; 3, Stuart Valentine.
Miniature Shetlands (Judge: D MacArthur). Champion – R Macleod, Lochfleet Shetlands, Dornoch with the yearling filly Lochfleet Dornoch. Sired by Westergarth Galaxy, she is out of Hjaltland Hirta. She took multiple junior championships as a foal. Reserve – R Macleod with the 11-year-old mare Hjaltland Thoreena. A daughter of Hjaltland Thor and Hjaltland Virna, she was bought in the Spring privately from breeders Eric and Sheena Knight, Hjaltland. Stallion, colt, filly or gelding two to three years, brood mare, foal, yearling, yeld mare, coloured, group – R Macleod. Gelding over four years – Oliva Barclay. Young handlers – 1, Oliva Barclay; 2, Kenzie Ives McNeil.
Highland ponies (Judge: Audrey Barron, Blairgowrie, Perthshire). Champion – Frances McWilliam, Peterhead with the yearling filly Finches Copper Penny. Reserve – Beverley Cole, Millbrecks, Fyvie with the six-year-old mare Allendale Nightingale. A daughter of Ruwenzori Ferdinand and the mare Overhall Lark, the show marks her first championship. Yeld mare – Beverley Cole. Yearling – Frances McWilliam. Ridden – Morven Wilkie.
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