A SUCCESSFUL ‘Highland Day’ for Orkney as they claim success on their home turf.

On Saturday October 19, six clubs came together from across the Highland Area Farmers Clubs to take part in the annual event of stock judging, pool and darts competitions.

Orkney hosted the event for their first time and provided three of the six clubs competing on the day – Harray, Sandwick and East Mainland. The other three teams came from Caithness, a singular competitor Sarah Mowat from Ross Sutherland and thirteen members from Shetland, who took part in their first North competition.

The day began with stock judging at the Orkney Auction Mart with four classes comprising of Charolais, commercials, Texels and North Country Cheviots – provided by local farmers. Gareth Wood judged the cattle and Iain Laird the sheep and they found their overall stockman of the day in Colin Sinclair from Sandwick with 236 points. Runner up was awarded to fellow Orcadian Signy Spence of East Mainland with 2225 points and third place to Kirsten Learnmonth from the same club with a close 223 points.

In the junior section it was another clean sweep for Orkney with Connor Spence from Harray being awarded the top prize with a total of 204 points, with second place going to Glenn Foubister from East Mainland with 192 points and third to fellow club member Reece Byers with 165 points.

Taking the overall team first place was Sandwick which comprised of Colin Sinclair, Tommy Linklater and Matthew Rendall with a score of 548 points. Second placed team went to Shetland with 523 points and third place to East Mainland’s team with 520 points.

Following the stock judging, the clubs moved on to compete at double’s pool and single darts in the Standing Stones Hotel in Stenness where both competitions were won by the hosts Orkney.

In the double’s pool, the winners on the night after a best of three match was Harray’s Andrew Clouston and Susie Manson, with runner up going to East Mainland’s Sean Stanger and George Low. Third place was won by Sandwick’s Ryan Kemp and Garry Mathers, after the 3rd place play off with Magnus Walker and Cameron Drever from East Mainland.

Darts was played in three leagues, a junior and two open rounds with the final being held at the end, with the top placed teams from the open leagues competing. The junior league was won by Andrew Seator from Harray, second was was Lee Rendall from East Mainland and Sandwick’s Gary Isbister came third. The Open League was won again for a second year running by East Mainland’s George Low, second was fellow club member Sean Stanger and third place went to Sandwick’s Tommy Linklater.

North area vice chairman Gemma Duguid said: “A fantastic turnout of 60 people participated in the Highland Day. A very high standard of Stockjudging was seen and with the Shetland YF having their first shot of reasons. Pool and Darts was a great success and everyone had a very enjoyable day! Well done to all the members!”

Highland area manager Kerry Mackenzie noted “it was great to see all of the Clubs taking part and especially with Shetland coming down to take part for the first time at the North Competition. The Stock judging was a great way to start and we are very gratefully to the local mart for hosting, and to our Judges and donners,” she continued. “All members did extremely well and the judges commented on this, which gives the members a boost! The day was followed by a good social competition at the pool and darts and was great to see the members interacting and helping one another, I was proud of the area and clubs I look after for making the Highland Day a success and we hope to see it blossom more over the next few years."