Bonnie Lily stars at Grantown

Add to that a good dry day, and such was the enthusiasm for the event that the car parks were half full by 9am for the judging, which eventually saw the Clydesdale champion crowned supreme overall by rural secretary, Fergus Ewing.

Taking all the plaudits was David Walker and Beverley Brown's five-year-old driving mare, Kilmaclasser Bonnie Lily, an Irish-bred daughter of Cloondaff Setanta out of Carnaff Bonnie Marie, shown with May-born filly foal at foot, by Doura Aird Ambition.

John Mackie, Milton of Noth, had the huge task of selecting the supreme cattle and sheep winners and found the former in John and Raymond Irvine's big white Charolais cow, Inverlochy Ingris, a five-year-old by the 11,000gns Maerdy Eryr – a bull whose first sons averaged £8000, from Inverlochy, Tomintoul. She was shown fresh from winning the overall champion of champions at Turriff, having earlier won the female title and reserve breed honours at the Highland in June.

"She's a wonderful example of the breed, full of character and beef and she moves very well, but it was close between her and the reserve. The commercial champion is a very good heifer," said Mr Mackie.

It was an equally well-bred commercial that scooped the reserve overall, in Magic Mojo, a 14-month-old British Blue cross heifer from William and David Moir, Cairness, Fraserburgh, that also lifted the section championship at Turriff and reserve at the Spring Show. Bred in Ireland by Jack Smyth, she is out of the former Balmoral Show section champion, and reserve inter-breed winner, Mojo.

Charolais from Inverlochy were back in the tickets to win the group of three title, with the blue and white sash presented to a trio of Limousins from the Irvine family from Inverlochy.

Mr Mackie was most impressed by his choice of overall champion in the sheep section too, tapping out the any other breed champion, a massive crossing-type Bluefaced Leicester from Raymond Baynes, Blackford, Croy, as his supreme.

"He's a big upright, long tup, full of character and he walks well. He was an easy winner," he said, after presenting the reserve rosette to the lead Texel, a ewe from Graham Morrison's Deveronvale flock.

Supreme was a Newbiggin Walls two-shear ram bought at Kelso, last year for £2400, from Mrs Obie Sharp. He is by a £15,000 H2 Carry House sire and stood first at Nairn.

Graham Morrison had a great day, winning both the individual reserve inter-breed sheep and the top award for the group of three with home-bred Texels. His top winner from Inchbruich, Cornhill, was a previously unshown two-crop ewe by Aman Vyrnwy, brought out by shepherd Stuart Hunter, that goes back to an 8000gns Deveronvale gimmer sold to Strathbogie.

Zwartbles from Carie and Sarah Bissett's Carrah flock from Evanton, secured the runner up group of three title.

LEADING awards

Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: A Taylor, Kirriemuir). Champion – Ballindalloch Home Farm, Ballindalloch, with Ballindalloch Ebony, a two-year-old in-calf heifer by Ballindalloch Earl, a bull retained for breeding by Ardoyne Mineral Prince, out of Ballindalloch Erica. She was reserve female champion at Nairn and second at Black Isle. Reserve – D Rankin, C/o R and C Rettie, with the second prize winner to the champion, Kilmaluig Lady Isabel, a similarly aged heifer by Retties JFK, out of Mosston Muir Isabelle. She was reserve female at the Black Isle, third at the Highland and was brought out by free-lance stockmen, Richard and Carole Rettie. Senior bull – A and K Rhind and Son, Kinloss. Junior bull – D Rankin. Cow, calf – D Walker, Galcantray, Cawdor. Senior heifer – Ballindalloch Home Farm. Junior heifer – Firm of TJ and G Maclean.

