A young Limousin bull from Jim and Sandy Hunter’s Wedderburn herd, Huntly, claimed the top accolade at Keith Show when Wedderburn Apollo was tapped out as champion of champions.
The 18-month-old son of Strathearnred Nidge headed a strong line-up of livestock champions from across the show.
In the sheep lines, Luke Holmes and Sarah Balfour, Craigiebank, Keith, secured the inter-breed honours with a home-bred North Country Cheviot ewe.
Supreme horse was the Clydesdale champion, Arradoul Ellie May, from George Young, Kinbate Croft, Turriff.
Reserve inter-breed cattle honours went to Delfur Farms, Rothes, with the home-bred Simmental cow Delfur Nifty, a rising three-year-old by Ballymoney Larry, which has enjoyed a successful show season.
Jennifer McKilligan’s Blue Texel ewe, Jems Juicy Luicy, from Mains of Newtongarry, Drumblade, was another standout performer securing the reserve inter-breed sheep honours.
LEADING awards
Highland (Judge: Emma Wightman, Linlithgow). Champion – Sarah McDonald, Glenhead of Coachford, Cairnie with the three-year-old heifer Winnie, bought from Aikengall as a yearling. Heifer – S McDonald.
Aberdeen Angus (Judge: A Clark jr, Cumnock). Champion – H Thomson, South Ardoyne with the eight-year-old cow Tynet Diana, shown with her bull calf Tynet Druid. Sired by Gretnahouse Blacksmith and out of Fearn Abby Diana. Champion at Angus and Banchory. Reserve – C McCombie, Auchincrieve, Huntly with the 15-month-old heifer, Auchincrieve Edwinasa. Sired by Auchincrieve Eminem and out of Auchincrieve Edwinasa 450. Young bull, calf, group of three – Ballindalloch Farms. Cow – H Thomson. Heifer born in 2024 – R Marshall. Heifer born in 2025 – C McCombie, Auchincrieve.
Beef Shorthorn (Judge: Emma Wightman). Champion and reserve – G Stephen, Hatton Farm, Dallas, with the home-bred heifer, Glendual Rosette Vienetta, by Rasputin of Upsall and out of Glendual Rosette Ruby. Champion at Turriff and reserve at Nairn. Reserve was the yearling heifer Glendual Gorgeous Willow, also by Rasputin of Upsall and out of HW Gorgeous Tessa. Bull, aged heifer, young heifer, group of three – G Stephen. Calf – Rattray Estate.
Charolais (Judge: D Nicol, Perthshire). Champion – A and A Wright, Glenlivet, with the heifer Lagavaich Violet, which was shown in calf to Stranagone Verynice. Violet is sired by Thurso Sebastian and out of a home-bred cow. Second outing of the year. Reserve – Michelle Hanson and D Irvine, Upper Drakemyres, Keith, with Silvermere Unique, a January 2023-born heifer by Clyth Diplomat, out of Silvermere Ocala, shown with her heifer calf at foot, Silvermere Bliss by Glenericht Mecca. Second at the Royal Highland Show and champion at Echt and Nairn. Young bull, group of three – R McAskie. Cow, calf – M Hanson and D Irvine. Heifer, 2025-born heifer or bull – A and A Wright.
Limousin (Judge: J Hunter, Mauchline). Champion, inter-breed beef and champion of champions – J Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly, with the 18-month-old bull, Wedderburn Apollo. Sired by Strathearnred Nidge and out of Wedderburn Royalty. Reserve – Davidson family, Corsairtly, Keith, with the January 2023-born Corsairtly Universe, by Whinfellpark Ronaldo, out of Corsairtly Orbit. She was first at the Royal Highland Show and reserve at New Deer. Aged bull, cow – R and K Davidson. Young bull, group of three – J Hunter. Heifer – S Mitchell. Heifer or bull born autumn 2025, calf – Anside Livestock.
