McKerrow's British Blue tops cattle and Caterthun Texels top sheep at Angus Show Brechin

Taking the top award when selected on a points basis by the various breed judges was Solway View Monty, which first won the any other continental section before going on to win the supreme for the family who now live at Uppermill, Tarves, Aberdeenshire.

Bred by Kevin Watret, this big black bull was purchased at Carlisle in 2019 for 12,000gns and is an ET son of Tweeddale Iron Man bred from the top breeding show cow, Solway View Elegance.

Following close behind was the commercial champion, Ava’Butt, the black Limousin cross heifer from Wilson Peters, which has already landed championships at Fife and West Fife, and a supreme at last year’s Royal Highland Showcase.

Commercials were also to the fore for the inter-breed group of three, won by a trio of black Limousin cross bullocks from Huntly-based Blair Duffton.

Two Limousins from Ian Miller, of Miller Farms, Midmar, Aberdeenshire, won the overall beef pairs.

Over in the sheep lines, Hexel Dragons Den, a two-shear ram continued on his winning ways to win the Texel championship and inter-breed sheep honours for Kenny Duthie, partner May Millar and his mother, Linda Duthie, who do most of the work with the Caterthun Texel flock. Bought privately from Donald MacPherson as a ram lamb, this Proctors Chumba Wumba son secured the same award at Kinross last year and went on to land the reserve overall champion of champions.

The various section sheep judges appointed the cross-bred champion – a pen of three continental cross lambs from 14-year-old Ben MacDonald – the reserve supreme. Beltex crosses, they were born early March and are out of Texel cross ewes.

A strong entry of horses saw a Highland pony win the native section with a black Clydesdale landing the blue and white sash.

Supreme was Loandhu Primrose, a six-year-old yeld mare bred by Alan and Carolyn Munro, but paraded by Kate Lawson and Willie Sinclair.

Supreme Clydesdale was Amanda Butler-Merchant’s Rolling Thunder Maggie May, an eight-year-old yeld mare which is also a former native horse breeds champion at Echt and reserve at Notts County.

LEADING awards

Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: H Thomson, South Ardoyne, Insch). Champion – A Rennie, Forfar, with Mosston Muir Ernie, a 14-month bull by Balmachie Ranald which has bred sons to 6000gns out of Carhurlie Exeleylln. Reserve – A Rennie with Mosston Muir Tidy Bee, a four-year-old cow by Mosston Muir Excalibur out of Mosston Muir Tidy Belinda. She was shown with bull calf, Mosston Muir The Bandit, at foot. Bull, cow, calf – A Rennie. Heifer – A Mathie, Brechin.

Any other native (Judge: H Thomson). Champion – G and M Smith, Fordoun, Laurencekirk, with the 17-month-old Beef Shorthorn bull, Drumsleed Rosco, by Pentland Hustler. Reserve – JM Cant and Partners, Easter Knox, Arbirlot, with the 16-month-old Hereford, Panmure 1 Plum by Hean 1 Rosco.

Any other continental (Judge: D Graham). Champion and supreme beef – DJ McKerrow and Sons, Uppermill, Tarves, with the sole entry, Solway View Monty, a rising five-year-old British Blue bull and the result of a flush from the veteran show cow, Solway View Elegance and sired by Tweeddale Ironman. He was bought at Carlisle in 2019 for 12,000gns with his first 22 bullock calves selling at Thainstone last month to average £1120 at 400kg, and is bound for the Royal Highland Show.

Simmental (Judge: J Cowan, Kersknowe Cottage, Kelso). Champion – Heather Duff, Pitmudie, Brechin, with Pitmudie Latte a two-year-old heifer by Hiltonstown Irish, which has sired bulls to 8200gns, out of Cairnorrie Daisy. Reserve – R and H Brunton, Crudie Simmentals with Clonogh Matador, shown by Kenny McKeagan and Lorna Ward. He was bought at the Roscommon sale last October for €18,000. Senior bull, yearling heifer – Crudie Simmentals. Intermediate bull, senior heifer – H Duff. Junior bull – G and M Smith, Drumsleed, Laurencekirk.

