It was a week packed with events at SAYFC’s headquarters based at Ingliston during last week’s Royal Highland Show, with new competitions proving hugely successful and history made in the stockjudging ring.

The penultimate round-up of stockjudging results drew in a fair crowd at the show’s MacRobert Theatre where, for the first time in the stockmanship history, the title for Stockman of the Year ended in a tie between Lanarkshire district chairman, David Mitchell, and Avondale YFC member, Andrew Neilson – both scoring 606 points to bag themselves the joint top spot.

It was also a cracking day for Ayrshire district members, who witnessed competitors Scott Anderson and Andrew Struthers land second and third place with 593 points and 583 points, respectively.

In the senior pairs and landing the Changue Trophy for best in the dairy section was the Ayrshire A team of Andrew Struthers and Adam Smith, whist the NFU Trophy for best pair in the sheep section also headed home to Ayrshire with Scott Anderson and Daniel Hodge.

It was another tie for the Morphie Trophy for best pair in the beef section which was jointly won by Orkney members, Robbie Stevenson and Colin Sinclair, and Clyde and Central competitors, Markus Muir and Seonaid McLaren.

Andrew Struthers and Scott Anderson were back in amongst the prizes when they lifted the dairy and sheep individual titles respectively, as well as making up part of the winning group alongside Adam Smith, Cameron McGregor, David Smith and Daniel Hodge who took home the coveted Glasgow Herald Trophy for best team in the senior stockjudging.

Taking the number two spot in the teams with a score of 1535 points was Lanarkshire A, namely Andrew Neilson, Mark Bryson, David Mitchell, Amy Lindsay, James Hamilton and Scott Frame, whilst Clyde and Central A team of Dexter Logan, James Graham, Stephen Taylor, Campbell Ridland, Amy Bryce and Murray Steel secured 1490 points to bag them the third position.

Clyde and Central’s Campbell Ridland had a fantastic first SAYFC stockjudging competition as he landed the best individual title within the beef section.

Amongst the juniors, the Shetland YFC team of Nia Hunter, Aimee Gifford and Erin Ridland secured the Lawrie and Symington Salver for best team with a score of 722, with the Lanarkshire A team of Mark Bryson, Fin Hope and Lucy Graham standing second with 716 points and Craig Hodge, Katriona Muir and Billy Yuille of Ayrshire C taking home the yellow certificates with 692 points.

Michael Scarth, of Orkney YFC proved best on the day as he took home the title of best junior individual with a score of 261. Scoring 260 points to land him the blue rosette was Scott Gray, from Ayrshire with Lewis Simpson, Angus,Tayside standing third after scoring a respectable 259 points.

Alongside the annual stockjudging event, a resurrected Five Nations competition was also re-introduced this year, with competitors representing Scotland, Wales, Ulster and England. Ulster’s Andrew Paton landed the best individual amongst the dairy cattle, however it was Scottish team members of Andrew Adam and Amy Laird who lifted the beef and sheep titles for the home country.

Winning the inaugural team event with a score of 1719 was Scotland, comprising James Graham, Amy Laird and Andrew Adam, with Wales standing in a close second with a score of 1662, namely Jess Banks, Thomas Swancott and Nia Thomas.

Returning with a twist this year was the SAYFC sheep shearing competition, where champion and winner of the Lister Silver Handpiece and the Worshipful Company of Woolmen title was Ayr YFC member, David Andrew.

Running in conjunction with the men’s competition was the first ever women’s shearing event, which saw Kate Donald, of Callander YFC, claim the first ever title.

It was a soggy field underfoot for the tug-of-war teams, which put members through their paces. However it did not halt Brechin YFC from landing the top spot amongst the women for the first time in the club’s history.

The ladies from Carluke and Biggar YFC were pipped to the post and took the respective second and third spots.

It was a different story in the men’s competition as previous competition victors Carluke YFC, stole the first place title with Biggar YFC in second and Callander YFC placing third.

“What an occasion! It was so good to be back. As always, the ringside was packed with supporters and the vibrant team colours created a real spectacle from the start,” commented Martin Hall, senior director at Davidson and Robertson, who presented the trophies to the winning teams.

“Congratulations go to all the teams for making the finals. Well done to the men’s team from Carluke and a huge congratulations to Brechin ladies for their first national win.”

Kilmaurs YFC enjoyed victory in the annual arts and crafts competition where they stood first in the seniors with their piece dedicated tot he theme of ‘Platinum Jubilee’, whilst Bell Baxter’s junior members were placed first with their Safari themed contribution.

The annual ‘Club of the Year’ competition – which recognises and awards the achievements of the SAYFC clubs in their contribution to the districts, regions, association and community – returned with entries remaining strong on the year. Landing the top spot in this section was Shetland YFC, with East Kilbride placed second and Crossroads coming a close third.

Team members Ellen Glennie and Angela Webster of Grampian-based Vale of Alford YFC took to the QMS stand and ruled supreme in the Ready Steady Country Cooks competition following their win against the East Region.