Simmental (Judge: J Wightman, Linlithgow). Champion and reserve inter-breed beef – Delfur Farms, Rothes, with Delfur Nifty, a young cow by Ballymoney Larry, out of Delfur Joyful. Champion at Turriff, Banchory, Angus and reserve at the Royal Highland. Reserve – Stronach family, Keith with the 16-month bull, Islavale Serbia, by the Irish sire Bighill Parker and out of Islavale Maddison. Bull, young heifer – Stronach family. Cow – Delfur farms. Aged heifer, calf – R Simmers. Young bull – G and A Christie. Group of three – Delfur, Simmers and G and K Anderson.
British Blue (Judge: J Hunter). Champion – J Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith with the four-year-old cow Solway View Rainbow, bought at Carlisle for 18,000gns. Sired by Solway View Odin and out of Solway View Milly. Champion at Keith, Echt, New Deer, Grantown and Nairn in 2024. Reserve – L Holmes and Sarah Balfour, Craigiebank, Banffshire with Fodderletter Vinny, a 10-month-old bull calf. An embryo by Almeley Sterling, he is bred from Harelaw Star. Champion Turriff. Bull, cow – J Hendry. Heifer, young bull – L Holmes and S Balfour.
Any other breed (Judge: J Hunter). Champion – Louise Malcolm, Claymires, Cornhill with the 16-month-old Hereford bull, Claymires Caspa. Sired by Auckvale Topline and out of Claymires Clova. Bull – L Malcolm.
Cross cattle haltered. (Judge: S Dunlop, Ochiltree). Champion – M and M Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, with BB, an 18-month-old Limousin cross British Blue cross heifer bred by Balfour Baillie, Orkney. Rising Stars champion at the Thainstone Christmas Classic and junior commercial champion at Stars of the Future in November. Bought at the Thainstone Spectacular, she is sired by Redriver Powerful and was champion at Stirling and supreme overall at Echt. Reserve – Hendry family, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith, with the embryo-bred heifer Violet. Bred from Solway View Rainbow, and sired by Trueman Idol. Reserve female at the Spring Show, first and bred champion at the Royal Highland Show and reserve at Echt and Nairn. Cow, heifer born Sept-Feb 2025, steer born Mar-Aug 2025, steer born September to December 2025, heifer calf – M Robertson. Heifer born Mar-Aug 2025 – Hendry family. Steer calf – A Fettes. Young farmers – R Davidson.
Cross cattle unhaltered (Judge: S Dunlop). Champion – B Robertson, Cairns of Mayen, Rothiemay with a seven-year-old British Blue cross Limousin cow, shown with her May-born heifer calf sired by Rossellie Ulmas. Reserve – J Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, with a six-year-old Limousin cross cow by Huntershall Monsoon. She was bred by Brian Harper, Greenwells and shown with her December-born calf sired by Aultmore Tyson. Pair – J Matthew. Cow and calf– B Robertson. Cow – J Hendry.
Young handlers (Judge: E Wightman, Linlithgow). Aged eight-12yrs– 1, Archie Paterson, 2, Cameron Dunro, 3, Erin Irvine, 4, Riley Henderson, 5, Matthew Irvine. Aged 13-14yrs – 1, Millie Hendry, 2, Isla Scott, 3, Erin Fettes, 4, Struan Hamilton, 5, Andrew Donald. Aged 15-16yrs – 1, Max Harold, 2, Blair Myles, 3, Neve Hamilton.
Clydesdale (Judge: J Greenhill, Forfar). Champion – G Young, Kinbate Croft, Turriff with the 15-year-old mare Arradoul Ellie May, which was champion here in 2019. Sired by Arradoul Cardhu and out of Arradoul Majesta, a mare that also bred Arradoul Balvenie. Reserve – A Jackson, Boat Clydesdales, Lanark with the six-month colt foal, Boat Rock Solid, a son of the Cawdor Cup winner, Dillars Lenny, out of Boat Lady Crystal which is a former champion at Ayr, Lesmahagow and Biggar. Mare – G Young. Foal – A Jackson. Colt – Finlay Pargeter. Young handler – Laura Beattie.
