Big day for Kris at Caithness

The event, which rotates between Thurso and Wick, was this year topped by a March-born Limousin cross heifer calf shown by Kris Sutherland of Dunbeath Farms. Supreme cattle champion and reserve overall at Latheron the previous week, this youngster is by the AI sire, Lodge Hamlet and bred from a Limousin cross British Blue dam – one of 120 suckler cows in the herd.

"It's a tremendous calf with huge potential and a great future ahead of her," said the overall champion of champions judge, Iain Morris who along with son Andrew, bred last year's supreme winner, a Charolais from Olrig Mains, Thurso.

"It was very close between the calf and the supreme sheep, it was also a very good pig," added Mr Morris who now farms down in Fife.

For the supreme overall, Mr Morris had to select between the inter-breed horse, donkey, sheep, goat, poultry and pig winners, tapping out North Country Cheviot gimmer as his choice of reserve overall. This was a previously unshown gimmer by Biggins Top Notch from James Mackay and daughter Jacqueline, who were winning their third supreme sheep title for the Biggins flock from Wick.

Earlier inter-breed sheep judge, Robbie Scott, Holm, Orkney, found his reserve winner in one of the best known sheep in Caithness, a home-bred four-crop Texel cross Half-bred ewe from William Barnetson and sons James and William, Lynegar, Watten. She first won the commercial section and then went on to lift the cross-bred group honours when shown with March-born Suffolk cross lambs by a home-bred sire at foot.

A former inter-breed and reserve supreme sheep here, this big ewe by a home-bred sire boasts no fewer than four section championships at the Caithness event.

North Country Cheviots from Andrew Polson, Smerlie, Lybster, lifted the silverware amongst the pedigree groups, with Texels from Angus and Amy Gunn's Shieanhill flock from Hill of Foss, bagging the blue and white sash.

Craig Malone, Fife, also had a busy day, judging all the cattle sections before selecting the overall winners. Having tapped out Sassy Lady as his supreme, he presented the reserve honours and inter-breed male title to the pedigree champion, Jonathan and Joanne Gunn's Simmental, Caithness Jenson, which is owned by his namesake, three-year-old Jenson Gunn. This 13-month-old bull which was reserve continental champion at Latheron Show, is by the home-bred sire, Mavsey Hans Jenson and out of Slievenagh Gorgeous which was bought in Northern Ireland in 2017. Jenson is destined for the bull sales at Stirling in February.

Reserve inter-breed male was Leslie and Tina Robertson's home-bred Beef Shorthorn bull, Pentland Kentucky, a 31/2-year-old bull by the AI sire, Rothesay Eildon, out of Pentland Tessa.

The equivalent amongst the females was presented to Tonley Ester, a two-year-old in-calf Aberdeen Angus heifer also from Jonathan and Joanne Gunn. She is by Warrenho Emperor and was bought at Stirling in February for 2500gns from her breeders, Neil and Mark Wattie.

LEADING awards

Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: C Malone, Pitcairn, Cardenden). Champion and reserve inter-breed female – J and J Gunn, Mavsey, Lybster with Tonley Ester, a two-year-old in-calf heifer bought at Stirling in February from Neil and Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley. She is by Warrenho Emperor, bred from a previous Tonley Ester and stood first in her class at Latheron. Reserve – D and M Tait, Inkstack, Barrock, with Inkstack Emblem, a March 2018-born son of Inkstack Prometheus, a Nightingale Perry-sired bull. The dam is Inkstack Ebony, a daughter of the Rawburn Elysium son, Inkstack Ely that made 12,000gns to Newton of Idvies. Bull – D and M Tait. Heifer – J and J Gunn.

Shorthorn (Judge: C Malone). Champion and reserve inter-breed male – L and T Robertson, Inkstack, with Pentland Kentucky, a 31/2-year-old home-bred bull that stood first here in2017. He is by the AI sire, Rothesay Eildon and out of Pentland Tessa. Reserve – D and C Coghill, Knockdee, with Smallburn Lilly, a 21-month-old heifer bought privately from the Anderson family. A daughter of Coldrochie Frontrank, she is out of Smallburn Fiona. Bull, cow – L and T Robertson. Heifer, heifer calf – D and C Coghill.

Highland (Judge: C Malone). Champion – G Hooker, Upper Puldagon, Stiroke, with the sole entry, Anna, a two-year-old heifer.