Outwith the competitions, SAYFC also hosted the Scottish Government’s Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy, George Burgess, at their ‘Agri Reception’ on the Friday evening, where it was confirmed that a fund of £40,000 will be available for Young Farmers training programmes.

Concluding on what was a jam-packed week for SAYFC office bearers and organisers, National vice chair Jane Strawhorn added: “After a very long two years, it feels amazing for SAYFC and it’s members to be back at the Royal Highland Show with all our usual competitions being hailed great successes.

"With that, I would like to congratulate all our members and competitors who have participated in the numerous events that have taken place over the past few days, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to the 2023 Royal Highland Show!”

LEADING AWARDS:

Junior arts and crafts – 1, Bell Baxter YFC (Connie Wang, Isla Howie, William Gillespie, Sophie McDonald); 2, Mauchline YFC (Beth Robertson, Hannah Campbell, Kirsty Gemmell, Laura Morton); 3, Kilmaurs YFC (Grace Gillan, Hannah Raeside, Kirsty Smith, Lynn Smith).

Special prizes junior arts and crafts – A5 postcard – Kirsten Irwin, Reston YFC; Sewn article – Kirsty Gemmell, Mauchline YFC; Souvenir – Laura Morton, Mauchline YFC; Further article – William Gillespie, Bell Baxter YFC; Appearance and display – Beth Robertson and Laura Morton, Mauchline YFC

Senior arts and crafts – 1, Kilmaurs YFC (Beth Kerr, Iain Shepherd, Karen Foster, Karen Shepherd); Peeblesshire JAC (Chloe Linton, Emma Gray, Erin Greenhow, Jenna Cockburn, Kirsty Smellie, Jennifer Lucas); 3, Beith YFC (Jean Andrew, Laura Blyth, Sarah Campbell, Tabitha Graham).

Special prizes senior arts and crafts – Sewn article – Karen Shepherd, Kilmaurs YFC; Three sausage rolls – Kirsty Smellie, Peeblesshire YFC; Mocktail – Rebecca Greig, Vale of Alford YFC; Cake – Erin Greenhow, Peeblesshire JAC; Floral exhibit – Laura Blyth, Beith YFC; Further article – Karen Shepherd, Kilmaurs- YFC; Appearance and display – Aileen McColm, Erin McIlwraith, Lower Nithsdale YFC.

Craftsmanship – 1, Lisa Dunbar, Avondale YFC; Andrew Beattie, Forfar JAC; 3, Craig Baird, Crossroads YFC.

Junior photography – 1, Fiona Currie, Lanark YFC; 2, Darren Cumming, Stranraer and Rhins YFC; 3, Megan Robson, Reston YFC

Senior photography – 1, Katie Wight, Biggar YFC; 2, Mhairi Hall, Carluke YFC; 3, Katie Wight, Biggar YFC.

Club of the Year – 1, Shetland YFC; 2, East Kilbride YFC; 3, Crossroads YFC.

Tug of war – Ladies – 1, Brechin YFC; 2, Carluke YFC; 3, Strathbogie YFC. Gents – Carluke YFC; 2, Biggar YFC; 3, Callander YFC.

Junior team stockjudging – Shetland YFC, 722 (Nia Hunter, Aimee Gifford and Erin Ridland); 2, Lanarkshire A, 716, (Mark Bryson, Fin Hope and Lucy Graham); 3, Ayrshire C, 692, (Craig Hodge, Katriona Muir and Billy Yuille).

Junior individual stockjudging – 1, Michael Scarth, Orkney (261); 2, Scott Gray, Ayrshire (260); 3, Lewis Simpson, Angus Tayside (259).

Five nations stockjudging – supreme – Scotland (1719), James Graham, Amy Laird and Andrew Adam; reserve – Wales (1662), Jess Banks, Thomas Swancott and Nia Thomas.

Five nations individual stockjudging – Dairy – Andrew Paton, Ulster. Beef – Andrew Adam, Scotland. Sheep – Amy Laird, Scotland.

Senior pairs stockjudging – Dairy – Andrew Struthers and Adam Smith, Ayrshire A. Beef – Robbie Stevenson and Colin Sinclair, Orkney. Sheep – Scott Anderson and Daniel Hodge, Ayrshire A.

Senior individual stockjudging – Dairy – Andrew Struthers, Ayrshire. Beef – Campbell Ridland, Clyde and Central. Sheep – Scott Anderson, Ayrshire.

Senior team stockjudging – Ayrshire A, 1628, (Andrew Struthers, Adam Smith, Cameron McGregor, David Smith, Scott Anderson and Daniel Hodge); 2, Lanarkshire A, 1535, (Andrew Neilson, Mark Bryson, David Mitchell, Amy Lindsay, James Hamilton and Scott Frame); 3, Clyde and Central A, 1490, (Dexter Logan, James Graham, Stephen Taylor, Campbell Ridland, Amy Bryce and Murray Steel).

Stockman of the Year – 1, Andrew Neilson and David Mitchell (606); 2, Scott Anderson, Ayrshire (593); 3, Andrew Struthers, Ayrshire (583).