Highland (Judge: F Lawson). Champion – G Adams, Nairn, with Tabitha of Craignetherty Sika, a four-year-old female bought from Hugh Duncan at Turriff. Sired by Apollo of Sunnyneuk and out of Fyonna of Craignetherty. Reserve – Ellie Coull, Buckie, with the 11-year-old gelding, Glen Bruar Silver Spey, bred by Mhairi Page, Fochabers. Sired by Trowan Miracle and out of Silver Chime, Lochlands. Over four years, foal – G Adams.
Standard Shetland (Judge: Irene Spence). Champion and reserve overall horse – C Forbes, 1 Dullenbank, Dufftown, with the eight-year-old mare Lynemore Mirrie Dancer. Sired by Lynemore Illusion and out of Lynemore Finesse. Champion at the Spring Show and reserve at Banchory and Keith, in 2024. Reserve – Corla Reid, Insch with Unigarth Ernest a three-year-old gelding by Wells Real Luck. Supreme horse at Banchory Show. Over four years, under one – C Forbes. Two or three years – C Reid.
Miniature Shetland (Judge: Irene Spence). Champion and reserve – Fiona Johnstone, Glen Ord with the 10-year-old stallion, Milday Master Mason bred by John Lawrie, Dalkeith. Sired by Twnarubus and out of Milday popstir. Champion at Black Isle. Reserve was the yearling filly, Glen Ord Elektra. Sired by Milday Master Mason and out of Milday Dar-re-mi. Stallion, under three years, under one year – F Johnstone. Mare – Phlair Stud. Over four years mare or gelding – O Barclay.
Texel (Judge: R Reynolds, Peterculter). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – R Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff, with the first prize ewe lamb from the Royal Highland and reserve winner from Turriff. She is by Auldhouseburn Imperial King and bred from a home-bred dam by Clanfield Golden. Reserve – J and S Hunter, Wedderburn, Huntly, with a tup lamb by Auldhouseburn Illusion and out of a home-bred ewe by Mossknowe Focus. Family’s number one lamb for the breed sale at Carlisle. Aged tup – K Ingram. Shearling tup, tup lamb – J Hunter. Ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – R Wilson.
Charollais (Judge: R Shand, Aberchirder). Champion – Eilidh and Erin Duncan, Barnyards, Mintlaw, with a tup lamb by Foxhill Bandit out of a home-bred ewe by Savoch Buffalo Bill. Male champion at Echt, New Deer and Turriff. Reserve – Eilidh and Erin Duncan with a two-crop ewe by Foxhill Bandit that stood champion at Keith as a gimmer. All classes – E and E Duncan.
Beltex (Judge: B Reive, Dingwall). Champion – Munro family, Invercharron, Ardgay, with their champion of champions from Nairn Show. This was Todhall King Maker, a shearling bought at Lockerbie for 2600gns. He is by Airyolland Goldmine, out of Todhall Februarys Finest, and has been first in his class at most shows as well as champion at Caithness. Reserve – Ellie Sutherland, Maisley, Keith, with the one-crop ewe, Matt’s Kelloggs bought as a gimmer. She was second at the Black Isle Show and is by Todhall Hurricane, out of Matt’s Haribo. Aged tup – Z Rennie. Shearling tup, ewe, gimmer – E Sutherland. Ewe lamb, tup lamb, group of three – J Munro.
Cheviot (Judge: A McCarthy, Tealing). Champion and inter-breed sheep – L Holmes and Sarah Balfour, Craigiebank, Keith, with a home-bred two-crop North Country Cheviot park-type ewe. She is by Bardnaclavan Diablo, out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – L Holmes and Sarah Balfour, with a North Country Cheviot park-type gimmer bought from the Nun Cote Nook flock at Monmouth Mart in Wales. She is by Synton Danny and was reserve female at Sutherland and reserve at Nairn. Aged tup – Lochloy Cheviots. Shearling tup, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, tup lamb, group of three – L Holmes and S Balfour.