Charolais (Judge: J Cowan). Champion – J Muirhead, Arbroath, with the three-year-old calved heifer, Firhills Polly, paraded by daughter Alison. She is by Glenericht Mecca, Glenericht Mecca. Reserve – Lyndsay Nelson, Mains of Lundie, Edzell, with Edzell Rose, an 18-month heifer by Gretnahouse Ming that was reserve champion at the Stars of the Future. Bull, cow – J Muirhead. Heifer – L Nelson.

Limousin (Judge: D Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Blairdrummond). Champion – Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Whiteside, with the 10-year-old cow Brockhurst Howzat, a former Highland Show winner by Wilodge Fantastic out of Brockhurst Bolshoi. Reserve – I Miller, Miller Farms, Midmar, Inverurie, with the 14-month-old heifer, Westpit Silly bought as a calf at foot at the Westpit herd reduction sale. She is sired by Dinmore Immense and out of Westpit Milly. Bull, heifer, Miller Farms. Cow, heifer – A Ritchie. Calf – I and G Grant, Montrose.

Highland (Judge: A Garton, Fordel Garden Cottage, Glenfarg). Champion – D MacNaughton, Kelty, with the two-year-old heifer, Bryar Rose of Rannoch, the champion winner at West Fife and Fife Shows and award winner at last year’s Stars of the Future. She is an AI daughter of Seumus Dubh of Craigowmill out of Hayley of Rannoch. Reserve – K and E Brown, Craigowmill, with three-year-old heifer, Craigowmill Julie by Ruaridh 1 of Ubhaidh. Senior bull, cow – M Middleton, Fettercairn. Yearling heifer – Balrownie Farms, Menmuir. Calf – J Singer, Auchenblae.

Commercial (Judge: G Cameron, Wester Bonhard). Champion and reserve overall beef and reserve – W Peters, Crieff, with the 20-month-old British Blue cross Ava’Butt, bred by the Robertsons of Newton of Logierait. She was champion at the Royal Highland Showcase last year, and champion at Fife and West Fife, this year. Reserve was Dairy Duke a 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer that was reserve at Fife Show. Heifer calf, bullock pair, heifer born before September 1 – W Peters. Heifer pair, inter-breed group of three – B Duffton, Huntly.

Sheep young handlers (Judge: J McLean, Mains of Culsh). Junior – 1, Blair Wilson; 2, A Jacobsen; 3, Fallon Mather. Senior – 1, Faith Miskelly; 2, Robbie Burke.

North-type Blackface (Judge: D Baillie, Calla). Champion – D Beaton, Forfar, with a shearling ram bought at Ballymena last year as a lamb for 2000gns from Stuart Adams. He is by a 6500gns Jimmy Hunter sire. Reserve – M Simpson, Balbeggie, with a ewe by an Auchnacloich sire and bred from the show ewe, Annie. Aged ram, shearling ram, ewe lamb – D Beaton. Tup lamb, gimmer – RC Myles and Son, Edzell. Ewe – M Simpson.

South-type Blackface (Judge: P McNickle, Gartincaber). Champion – Katie Fairlie, Glen Clova, with a suckled gimmer by a Thomas Muirhead-bred shearling ram bought at Dalmally, out of a ewe by an £8000 Troloss. Reserve – M Simpson, Balbeggie, with a ewe lamb by a £3000 Lurg shearling ram bought at Dalmally in partnership with Marbrack and bred from a ewe by an £1100 Dullater. Aged ram, shearling ram – Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – M Simpson. Ewe – K Fairlie. Gimmer – W and A Walker, Glen Prosen.

Beltex (Judge: J McLean, Mains of Culsh). Champion – B Wylie, Kirriemuir, with Aviemore E Quality, a two-shear ram bought at Carlisle last year from the Buckles, Kirkby Stephen. Bred by the Mairs, Turriff, this Baileybrook CR7-sired ram is shared with the Pentland flock. Reserve – F Christie, Inverurie, with a gimmer bred by Matthew Burleigh and bought in December at Carlisle. She is by the 14,000gns Murrays Expert and bred from a Matts ewe. Aged ram – B Wylie. Tup lamb, ewe, ewe lamb – G and F Burke, Kilry. Gimmer – F Christie.

