Caithness Show, staged this year at Thurso, attracted a strong attendance from across the county, and an overall champion of champions in a four-year-old coloured gelding, ridden by James Munro.

The horse, Independent Boy by Copilot had already won the ridden, coloured and light horse sections and is owned by Wick butcher, Geraldine Harrold who won the supreme light horse here in 2019 and is also a former reserve champion at Caithness Riding club and the Scottish CHAPS championship.

The horse judge, Jack Clark, St Boswells, was most impressed by the supreme, describing his choice of winner as “Very correct, very well-behaved and a very straight mover."

Reserve champion of champions was the winner of the sheep section William Barnston and Sons' four-crop Texel cross Half-bred ewe with twin-born Texel cross lambs at foot from Lynegar, Watten. It was given the winning tap by inter-breed sheep judge, Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, Dundee.

Topping the cattle section was the 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer, from Mark and Debby Munro of Invercharron, Ardgay. This home-bred calf which stood supreme at Latheron Show the previous week, was christened Jacket Potato because she had to have a jacket put on her after catching an infection soon after she was born and had to be tube fed for weeks.

Reserve cattle champion was the reserve commercial champion, Wish Master, a British Blue cross steer calf from Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Farms. He is out of a Limousin cross cow.

Reserve overall sheep was a home-bred North Country Cheviot gimmer from Jonnie Campbell, Bardnaclavan, Westerfield. She is by Durran Ace.

Mr Campbell who was celebrating his 50th birthday on the day of the show, also landed the reserve Cheviot honours with the two shear ram Biggins Bravo.

LEADING awards

Beef Shorthorn (Judge: R Marshall, Inverurie). Champion– A and S Polson, Westerloch, Wick with the four-year-old cow, Midnight, shown with her three-month-old calf at foot. Reserve – D and C Coghill, Knockdee, Halkirk with a four-year-old cow bought privately as a calf from Andrew Anderson, Smallburn, Elgin. She is by Meonside Javlin.

Simmental (Judge: R Marshall, Inverurie). Champion – J Gunn, Mavsey Lybster, with Caithness Maverick a 16-month-old bull by Corskie Jackpot which was bought at Stirling last year for 9500gns out of the home-bred Mavsey Golden Pride which was champion of champions at Caithness show in 2017. Caithness Maverick was continental champion at Latheron Show, the previous week.

Continental cattle (Judge: R Marshall). Champion and reserve – G Oag, Archiebeg Shebster. Supreme was the home-bred Limousin bull, Brims Smithy a 13-month-old sired by Brims Nicco, out of Brims Joselyn, an Ampertaine Elgin-sired cow. Reserve was the second prize bull, Brims Sniper a 13-month-old Limousin Carmorn Max out of Brims Jollity. He was reserve continental at Latheron show. Bull – G Oag. Heifer – R Jenkins, Ha of Bowermadden, Bower.

Commercial (Judge: R Marshall). Champion and supreme cattle – The Munro Family, Invercharron, with Jacket Potato a British Blue cross heifer by Caithness Norseman out of a home-bred Limousin cross cow. Supreme at Latheron, she is bound for Nairn, Black Isle, Dornoch and Grantown shows. Heifer and calf, cow with calf, 2022-born heifer calf – A Swanson, Quarryside. Senior steer, autumn 2021-born heifer – The Munro Family. Young steer – K Grant 2 Lochend, Barrock. Steer born 2022 – Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath.

Cattle young handlers (Judge: R Marshall). Junior – Aimie McLean (10). Senior – Tilly Munro (12).

Clydesdale (Judge: E Johnstone, Muir of Ord). Champion – M and J Munro, Holly View, Janetstown, with the three-week-old filly foal Gersa Lady Emma, a daughter of Gersa Lady Lauren, bound for the World Clydesdale event in Aberdeen in October. Reserve – M and J Munro, with Gersa Lady Lauren, a daughter of Arradoul Balvenie out of West Glen Apple Blossom. She is a former Caithness Show champion in 2019.

Highland pony (Judge: Mrs AD Leslie Melville, Inverness-shire). Champion – Jade Blackie, Dorrey, with Zelda of Carlung a two-year-old filly, by Glenvale Gaurdsman out of Unity of Carlung. First time out. Reserve – Janet McLeod, Upper Dounreay, Thurso with Briar Rose of Park View an 11-year-old yeld mare by Moss Side Quince out of Chelsea Parkview. Former reserve winner at Caithness.