Blue Texel (Judge: Sophie Harvey, Balfron). Champion – Jennifer McKilligan, Mains of Newtongarry, Drumblade, with Jems Juicy Luicy, a home-bred two-crop ewe by Caryl’s Hulk, out of Nantyderri Going for Gold. She was first at the Royal Highland, inter-breed sheep at Fettercairn, reserve inter-breed at Echt and reserve at Turriff. Reserve – Munro family, Invercharron, Ardgay, with the gimmer Saltire Kim Kardashian, bred by Stuart Wood and bought privately as a ewe lamb. She is by Saltire Blue Ferocious, out of Saltire Blue Golden Girl, and was inter-breed champion at Caithness, champion at Sutherland and reserve at Latheron and Nairn. Shearling tup – H Buchan. Ewe, group of three, tup lamb, ewe lamb – J McKilligan. Gimmer – J Munro.
Jacob (Judge: E McMillan, Fintry). Champion – A Christie, Birchfield, Midtown of Glass, Huntly, with his second prize ewe lamb from the Royal Highland Show. A daughter of Adamski Peroni, she is out of Adamski Little Sheila. Reserve – Jennifer Milton, Keith, with her reserve from New Deer, a tup lamb by Dun-Mor Garnet, out of a Cairswood ewe. Shearling tup – I Forsyth. Ewe, tup lamb, group of three – J Milton. Gimmer, ewe lamb – A Christie.
Zwartbles (Judge: Hannah Murray, Monymusk). Champion – Bisset family, Mariain, Evanton, with the first prize gimmer from the Royal Highland and reserve from Sutherland and Black Isle. Carrah Princess, is by Cernyw Kai, out of Carrah Jennifer. Reserve – Bisset family, with the second prize gimmer, Carrah North Star which stood second at the Royal Highland. She is by the same sire and out of Joyfield Kryptonite. Shearling tup, ewe lamb, tup lamb – S Stewart. Gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – C, S and I Bissett.
Dorset (Judge: T Roper, Cumbria). Champion – F Davidson with a ewe lamb which topped the young breeders’ stockjudging competition from the Hydes flock in Essex. She is by Hydes Godfather and out of a Burhos ewe. Reserve – Dun Eideann flock, with a tup lamb on its first outing by Ballytaggart Hummer, out of a foundation ewe. First outing. Aged tup, shearling tup, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – F Davidson. Tup lamb – Dun Eideann. Ewe – J and L Baker. Young handler – Marianne Sheed.
Any other breed MV-accredited (Judge: H McRae, Tarves). Champion – Michelle Hanson and Darren Irvine, Upper Drakemyres, with a Badgerface Texel gimmer which stood first in her class at Nairn. She is by an imported tup and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – C Cruden, Standingstones, Dyce, with a two-crop Bleu Du Maine ewe bought from the Haydon dispersal two years ago. She was champion at Banchory, and reserve at Echt and New Deer as well as second at the National at Dumfries. Tup, shearling tup – S Skinner. Ewe – C Cruden. Gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – M Hanson and D Irvine. Tup lamb – E Law.
Any other breed non MV-accredited (Judge: H McRae). Champion – Newton Farms, Oldmeldrum, with a five-shear Ryeland tup by Landriggs Yogi, out of an Uppertown dam. Reserve – Angela Aird, with a home-bred Badgerface Texel shearling by a Woodies tup and out of a Woodies dam. He was first at the Black Isle. Aged tup – Newton Farms. Shearling tup, gimmer – A Aird. Ewe – E Smith. Ewe lamb, group of three – R Aitken. Tup lamb – G Moir.
Rare and minority breeds (Judge: Jack Cuthbert, Bunchrew). Champion – Zoe and Sam Robson, with a gimmer. Reserve – Andrea Goodenough with a ewe lamb. Aged tup, ewe lamb, tup lamb – A Goodenough. Shearling tup, gimmer, group of three– Z and S Robson.