Any other pure native breed (Judge: C Malone). Champion and reserve – DA and K Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten, with Belted Galloways. Supreme was the 21/2-year-old bull, Dubhglas Oreo, which stood reserve here last year. He is by Saltway Rebel and is out of the reserve champion, Croasdale Cherub, a 15-year-old cow bought privately from James Nailer shown with heifer calf at foot. She was champion here last year.

Simmental (Judge: C Malone). Champion and reserve overall cattle champion and reserve – J and J Gunn, Mavsey. Supreme and inter-breed male champion was the 13-month-old, Caithness Jenson, owned by three-year-old Jenson Gunn. He boasts two generations of home-bred sires, being a son of Mavsey Hans Jewson out of Slievenagh Gorgeous, a Kilbride Farm Delboy daughter bought in Northern Ireland in 2017. He was reserve continental at Latheron and is destined for the bull sales at Stirling in February. Reserve for the 25-cow herd was the March 2018-born Mavsey Jura, a previously unshown son of Omorga Five Star out of Mavsey Fruity, a Derwentwood Nero daughter. All classes – J and J Gunn.

Any other continental (Judge: C Malone). Champion and reserve – P Stewart, Thrumster.

Commercial (Judge: C Malone). Champion, supreme cattle and overall champion of champions – K Sutherland, Dunbeath Farms, with Sassy Lady, a March-born Limousin cross heifer that was reserve overall at Latheron Show. She is by the AI sire, Lodge Hamlet, out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow and is destined for the Thainstone Spectacular in September. Reserve – G Kennedy, Tresdale, Canisbay, with an April-born steer calf that was first at Latheron Show. He is by a British Blue cross bull and out of a Limousin cross cow. Heifer in milk or in calf, steer born between October 1 2018 and January 31, 2018, cow and calf – Messrs Swanson, Quarryside. Senior heifer, AI beef animal – B Douglas, Thura Place, Bower. Heifer born after February 1, 2019, AI calf – K Sutherland. Steer born after February 1, 2019 – G Kennedy. Butchers animal – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster. Dairy animal – A Budge, Barns of Hempriggs, Wick.

Clydesdale (Judge: A Murray, Lower Sibster, Wick). Champion – J Munro, Holly View, Janetstown. Supreme was the filly foal Gersa Lady Lauren, a daughter of Arradoul Balvennie out of West Glen Apple Blossom. Reserve – B Bisset, Park Cottage, Brough, with the second prize yearling, Ha Durran Harry.

Highland pony (Judge: Anne Mitchell, Backdales, Denny). Champion and reserve horse – N MacDonald, Bridge Street, Halkirk, with Macdhui of Achnacarry, a yearling bought from breeder, Jean Connell, Fife, in January. Reserve – J Macleod, Upper Dounreay, Thurso, with Briar Rose of Park View, a five-year-old yeld mare that stood reserve here last year. Yearling, gelding, ridden – N MacDonald. Yeld mare – J Macleod.

Shetland pony (Judge: J Swan, Teanahaun Croft, Old Leanaig Road, Conon Bridge). Champion – E and S Dunnet, Lynfield, Lyth, with the standard Shetland, Octavia of Auckhorn, a four-year-old mare by Eynhallow Majestic, that stood reserve here last year. Reserve – W and K Campbell, Midcalder, Thurso, with Midcalder Dora, a two-year-old filly by Millhouse Director. Standard mare with foal, standard foal, standard yeld mare – E and S Dunnet. Standard yearling, standard two/three-year-old colt, standard two/three-year-old filly – W and K Campbell. Miniature yeld mare – Mid Calder Shetlands, Lhaid, Watten. Miniature stallion, coloured – A McLennan, Garth, St Ola, Orkney. Miniature gelding – H Sinclair, Upper Latheron. Ridden – S Campbell and H Taylor, Tayberry Street, St Margarets Hope.

Border Leicester (Judge: W Manson, Skaill, Thurso). Champion and reserve – A Miller and Sons, Aimster, Thurso, with a tup lamb and home-bred ewe respectively. All classes – A Miller and Sons.