Beef Shorthorn (Judge: K Greenwood, Culloden). Champion and reserve – Smallburn Farms, Plewlands. Supreme was the Highland Show champion, Smallburn Jethro, a three-year-old son of Lowther Emblem, out of the show winner Smallburn Fifi. Jethro was also champion at the Black Isle and Turriff. Reserve was Lowther Sally, an eight-year-old cow that shown with her sixth calf, an April-born bull by Burnside Judge. Sally is by Blelack Minstrel and is bred from Augusta Sally of Upsall. Senior bull, cow – Smallburn Farms. Senior heifer, calf – Cathryn Williamson, Kingussie. Junior heifer – Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown.

Highland (Judge: A Kirkpatrick, Ayr). Champion – G McConachie, Culfoichmore, Advie, with the six-year-old stock-bull, Jacob 2 of Benmore, an Alastair Ruadh of Meggernie son out of Iona 23 of Benmore, that was bought at Oban as a two-year-old for 3600gns. Previously unshown and up for sale due to the fact he is now coming into his own heifers, he bred the 5000gns centre record priced Highland bull at Stirling in May and last year’s junior champion at Oban. Reserve – D Smith, Grantown on Spey, with Susan 19 of Ormsary, a six-year-old cow by Callum 2 of Goldenberry, bought at Oban in 2015, and shown with three-month-old bull calf at foot. She stood second here last year. Three-year-old heifer, yearling heifer – Allanfearn Highlanders. Two-year-old heifer, calf – Tordarroch Estates. Cow, bull calf – D Smith. Senior bull – G McConachie.

Simmental (Judge: B Grant, Inverness). Champion – Blackford Farm, Croy, with Blackford Hyalite, a two-year-old in-calf heifer by Kilbride Farm Double Action out of Blackford Amber. Junior female champion at the National at Perth, last year, she was first at Turriff and reserve inter-breed at the Black Isle, the previous week. Her dam is Blackford Amber. Reserve – D and R Durno and Sons, Glenlivet, with Auchorachan Letta, a rising two-year-old heifer by Team Fergus that stood third at the Highland. She is bred from Auchorachan Dynasty. Senior bull, junior heifer – D and R Durno and Sons. Junior bull, senior heifer, calf – Blackford Farm.

Charolais (Judge: B Grant). Champion and supreme beef – J Irvine and Son, Tomintoul, with the overall champion of champions from Turriff Show, Inverlochy Ingris, a five-year-old cow by the 11,000gns Maerdy Eryr, out of Inverlochy Babe. She was paraded due to show winning bull, Kibline Instigator. Reserve – M Milne, Lhanbryde, with the junior bull, Elgin Neuer, an 18-month-old son of Woodpark Elgin, bred from Elgin Ultra, that junior inter-breed champion at the Highland and reserve at the Black Isle. He is destined for the bull sales at Stirling in October. Bull, junior heifer – M Milne. Cow, senior heifer – J Irvine and Son. Calf – C Stuart, Braes of Glenlivet.

British Blonde (Judge: K Greenwood, Inverness). Champion and reserve – Alison Watt, Keith. Supreme was Strathisla Maddie, a two-year-old in-calf heifer that was reserve at New Deer and stood first in her class at the remaining north-east shows. She is by Freefield Go Pal, a bull bought privately and out of Freefield Hollie, which was also purchased privately. Reserve was Strathisla Nevis Young, bred from the show cow, Strathisla Ellen. His sire is Strathisla Hero, a Ballygowan Noble son that was champion at the Highland in 2015 and was retained for breeding. All classes – Alison Watt.

Any other breed (Judge: A Kirkpatrick, Ayr). Champion – D and R Durno and Sons, Glenlivet, with the April 2017-born Salers bull, Cleughhead Munro, which was bought privately alongside his dam, Cleuchhead Mhairi. He is by Cuil Godfather and was champion at Turriff and third in his class at the Highland. Reserve – Sarah Balfour, Easter Tomintoul, with a 25-month-old in-calf British Blue heifer bought at Carlisle in May. Black n’ Blue Lady Lloyd, is by Jisco De Focont, bred from Black n’ Blue Estelle and was reserve at Echt and any other breed champion at Nairn. Senior bull, cow, calf – W Hendry, Longmorn. Junior bull – D and R Durno and Sons. Junior heifer – Sarah Balfour.

