It was a clean sweep for John Smith from The Rowans, Brora, at Sutherland Show when he not only claimed the crofters' cattle title and inter-breed beef honours, but also the overall champion of champions, with his black Limousin cross heifer, The Bedhopper.

The flashy two-year-old ET heifer is bred from a British Blue cross cow and sired by the Limousin bull, Elite Losette. She was bought for £3200 from Smallburn Farms, at Thainstone Marts’ 150th anniversary sale in January.

The Scottish Farmer: The two-year-old black Limousin cross heifer, The Bed Hopper, lifted the show championship for John SmithThe two-year-old black Limousin cross heifer, The Bed Hopper, lifted the show championship for John Smith

Leading the way amongst the sheep and lifting the inter-breed title was the four-shear North Country Cheviot hill-type ram, Inkstack X Factor, from Badanloch Estates, Kinbrace. Purchased at Dingwall two years ago for £4500, he was brought out by shepherd, Hughie Mackenzie and is sired by a Keppoch ram, out of an Inkstack ewe.

Overall in the heavy horses was the three-year-old Clydesdale mare, Ord Moanna, from Eric Johnstone, Muir or Ord. She is a daughter of Redcastle Brelee Majestic and is out of Ord Envy. Last year, she was senior champion at Kilmarnock Foal Show.

The Scottish Farmer: Inter-breed sheep was the four-shear North Country Cheviot hill-type ram, Inkstack X Factor, from Badanloch Estates Ref: ANGUS MACKAYInter-breed sheep was the four-shear North Country Cheviot hill-type ram, Inkstack X Factor, from Badanloch Estates Ref: ANGUS MACKAY

LEADING awards

Native cattle (Judge: I Callion, Stirling). Champion and reserve – Raddery Aberdeen-Angus, Fortrose. Supreme was the 15-month-old bull, Raddery Ecclefechan, which stood fourth in his class at this year’s Royal Highland Show. Bound for Nairn and Black Isle Shows, he is by Deveron Ecstatic and out of Raddery Elderflower. Reserve was the 18-month-old in-calf heifer, Raddery Lady. Another by Deveron Ecstatic, she is out of Deveron Lady. Bull, yearling heifer, pair – Raddery Aberdeen-Angus. In-calf heifer – H Polson, Rowanfield, Strathpeffer. Heifer calf, bull calf – S and M Mackenzie, Auchmore Farm, Muir of Ord.

The Scottish Farmer: Ord Moanna from Eric Johnstone lifted the CLydesdale and heavy horse championshipOrd Moanna from Eric Johnstone lifted the CLydesdale and heavy horse championship

Highland cattle (Judge: I Callion). Champion and reserve – Tordarroch Estates, Farr, Inverness. Supreme was the two-year-old heifer, Alice 22 of Tordarroch. A daughter of MacRae Charles on Maol, her dam is Alice 20 of Tordarroch. Reserve was the yearling bull, Ivar of Tordarroch, which is by Macrae Charles of Maol and out of Heather 10 of Tordarroch. All classes – Tordarroch Estates.

Commercial cattle (Judge: J Gunn, Reiss). Champion, reserve and reserve cattle inter-breed – B Duffton, Huntly. Supreme was the 20-month-old Limousin cross steer, Spongebob. He stood third at the Highland and was bred by J and A Jarman. Reserve was the 21-month-old black Limousin cross heifer, Truffles. Lightweight champion at LiveScot, second at the Highland and supreme beef at Fettercairn, she was bought at Carlisle in September. Cow, cow with calf at foot – G Fraser, Little Croy farm, Croy. Yearling stot, yearling heifer, pair – B Duffton. Heifer calf under one-year-old, calf born after Jan 1, 2022, best in district – J Munro and Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay. Stot calf under one-year-old – K Grant, 2 Lochend, Barrock, Thurso. Young farmer – T Munro and Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay.

Crofters cattle (Judge: J Gunn). Champion and inter-breed cattle – J Smith, The Rowans, Brora with the two-year-old black Limousin cross heifer, The Bedhopper. She is an ET bred heifer being sired by Elite Losette, and bred out of a British Blue cross cow. She was purchased for £3200 from Smallburn Farms at Thainstone Marts’ 150th anniversary sale, in January. All classes – J Smith.