Rare and minority breeds hill and upland (Judge: J Cuthbert). Champion – Zoe and Sam Robson with a Badgerface Welsh Mountain three-shear tup bought from the Bryn flock in Wales. Reserve – Findlay family, Turfhillock, Drummuir, with a home-bred Border Leicester gimmer by Knockglass Victor, out of a Muirmouth ewe. First outing. Aged tup, shearling tup, ewe lamb, tup lamb – Z and S Robson. Ewe – F Duncan. Gimmer, group of three – C and A Finlay.
Half-breds and crosses (Judge: G Cook, Banff). Champion – Pamela Duncan, Aberchirder, with three Suffolk cross Mule gimmers by a home-bred Suffolk tup, out of Mule ewes. For sale at Huntly in September, they were reserve at New Deer and first at Turriff. Reserve – D Leslie, Redhill, Elgin, with a pen of Mule gimmers bred at the Raws and bought as ewe lambs. Champion at Nairn, they will be sold at Huntly in September. Greyface Mule ewes – J Milne. Greyface Mule gimmers – D and D Leslie. Greyface Mule ewe lambs – W Stewart. Cross ewes, prime lambs – Newton Farms. Cross gimmers, cross ewe lambs – P Duncan.
Blackface (Judge: B MacKinnon, Murthly). Champion – S Robertson, Dufftown, with a north-type two-shear tup shared with Achdregnie. Purchased from the Shearers, Hillhead, for £2500, he is by a £3000 Hillhead, out of a dam by a £3500 Woolfords. Reserve – Stewart family, Bomakelloch, Drummuir, with a tup lamb on its first outing by a £500 Chamberwells, which is a son of a former reserve champion winner here. The dam is a £600 Eastmill ewe. Aged tup, gimmer – S Robertson. Shearling tup, ewe – Glenrinnes. Ewe lamb – H Stewart. Tup lamb – W Stewart.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: M Taylor, Banff). Champion – M Anderson, Rothes, with a gimmer. Reserve – J and S Hunter, Wedderburn, with a shearling bought at Hawes for £14,000 from Midlock. He is by the T1 Hewgill, out of an N75 Midlock and was on his first outing. Aged tup, shearling tup – J Hunter. Ewe, ewe lamb, tup lamb – J Millican. Gimmer – M Anderson.
Suffolk (Judge: W Fleming, Carluke). Champion – C Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder, with a gimmer by Lakeview Double Choice out of a home-bred ewe by Salopian Scuderia. She was champion at Echt and Turriff. Reserve – C Paterson, with his reserve winner from Echt and first prize winner from Turriff, a ewe lamb by Limestone Ace of Spades, out of a show ewe by Strathbogie Stormzy. All classes – C Paterson.
Shetland (Judge: A Bain, Pencaitland). Champion – I Carnegie, with the white shearling ram, Island Benson. Bred by Brian Ridland and purchased as a lamb at the Lerwick Flock Book sale, he was champion at Turriff. Reserve – E and C Stables, with their female champion from the Black Isle, the one-crop home-bred ewe, Strathisla Cleo Patra by a Raedykes sire and out of Drum Lizzy. Aged tup, shearling tup, ewe lamb, group of three – I Carnegie. Ewe – E and C Stables. Gimmer – L Thompson and J Graham. Ewe lamb – L Carnegie. Tup lamb – S Morence.
Sheep young handlers (Judge: S Harvey, Balfron). Aged nine and under – 1, Harry Holmes, 2, Arran Masson, 3, Barclay Fowlie, 4, Ella Morrison. Aged 10-13 yrs – 1, Logan Duncan, 2, Andrew Donald, 3, Donald Ramsey, 4, Sarah Fowlie, 5, Alexander Sheed. Aged 14-16yrs – 1, Sacha Archibald, 2, Isla Smith, 3, Noah Holmes.
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