Young Farmer’s calf (Judge: Jennifer Hyslop, Barrhill). Champion – Duncan Munro. Reserve – Rachel Davidson. Senior calf – 1, Duncan Munro; 2, Katie Meston; 3, Rory Milne. Junior calf – 1, Rachel Davidson; 2, Nicola Howie; 3, Leam Sinclair.

Commercial cattle (Judge: Jennifer Hyslop). Champion and reserve inter-breed beef – W Moir, Cairness with Magic Mojo, a 14-month-old British Blue cross, bred in Ireland by Jack Smyth. Reserve at the Spring Show in February, and second in the British Blue class at the Highland, she is by Empire D’ Ochain and bred from the show heifer, Mojo, a former reserve inter-breed winner at Balmoral Show. Magic Mojo was champion at Turriff and is also a full sister to the reserve commercial champion at the Highland in 2015. Reserve – J Munro and Son, Invercharron, Ardgay, with She Who Dares, a seven-month-old Limousin cross heifer calf by the privately purchased stock bull, Plumtree Fallon, out of a British Blue cross Limousin dam. Champion at Nairn and reserve at the Black Isle, she has been sold privately to Anita Padfield, who bought her half sister, last year. Senior heifer, September 2017-born stot – M Robertson, Tomintoul. Heifer calf born after September 2017, 2018-born stot calf, 2018-born heifer calf – J Munro and Son. YFC calf – W Moir.

Commercial breeding cow (Judge: Jennifer Hyslop). Champion – C Stuart, Braes of Glenlivet, with a Limousin cross calf with autumn-born calf at foot. Reserve – D and R Durno and Sons, Glenlivet, with a Limousin cross cow with spring born calf at foot.

Clydesdale (Judge: N Christie, Aberdeen). Champion, supreme horse and overall champion of champions – D Walker and Beverley Brown, Cawdor, with the five-year-old Irish-bred mare, Kilmaclasser Bonnie Lily. A daughter of Cloondaff Setanta out of Carnaff Bonnie Marie, this driving horse was shown with May-born filly foal at foot, by Doura Aird Ambition. Reserve – Louise Tulloch, Nairn, with a six-month-old filly foal, by Doura Geronimo, out of Kypehall Rosebud. She was second at Nairn and champion foal at the Black Isle. Senior male or gelding , mare with foal – D Walker and B Brown. Foal – L Tulloch. Young handlers – Reece McLeod.

Highland ponies (Judge: Mrs PJ Watson, Huntly). Champion, mountain and moorland and in-hand champion – R Ormiston, Kingussie with the mouse dun Islay Luchag, a four-year-old yeld mare by Arisaig Luchag Mhor of Creagdubh out of Shelagh of Croila. She was reserve here in 2017. Reserve – Jenny McCallum, Errogie, with the gelding Rhannoch of Forglen.

Shetland (Judge: D Burnett, Ellon). Champion – Christine Forbes, Dufftown, with the Orkney-bred seven-year-old mare, Bayview Full of Joy, bred by Laura Cromarty. Bought privately as a foal, she is by Millhouse First Choice, out of Bayview Joy and was shown with colt foal at foot. Reserve – Nina MacDonald-Lewis, with a yeld mare.

Blackface (Judge: A Wight, Biggar). Champion – R and S Duncan, Glenlivet, with a home-bred shearling ram from their 140-ewe south-type Livet flock. Previously unshown, he is by a £3200 Dyke, out of a ewe by a £2700 Tinnis, and is destined for the breed sale at Dalmally. Reserve – R Flett, Ardersier, with a ram lamb by a £6000 Auldhouseburn, bought at Dalmally, bred from an Auldhouseburn ewe lamb bought privately by a £90,000 Blackhouse. He was on his first outing from the 30-ewe flock. Aged ram – Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown. Shearling ram, gimmer, tup lamb pair – R and S Duncan. Tup lamb – R Flett. Ewe – B Cocker, Kirriemuir. Ewe lamb, ewe lamb pair – S Hunter, Wedderburm.