Shetland pony (Judge: D Burnett, Ellon). Champion – Kelly Peace, Hools Shetland Pony Stud, The Brough, Hools with Miss Jura a two-year-old standard filly by Email of St Ninian and out of Merkisayre Poppy which has bred numerous champions. She was junior champion at the Royal Highland Showcase last year. Reserve – E and S Dunnet, Lynfield, Dunnet, with Anya of Auckhorn a nine-year-old mare by Eynhallow Blae Majestic out of Abbie of Auckhorn.

Miniature Shetland – Champion – B MacDonald and Stephanie Mitchell, Phlair Stud, Connon-Bridge with Balgay Boc’s Bubbalicous an eight-year-old mare by Blackertor Solar Red out of Balgay Not’s Cascade Boc. Previous reserve at the Northern Working Horse Society Show at Brodie Castle, and bound for Nairn, Turriff, Black Isle, Keith and Grantown. Reserve – B MacDonald and Stephanie Mitchell, with Kimrina Romany a piebald nine-year-old stallion that was champion at Brodie castle.

Donkey (Judge: E Johnstone, Muir of Ord). Champion – R Streight, Tardree House with the 15-year-old gelding Patrick. The northern Europe-type donkey has won the show six times before.

Border Leicester (Judge: J Clark, Galashiels). Champion – Katie Buchanan, Ousdale Farmhouse, Berriedale, Caithness, with a Rockvilla-bred ewe by Ditton Jigsaw with the dam doing back to Kininmonth No 6. Previous reserve winner at the Anniversary Show at Carlisle last year. Reserve – A Miller and Sons, Aimster, Thurso, with a ewe lamb. Tup lamb, ewe, gimmer – Katie Buchanan. Ewe lamb – A Miller and Sons.

Suffolk (Judge: A Rae, Mains of Orchardstown, Ellon). Champion – JB and L Swanson, East Murkle, with a home-bred gimmer by a Maidenstone ram bought for 1800gns. Reserve – G, P and E Mackay, 6 Foss with a ewe lamb by a Redbrae tup bought from Jim Cannon. Aged tup, ewe – K Gunn, Shop Farm. Shearling ram – JB and L Swanson, East Murkle. Tup lamb – G, P and E Mackay.

Half-bred (Judge: J Clark, Galashiels). Champion and reserve – A Miller and Sons, Aimster, Thurso with a March-born home-bred ewe lamb and ewe respectively. All classes – A Miller and Sons.

Prime lambs (Judge: R Mackay, Thura Main, Bower). Champion – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms, with a pair of March-born Beltex cross ewe lambs. Sired by a Raymond Flaws Beltex tup from Orkney, out of home-bred Texel cross ewes. Reserve – J Campbell and Co, Todholes with a pair of Suffolk prime lambs. North Country Cheviot or Half-bred prime lambs – H Sutherland, Drummuie Farm Cottage, Golspie. Any other native lambs – J Campbell and Co, Todholes. Continental prime lambs – J and J Swanson, Hillhead.

NCC (Judge: A Armstrong, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland). Champion and reserve overall sheep – DN Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, with a gimmer by Durran ace which was purchased for 3600gns and shared with Alan Smith, Upper Cornquoy. Previously unshown, she is out of a home-bred ewe by Allanshaws Tank and is heading to the Black Isle. Reserve – DN Campbell and Sons, with the two-shear tup Biggins Bravo, bought last year at Quoybrae for 3000gns and shared with Alan Smith. He is by Bardnaclacan Warrior. Aged ram, ewe – DN Campbell and Sons. Shearling tup – J and W Mackay, Biggins, Wick. Ewe lamb – J Forbes, Boultach, Latheron. Three Dinmont tups – C and I Angus, Oldfield farm, Thurso.

Hill Cheviot (Judge: M Mackay, Durness). Champion – A Campbell, Mill House, Thurso with a two-crop ewe, by an Inkstack sire. She is bound for the Black Isle. Reserve – D and A McCarthy, Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust with a home-bred shearling ram by Philiphaugh V and out of a ewe by Heathmont Patriot. Gimmer, aged tup, tup lamb – Mill House, Thurso. Ewe lamb – M Macdonald, Achentoul Farm Cottage.