The Scottish Farmer: Kevin Sutherland's four-crop ewe took all the plaudits amongst the NCC lowground sectionKevin Sutherland's four-crop ewe took all the plaudits amongst the NCC lowground section

NCC lowground (Judge: R MacKenzie, Munlochy). Champion – K and R Sutherland, 1 Church Lane, Halkirk with a four-crop ewe. On her first outing, she is backed by a Biggins-bred ram which was purchased at Quoybrae and is out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – A Henderson, 8 Murrayfield, Castletown with a tup lamb out of a home-bred ewe. Tup, shearling, ewe, gimmer, group of three – K and R Sutherland. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – A Henderson.

NCC hill (Judge: N Montgomery, Struan). Champion and inter-breed sheep – Badanloch Estates, Kinbrace, with the four-shear tup, Inkstack X Factor. Purchased at Dingwall two years ago for £4500, he is sired by a Keppoch ram and out of an Inkstack ewe. Reserve – A Campbell, Mill House, Stainland with the aged ewe. Tup, tup lamb, ewe lamb – Badanloch Estates. Two-shear ram – North Loch Naver Estate, Grumbeg, Altnaharra. Shearling tup – M Cook, Dorrey Farm, Scotscalder, Halkirk. Ewe, group of three – A Campbell. Gimmer – G MacDonald, 3 Crakaig, Whitehill, Loth. Wether – Nicholson Farms, Clebrig, Altnaharra.

The Scottish Farmer: This three-crop ewe from Katie Gunn stood supreme amongst the SuffolksThis three-crop ewe from Katie Gunn stood supreme amongst the Suffolks

NCC crofters (Judge: J Anderson, Dornoch). Champion and reserve – M Macdonald, Farm Cottage, Auchintoul, Kinbrace. Supreme was a shearling ram on his first outing. He is a son of a Suisgill tup and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve was a home-bred three-crop ewe which is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides. Aged tup – K Cameron, 107 Torroble, Lairg. Two-shear tup – A Robertson, Shepherds house, Clebrig. Shearling tup, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – M Macdonald. Tup lamb, wedder lamb – A Robertson, 14 Clashbrec, Lairg.

Beltex (Judge: A Morton, Denny). Champion – J Scott and Partners, Fearn Farm, Fearn, Tain with the three-crop ewe, Fearn Empress. This ET daughter of Douly Caspian is out of Fearn Winnie which stood champion here in 2018. Reserve – B and S Rieve, Glenbow, Craigrorie, Wester Craiglands with the March-born ewe lamb, Glenbow Hermione. She is by Pentland Glen Marange which was bought for 3000gns at Carlisle as a lamb, and she is out of Glenbow Fantasia. Tup – J Aird, Glenurquhart Farm, Cromarty. Shearling, ewe lamb, group of three – B and S Rieve. Ewe, gimmer, tup lamb – J Scott and Partners.

The Scottish Farmer: The gimmer, Paddock Juniper, from Paddock Zwartbles took home the breed champion ticketThe gimmer, Paddock Juniper, from Paddock Zwartbles took home the breed champion ticket

Texel (Judge: D Bain, Forss). Champion – P Gill, Duncroft, Wester Raddery, Fortrose with the gimmer by Duncryne Dynamite which was bought at Carlisle in 2020. She is out of a home-bred ewe by Knock Wurzel. Reserve – Wester Moy Texels, Wester Moy, Muir of Ord with a tup lamb on his first outing. He is a son of Aulderview Dictator purchased at Lanark for 4000gns in 2020 and is out of a home-bred ewe by Haddo Bright Spark. He will be for sale later in the year. Tup lamb – Wester Moy Texels. Aged tup – R Mackenzie, Wester Craiglands, Fortrose. Shearling tup, ewe, group of three – C and I Angus, Oldfield, Thurso. Gimmer – P Gill. Ewe lamb – M Renwick, 103 Deas Avenue, Dingwall.

Suffolk (Judge: I Fowlie, Strichen). Champion and reserve – K Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder. Supreme was a three-crop ewe purchased at Dingwall in 2019. She is sired by Castleisle Spotlight and is out of a Casterthurn-bred ewe. Reserve was the three-shear tup, Solomn North Star, which stood first in his class at Caithness Show. He is a son of Strathisla Schumacher and out of a Solomn-bred ewe. All classes – K Gunn.