Texel (Judge: C Angus, Thurso). Champion – G Morrison, Cornhill, with a previously unshown home-bred two-crop ewe by Aman Vyrnwy, out of a Glenside Razzle Dazzle-sired gimmer bought from Jim Innes that had been bred from an 8000gns Deveronvale gimmer. Reserve – J Green, Drumburn, Keith, with a tup lamb bred from an in-lamb Deveronvale gimmer bought last year at Carlisle. He is by Mullan Armani and was on his first outing. Aged ram, ewe – G Morrison. Gimmer, ewe lamb – Jemma Green, Garmouth. Tup lamb – J Green.

Any other pedigree sheep (Judge: A Greenlaw, Huntly). Champion and supreme sheep – R Baynes, Croy, with a two-shear crossing-type Bluefaced Leicester ram bought at Kelso last year from Obie Sharp. This Newbiggin Walls-bred ram is by a £15,000 H2 Carry House sire and stood first at Nairn. Reserve – R Baynes with the Bluefaced Leicester champion from Nairn, a traditional Blue gimmer by a Cassington D1. All classes – R Baynes.

Suffolk (Judge: Irene Fowlie, Strichen). Champion – Louise McAuley, Elgin, with a shearling ram bought privately from Bareflathills last year. Champion at Sutherland and Nairn, reserve at Echt and reserve male at Black Isle, he is by Cairnorrie Hello Santos. Reserve – K Ingram, Grange, with a one-crop ET Deveronside-bred ewe bought at the flock dispersal. Champion at Black Isle, she is by Ballynacannon Big Baz. Ram, ewe lamb, tup lamb – L McAuley. Ewe, gimmer – K Ingram.

Cross sheep (Judge: A Greenlaw). Champion – Amy McCord (11), Gaich, with a pair of March-born ewe lambs by a Texel cross Beltex ram bought at Kelso, out of a Suffolk cross Beltex ewe. They are to be sold at Huntly on Wednesday. Reserve – L Smith, Keith, with a Scotch Mule gimmer that was bought in a pen last year from Tinnis at St Boswells. She is shared with Heather Gray and was champion at Dunblane and inter-breed champion at Drymen and Gargunnock. Ewe – G Breathet, Arderseir. Gimmer – L Smith. Ewe lamb – W Moir. Scotch Mule ewe lamb pair – Gaich Farms. Native-bred pair of lambs – C Stuart, Braes of Glenlivet. Continental-bred pair of lambs – A McCord.

Jacob (Judge: M MacIntosh, Peterhead). Champion and reserve – A Christie, Glass. Supreme was a home-bred gimmer by Dun-Mor Antonio, out of Pentranent Candie. Champion at Fettercairn and New Deer and reserve at the Black Isle, this year, she was also champion here and reserve at the Highland, in 2017. Reserve was the two-shear ram, Hope Knock Out, a Hyndshaw Highland Laddie son bought last year at St Boswells. He was champion at Nairn and the Black Isle. Tup, gimmer, ewe lamb – A Christie. Ewe, tup lamb – Jennifer Milton, Drummuir.

Zwartbles (Judge: D Moir, Fraserburgh). Champion – Sammy Stewart, Drummuir, with Bessiebell Eyeopener, a gimmer bought last year from Messrs Smyth, Northern Ireland, at Carlisle. She is by Gillhall Amorok and out of a Culriach-bred ewe. Reserve – Messrs Bissett, Evanton, with the second prize gimmer that stood champion at Nairn and was unbeaten in her class last year. She is by Donebraich Big D and out of a home-bred ewe. Ram, gimmer, ewe lamb – S Stewart. Ewe, tup lamb – Messrs Bissett.

Young handlers – Junior – 1, Chloe Anderson; 2, Eoin Harrold; 3, Lawrence Meldrum. Senior – 1, Ryan Sharp; 2, Lioam Sharp, Craig and Gary Milton.