IT WAS a good day for HM The Queen's 60-cow Balmoral fold, when it not only produced the supreme senior honours in the Highlanders but went on to claim the reserve title in the native seniors.

Brought out by stockman Dochy Ormiston, was Prionnsa Dubh 2 of Balmoral, a February, 2017-born son of Prionnsa Dubh of Craigowmill which has bred sons to 8000gns and 5000gns and stood reserve overall at the Highland in 2017. On its first outing and achieving a personal best for the fold, he is bred from Lady White 64 of Balmoral and will be sold at Oban in February.

Following on to take the reserve championship in the seniors for freelance stockman Graeme Easton, was his similarly aged bull, Magnus of Ubhaidh from the fold at The Ranch, Letham, Angus. This young lad is by Fergus of Ubhaidh, out of Alice 1 of Earn.

Aberdeenshire breeder and first time exhibitor, Craig Finnie of the 25-cow Richmondhill fold near Peterhead, ruled supreme in the juniors with Zsofia 2 of Richmondhill, a nine-month-old heifer calf by the home-bred bull Charles of Richmondhill. First in her class at New Deer and the Black Isle, she is bred out of Maighdean Mor 13 Glengorm, a dam bought at Oban in 2014.

Lady Alma 8 of Pollock, a February, 2018-born bull from Glasgow City Council, scooped the reserve title in the youngsters. He is by Cliadhamh Mor of Balmoral, out of Lady Alma 4 of Pollock.

LEADINGawards:

(Judge: Charlie Bruce, Bogside, King Edward, Banff).

Seniors – Bulls born Jan 11 to Mar 22, 2017 – 1, senior male champion, overall senior champion and reserve native senior, HM The Queen's Prionnsa Dubh 2 of Balmoral, by Prionnsa Dubh of Craigowmill; 2, reserve male and reserve overall junior, G Easton's Magnus of Black Glen; 3, S and E Haley's Ruadh Merlin of Seam. Heifers born Feb 4 to Mar 17, 2017 – 1 and senior female champion, D Logan's Ban-I-arla Morag 9 of Blairlogan, by Logan of Muingarigh; 2, S and M O'Hara's Cannach 3 of Cnoc, by Adhamh 2 of Lagg; 3, S and R Hunter's Capleadh of Hunters, by Gregor of Omybrae. Heifers born Mar 31 to Apr 25, 2017 ­– 1 and reserve female, G Easton's Lynsey of Ubhaidh, by Fergus of Ubhaidh; 2, H Irvine's Millie Dubh 2 of Craigluscar, by Angus Dubh 2 of Craigluscar; 3, D Logan's Katie Morag 14 of Blairlogan, by Logan of Muingarigh.

Juniors – Bulls born Jan 4 to Mar 23, 2018 – 1, S and E Haley's Ruadh Morgan of Seam, by Callum 15 of Goldenberry; 2, J and J Singer's Brogan Ruadh of Kintore Castle, by Sean of Killochries; 3, Glasgow City Council's unnamed bull, by Cliadhamh Mor of Balmoral. Bulls born Mar 24 to Apr 14, 2018 – 1 and junior male champion, A Prentice's Aonghas Ruadh of Hyndford, by Alasdair 4 of Douglas; 2, A Prentice's Jock of Hyndford, by Alasdair 4 of Douglas; 3, Glasgow City Council's unnamed bull, b y Cliadhamh Mor of Balmoral. Heifers born Jan 10 to Mar 4, 2018 – 1, junior female and overall junior champion, C Finnie's Zsofia 2 of Richmondhill, by Charles of Richmondhill; 2, HM The Queen's Connachat 94 of Balmoral, by Ruaridh 1 of Ubhaidh; 3, H Irvine's Leanna of Craigluscar, by Angus Dubh of Savalmhor. Heifers born Mar 10 to May 4, 2018 – 1, reserve junior female and overall reserve junior, Glasgow City Council's Lady Alma 8 of Pollock, by Cliadhamh Mor of Balmoral; 2, Glasgow City Council's Lady Alma 9 of Pollock, by Russell of Craigowmill; 3, L Burns' Rhona Nighean of Tippetcraig, by Donal 2 of Culfoich.

Young handlers – Aged 11 to 14 years – Logan Ross. Aged 15 to 18 years – Kayleigh Devine.