Blackface (Judge: P Myles, Dalbog, Angus) Champion – T Elder, Auldwell Croft, with a home-bred gimmer that was champion at Latheron. Reserve – M Macaskill, Murray House, with a gimmer bought from the Lurg flock for £70. Ewe and tup lamb – T Elder. Ewe lamb, tup – M Macaskill.

Native sheep (Judge: P Myles). Champion – Hannah Sinclair, Upper Latheron, with a one-crop Oxford ewe from Bennachie Oxfords. Reserve – A Douglas, Achnamoine, with a home-bred Bluefaced Leicester May-born ewe lamb. Gimmer, tup lamb – Hannah Sinclair. Shetland sheep – AM Douglas.

Lleyn (Judge: P Myles). Champion and reserve – J Campbell and Co, Todholes with a tup lamb and ewe, respectively

Commercial (Judge: J Clark, Galashiels). Champion, supreme sheep and reserve overall champion of champions – W Barnestson and Sons, Lynegar, Watten with a four-crop Texel cross Half-bred ewe with two Texel cross lambs by an Annan sire. Reserve – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms with a home-bred four-crop Suffolk cross ewe with twin Texel cross lambs. Cheviot ewe with Half-bred lambs at foot – A Miller and sons, Aimster Thurso.

Cross sheep (Judge: R Mackay, Thura Mains Farm, Bower, Wick). Champion and reserve – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms with a March-born home-bred Border Leicester cross Texel ewe lamb by an Alticane sire tup. Reserve was a four-crop home-bred Texel cross Cheviot Mule ewe. Gimmer – C and I Angus, Oldfield, Thurso. Mule or Greyface – Messrs Sutherland.

Texel MV accredited (Judge: A Hamilton, Lanark). Champion – A Gunn, The Shiean, Hill of Forss, with a one-crop ewe by Proctors son of Sportsman Batman purchased for 3000gns. Reserve – J Coghill, Burnside Huna with a tup lamb out of a Didcot ewe and by Mellor Vale Endeavour. Ewe – A Gunn. Ewe lamb – C and I Angus. Aged tup – D Bain, Kennachy. Shearling – J Coghill, Burnside Huna.

Texel non-MV (Judge: C Angus, Oldfield, Thurso). Champion– Bisset and Blackwood, Thorhaven, Riverview, Thurso with a gimmer out of a Millbank ewe and by Yes Sir. Reserve – W Mackay, Oldfield Terrace, Thurso with a March-born ewe lamb by an Oldfield sire and out of a home-born ewe.

Any other continental (Judge: A Rae, Mains of Orchardstown, Ellon). Champion – J and A Budge, Knockglass, Dunbeath, with a two-year-old Dutch Spotted tup, Dutch Courage by Merryboro Cracker. Dam was imported from the Netherlands in 2018. Reserve – Ellie Mae Bain, Kennachy, Forss with an April-born Blue Texel lamb by Samsyoyo A. Ewe – M Henderson, Tigh Na Lietir, Skye-of-Curr Road. Gimmer – J and A Budge. Tup lamb – K and N Mackay, Mey Smithy.

Overall sheep group (Judge: H McNee, Over Finlarg, Dundee). Champion – W Barnston and Sons, Lynegar, Watten with commercial sheep. Reserve – Messrs Sutherland, Sibmister and Stainland Farms with prime lambs.

Overall pure sheep group. Champion – J and A Budge, Knockglass with Dutch Spotted Texels. Reserve – Messrs MacKay, Biggins, Wick with North Country Cheviots.

Sheep young handler (Judge: H McNee). Junior – 1, Ava Bain, Kennachy; 2, Sophie Sutherland, Brackside; 3, Lauren Sutherland, Brackside; 4, Bella Swanson. Senior – 1, Macey Henderson, Skye of Curr; 2, Ellie Bain, Kennachy; 3, Davy Swanson; 4, Katie Gunn, Shop Farm.

Goats (Judge: I Angus, Oldfield, Thurso). Champion – R Harrold, Ambervale with Dorothy a four-year-old British Saanen. Reserve – Claire Lowe, Rampyards, Watten, with Milly a 10-year-old pygmy goat.