Suffolk (Judge: R Wilkie, Tillyboy, Echt). Champion – JB and L Swanson, East Murkle, with a shearling ram bought last year at Carlisle from Hazel Martindale for 900gns. Landale Crusader, a son of Dol-llys Dynamo, was on his first outing since the sale. Reserve – W Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, Watten, with the three-shear ram, Lakeview Sandy, a son of Rhaeadr Rolex, that was bought at Stirling as a lamb for 1600gns. Aged ram, gimmer – W Barnetson and Son. Shearling ram, ewe, ewe lamb – JB and L Swanson. Tup lamb – S Sinclair, Haven View, Lower Gills.

Half-bred (Judge: W Manson, Skaill, Thurso). Champion – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, with a one-crop ewe bred by Messrs Sutherland, Overton, but bought privately from Harry Sleigh, St Johns Wells. Reserve – D Coghill and Sons, Skinnet, Halkirk, with a gimmer bought last year at Quoybrae, from Buckies. Ewe – Messrs Sutherland. Gimmer – D Coghill and Sons. Three Half-bred ewe lambs, ewe lamb – A Miller and Sons.

Prime lambs (Judge: Mrs K Malone, Pitcairn, Cardenden). Champion – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, with a pair of April-born Texel cross ewe lambs by a retained son of a £4500 Texel shearling bought at Kelso from Garngour. Previously unshown, they are out of home-bred Texel cross Cheviot Mule ewes. Two North Country Cheviot or Half-bred lambs, two any other continental cross lambs – H Sutherland, Drummie Farm Cottage, Golspie. Two Texel cross lambs – Messrs Sutherland. Two native cross lambs – J Campbell and Co, Todholes, Thurso. Two novice continental cross lambs – C Coghill, Knockdee, Halkirk.

North Country Cheviot (Judge: C Angus, Oldfield, Thurso). Champion, supreme sheep and reserve overall champion of champions – J and W Mackay, Biggins, Kilminster, with a previously unshown gimmer by Biggins Top Notch a ram retained for breeding, out of a ewe by Hill Top Sensation from the 60-ewe Biggins flock. Reserve – A Simpson, Cairnside, Watten, with a March-born ram lamb on his first outing by Wemyss Topper, a ram used on loan from Smiddyquoy, out of a home-bred ewe by Bardnaclavan Rooney. Mr Simpson also won the champion group of three amongst the Northies with a pen of tup lambs by Biggins Warrior, a tup bought at Quoybrae last year for £700. Aged ram, ewe, ewe lamb – A Polson, Smerlie, Lybster. Two-shear, shearling ram, gimmer – J and W Mackay. Tup lamb – A Simpson.

Hill Cheviot (Judge: R MacDonald, Castle Grant Home Farm, Grantown-on-Spey). Champion – WM Sutherland, Brackside, Reay, with a previously unshown two-shear ram by Badanloch Real McCoy, a £4600 purchased at Lairg. Home-bred, he is out of a ewe by Northhouse Lumber House and is destined for the breed sales at Lairg in October. Reserve – M Grant, Taldale, Forss, with a home-bred four-crop ewe by an Armadale sire bought at Lairg for £1800, out of a home-bred ewe, also on her first show outing. Ewe, tup lamb – M Grant. Gimmer – HM Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust. Ewe lamb, three-shear, two-shear, shearling ram – WM Sutherland.

Blackface (Judge: K Fraser, Gorthleck Mains, Gorthleck). Champion – TH Elder, Auldwell Croft, with a previously unshown ewe lamb by a home-bred sire that goes back to a Dalwyne-bred gimmer bought at Lanark for £6000. The dam is also home-bred and is one of only 60 ewes in the flock. Reserve – N Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Halkirk, with a one-crop Chamberwells ewe bought as a gimmer privately from Elizabeth Johnston privately. She was also on her first outing. Ewe, gimmer – N Sutherland. Ewe lamb, tup – TH Elder. Tup lamb – A and S Sutherland, Bennachie, Harpsdale.

Native sheep (Judge: K Fraser). Champion – M MacDonald, Achentoul Farm Cottage, Kinbrace, with Fancy Pants, a South Country Cheviot gimmer bought at an in-lamb sale at Longtown earlier in the year from Alistair Warden, Skelfhill. Second in her class at the pre-sale show, she was on her first outing since. She was bought for the 70-ewe Balnacnoc flock. Reserve – C Budge, Achalone, Halkirk, with a three-crop Kerry Hill ewe bought at Carlisle in 2016 from a Welsh breeder. Ewe – C Budge. Gimmer, tup – M MacDonald. Ewe lamb – C Coghill, Knockdee, Halkirk. Tup lamb – DA and K Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten. Shetland – AM Douglas, Achnamoine.