Cross sheep (Judge: Helen Rickard, Forfar Auction Mart). Champion and reserve overall sheep and reserve – Ben MacDonald (14), Blairgowrie. Supreme was a pen of three early March-born Beltex cross Texel lambs by a Todhall sire – two ewe lambs and a tup lamb. They are out of home-bred Texel cross ewes and were shown with assistance of Ben’s sister Amy (12) and friend Alfie Wood (10). Reserve was a similarly bred three-crop ewe which had been shown as a lamb at Alyth. She was shown with Beltex cross lambs at foot. Three continental-bred lambs, three cross-bred undressed lambs, cross ewe with lambs – B MacDonald. Three cross or Mule gimmers – W Mather and Sons, Brechin.

Suffolk (Judge: G Watt, Forfar). Champion – J Scott, Forfar, with a two-crop ewe bought at Tommy Delday’s Voyburn flock dispersal on Orkney. She is by Harpercroft Lingard. Reserve – Fallon Mather (10) with the second prize winner to the champion, a one-crop Cairness-bred ewe bought at the Dark Diamonds sale. She is by Creagislay Cracker and was the ewe she paraded in the young handlers competition to lift a third prize rosette. Shearling ram – G Christie, Inverurie. Tup lamb, gimmer – F Christie, Inverurie. Ewe – J Scott. Ewe lamb, untrimmed lambs – Fallon Mather.

Texel (Judge: D Preacher, Holylee). Champion and supreme sheep – K Duthie, Brechin, with the reserve overall champion of champions from Kinross Show, Hexel Dragons Den, a two-shear ram brought out with assistance of Kenny’s partner May Millar, and mother, Linda Duthie. Mr Duthie who works on the oil rigs, runs just six ewes in his Caterthun flock and bought the champion privately as a tup lamb from Donald MacPherson. A full brother to the 65,000gns Hexel Django being sired by Proctors Chumba Wumba, he is bound for the Royal Highland Show. Reserve – DJ McKerrow and Sons, Ellon, with a gimmer by Tamnamoney Dalriada and out of a ewe by Knock Yankee. Aged ram – K Duthie. Shearling ram – A and T Greenhill. Tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – DJ McKerrow and Sons. Ewe – Kim Stretch, Crieff.

Any other breed (Judge: WJ Hunter, Insch). Champion – B Scott and S Morrison, Laurencekirk, with an Oddies Blue Texel gimmer, bred from a Beili Bleus ewe and sired by a home-bred tup. She is one of 15 breeding females in the flock, established in 2017. Reserve – A Wylie, Kirriemuir, with a January, triplet-born Bleu du Maine tup lamb by Haydon Victory, out of Balbrydie Sian, one of six ewes in the flock. Ram – A Alston, Edzell. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – A Wylie. Ewe, gimmer – B Scott and S Morrison.

Heavy horses (Judge: A Munro, Greenfaulds, Cumbernauld). Champion and reserve native horse – Amanda Butler-Merchant, Rolling Thunder Clydesdales, Fettercairn, with the black eight-year-old mare, Rolling Thunder Maggie May, a former native breeds champion at Echt and reserve winner at Notts County. She is by Singlie Story, out of Heatherwick Lady Lucinda and also stood fourth in the ridden class. Reserve – J Greenhill, Letham, with Tulloes Alanna, a yearling filly foal bred the exact same way as the reserve overall champion of champions from West Fife Show, Tulloes Emily. She is by Arradoul Balvennie and bred from Tulloes Lady Jane. Senior gelding – L and G Martin, Monikie. Yeld mare – Rolling Thunder Clydesdales. Yearling filly – J Greenhill. Two-year-old filly – S Aitken, Memus. Ridden – K Glennie, Stonehaven.

Harness (Judge: D Young, Finmont). Champion – D and E Proctor, Letham. All classes – D and E Proctor.