The Scottish Farmer: Blair Duffton's 'Spongebob' lifted the commercial cattle titleBlair Duffton's 'Spongebob' lifted the commercial cattle title

Shetland (Judge: D Wilson, Wishaw). Champion and reserve – I Carnegie, Dowmin, Huntly. Supreme was the home-bred shearling tup, Raedykes Pat, which is sired by Raedykes Marcus and out of Island Patsy. Reserve was the two-crop ewe, Raedykes Eloise, which is another daughter of Marcus, this time out of Island Erin. Aged tup – S Urquhart, Bogallan, North Kessock. Shearling tup, ewe, group of three – I Carnegie. Gimmer – D Richardson, Rosebank House, Clashmore, Dornoch. Ewe lamb, tup lamb – E and C Stables, Taigh Sa Choille, Maisley, Keith. Coloured – S and F Morence, Fir Chlis, Craggie, Daviot.

Zwartbles (Judge: D Macarthy, Mey). Champion – Paddock Zwartbles, Drumtemple Croft, Inverness, with the gimmer, Paddock Juniper. She is a daughter Wallridgemuir Finn, out of Paddock Gemini and is heading to the Black Isle Show. Reserve – K and W Anderson, Cairnhill, Farr, Inverness with the shearling tup, Cairnhill Just The One. He is by Whitestone Granite which was bought in 2019 and is out of Greystone Fallon. Fourth in his class at this year’s Royal Highland Show, he will be forward for sale at Harrison and Hetherington’s premier sale later in the month. Shearling tup, ewe, ewe lamb, tup lamb, group of three – K and W Anderson. Gimmer – Paddock Zwarbles.

Cross sheep (Judge: A Munro. Dornoch). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – G Breathet, Woodside Croft, Blackpark, Ardersier with a home-bred Charollais cross Texel gimmer. Sired by a Logie Durno-bred ram, she is out of a home-bred Texel cross ewe and stood first in her class at Fettercairn Show. All classes – G Breathet.

AOB sheep (Judge: D Macarthy). Champion – E Campbell, Balvaird, Muir of Ord with a Rouge ewe lamb which secured the female championship. Reserve – D Henderson, Maranatha, Craggiemore, Daviot with a Hampshire Down. Tup, ewe lamb – E Campbell. Ewe, gimmer – D Henderson. Tup lamb – K and N Mackay, Smithy House, Easter Mey, By Thurso.

Clydesdale (Judge: K Eastwood, Huntly). Champion – E and M Johnstone, Muir of Ord with the three-year-old Clydesdale mare, Ord Moanna. She is a daughter of Redcastle Brelee Majestic and is out of the home-bred Ord Envy. She will be heading to Nairn and Black Isle Show. Reserve – M and J Munro, with the four-year-old mare, Gersa Lady Lauren. She is a daughter of Arradoul Balvenie, out of West Glen Apple Blossom and stood reserve champion at Caithness, last week. Mare with foal at foot – MW and JL Munro. Foal – S Johnstone. Mare – E and M Johnstone. Ridden – A Holliday.

Highland ponies (Judge: A Baird, Blairgowrie). Champion – S Campbell, Caithness with the nine-year-old mare, Midcalder Maggie May. A previous Hope Show champion, she is by Glenbanchor Gillebrighde and out of Jewel of the Glens. Reserve – A and C Munro, Loandhu, Fearn with the two-year-old home-bred filly, Loandhu Tinkerbell. Second in her class at the Highland, she is a daughter of Strathmore Cameron and out of Wendy Rose of Strathmore. Mare – S Campbell. Gelding four-years-old and over – A Campbell. Yearling colt, filly or gelding – H Maclennan. Two or three-year-old filly – A and C Munro. Mare with foal, foal – L Hope.

Shetland ponies (Judge:I Spence, Alford). Champion – C Window was home-bred standard yeld mare, Esther’s Imogen. Reserve – T Pethybridge with the standard mare, Lathom Velvet Rose. Aged stallion, standard mare – C Window. Aged miniature stallion, miniature mare or gelding – B Macdonald. Two or three-year-old miniature colt, filly or gelding, yearling miniature colt, filly or gelding – F Murray. Two or three-year-old standard colt, filly or gelding, standard mare with foal at foot, standard foal – T Pethybridge. Miniature mare with foal at foot – D MacLeod. Miniature foal – S Mitchell.