Commercial (Judge: W Manson, Skaill). Champion and reserve supreme sheep – W Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, Watten, with a home-bred four-crop Texel cross Half-bred ewe that was winning her fourth consecutive section championship here. She was again shown with March-born Suffolk cross lambs at foot by a home-bred sire. Reserve – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, with the reserve commercial champion from the Highland Show, a two-crop Texel cross ewe bought at Longtown as a ewe lamb from Ian Smith, West Bolton. She is out of a Cheviot Mule and was paraded with March-born Texel cross wedder lambs at foot by a home-bred sire. Cheviot with Half-bred lambs – D Miller, Buckies, Thurso. Female with lambs, Cheviot female with cross lambs, Cheviot with Cheviot lambs – Messrs Sutherland. Female with any other breed or cross lambs – W Barnetson and Sons.

Cross sheep (Judge: Mrs K Malone, Pitcairn). Champion – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms with a March-born seven-eighths Texel ewe lamb out of last year's reserve winner here. She boasts home-bred genetics on both sides. Reserve – W Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar with last year's champion, a Texel cross Half-bred one-crop ewe again backed by home-bred genetics. Ewe, gimmer – W Barnetson and Sons. Ewe lamb, Mule and Greyface lamb – Messrs Sutherland.

Texel MV accredited (Judge: S Crozier, Lockerbie). Champion – DN Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, with a home-bred shearling ram by Brackenridge Asterix, a 5500gns purchase at Lanark in 2017 in partnership with Rodney Blackhall. The dam, a home-bred show ewe, is by Fairywater Walkabout, one of 50 pedigree Texels in the flock. The tup is destined for the ram sales at Dingwall. Reserve – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms with a gimmer by the £4500 Garngour You Cracker, out of a home-bred ewe that stood reserve female here last year. Ewe, shearling – DN Campbell and Sons. Gimmer – Messrs Sutherland. Ewe lamb, tup lamb – A and A Gunn, Hill of Foss. Aged ram – J Forbes, Boultach.

Texel Non-MV (Judge: S Crozier). Champion and reserve – E Simpson, Cairnside, Watten. Supreme was a home-bred shearling ram by Maineview Aviva, a tup bought at Lanark for 1000gns, out of a home-bred ewe with a Claybury sire. He was shown last year. Reserve was a three-crop ewe bought from the Gruig flock as a gimmer at Lanark. She was first in her class here last year. Ewe, shearling, tup lamb – E Simpson. Gimmer, aged ram – J Coghill, Burnside, Huna. Ewe lamb – J Campbell and Co, Todholes, Thurso.

Any other continental (Judge: R Wilkie, Tillyboy). Champion and reserve – A and A Gunn, with Beltex sheep. Supreme was a February-born tup lamb out of a reserve champion, a two-crop Monkshill-bred ewe bought last year at Thainstone. Ewe, ewe lamb, tup lamb – A and A Gunn. Gimmer – J and A Budge, Knockglass, Watten. Ram – D Spence, Hillside, Kilminster.

Young handlers – 11years and under – 1, Bella Swanson; 2, Ross Campbell; 3, Davie Swanson. 12-16years – 1, Caitlin Coghill; 2, Dylan Alexander; 3, Sophie Gunn.

Fleece (Judge: D Ewan, BWMB). Champion and reserve – DA and K Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten. Champion was a Bluefaced Leicester fleece from a ewe hogg, with the reserve being a Texel cross ewe fleece. Fine fleece, lustre fleece, mountain fleece, natural coloured fleece – DA and K Douglas. Medium fleece, NCC fleece – H Sutherland, Drummie Farm Cottage, Golspie.

Goats Champion – R Harrold, Ambervale, Reiss, with a Brittish Saanen goatling shown by Janice Ross. Resrve – C Lowe, Rampyards, Watten with a kid.

Pigs (Judge: I MacDonald, Juniper Cottage, Croy). Champion – Sophie Tucker (11), Smith Terrace, Wick, with Bobby, an eight-month-old Pietrain cross boar on his first outing, out of a Landrace cross Large White sow. Reserve – L Hewitson, Lhaid, Watten.