Standard Shetland pony (Judge: Mrs S Spence, Rawside Royal). Champion – Glasterlaw Shetlands, Brechin, with Glasterlaw Opal, an eight-year-old yeld mare, by Stove Viscount. She is a former red ticket holder here as a yearling and at the North of Scotland Group Show in 2018. Reserve – Mawburn Shetlands, Kinross, with Narinian Ekaterina, a five-year-old mare bought at Aberdeen in 2019, from David Macarthur. A former prize winner at several events, she is by Wells Premier, out of Kati of St Ninian and was parade with filly foal at foot. Mare with foal, foal – Mawburn Shetlands. Yearling, senior gelding – D Lochtie, Glenfarg. Two/three-year-old, bred pair – Eynhallow Shetlands. Yeld mare – Glasterlaw Shetlands. Stallion – N Richards, Errol. Young handler, ridden – O Lochtie, Glenfarg.

Miniature Shetlands (Judge: Mrs S Spence). Champion – Senga Murray, Mawcarse Shetlands, Kinross, with the yearling colt, Edern Bently, a son of Merrylees Burberry out of Edern Amelia, bought as a foal last October. He was second at the Central Scotland Shetland Pony Group Show, first at Fife Foal Show and second at the National Stallion Show in March. Reserve – Claire Andrews, with the filly foal, Kinnochtry Minnie Mouse – the first foal bred at Kinnochtry Shetland Ponies. She is by Pinglewood Gold Star and her dam is the foundation female, Blackertor Morella (Bella). Minnie Mouse was reserve junior champion at her sole previous outing at Central Shetland Pony Society Spring Show.

Highland ponies (Judge: J Reid, Hillside of Foundland). Champion and supreme native horse – Kate Lawson and William Sinclair, with the six-year-old yeld mare, Loandhu Primrose, bred by Alan and Carolyn Munro. She is by Strathmore Clova, out of Whitefield Princess Rose and is a former red ticket holder at Blair and Strathallan. Reserve – E Keith, Laurencekirk, with the well-known 15-year-old ridden, Glenmore of Roisbheinn, by McNab of Denmill, out of Snowbell of Glenoe. Better known as Gromit, this hunter has previously been placed in flat, eventing and dressage, having qualified for Badminton and Blair Horse Trials in 2019 before taking third in the Arena Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace. Mare with foal, foal – W Taylor, Strathkinness. Yeld mare – K Lawson and W Sinclair. Two/three-year-old – S Macintosh, Peterhead. Three-year-old gelding – M Ramsay, Idview. Senior gelding – N Cant, Arbroath. Yearling, novice ridden – H Gow, Forfar. Young handlers – N Noble, Kinneff. Open ridden – E Keith.

Goats (Judge: C Hagain). Champion – Miss H Campbell, Torphichen, West Lothian with the milking female Capitol Frej. Reserve – 2, Messrs Webster and Smith, Monikie, Dundee with the second prize miler, Guilden Eva. Milker – Miss H Campbell, Torphichen. Goatling – Messrs Webster Smith, Monikie, Dundee. Kid – Miss H Campbell, Torphichen, West Lothian. Male and best male – Mrs L Johnson, Kininmonth, Peterhead. Buckling – Mrs A Aitken, Dunnottar, Stonehaven.

Pygmy – Champion – Ms A Charlton, Meikleour, Perth with Alyswood Tutti. Female, kid, male kid – Ms A Charlton. Goatling – Mrs A Aitken, Dunnottar, Stonehaven. Pet – Ms N Smith, Menmuir, Brechin.

Boer – Champion – Mr and Mrs Ross, Belhelvie, Aberdeen with Balmedie Hope. Female, goatling – Mr and Mrs Ross.

Bagot goats – Champion – Ms A Charlton, Meikleour, Perth with Aylswood Elmo. All classes – Ms A Charlton, Meikleour, Perth with Reliance Whisper.

Young Stockperson – 1, Nesta Southwood, Kirkbuddo, Forfar; 2, Cerys Southwood, Kirkbuddo.