Fresh from winning the Beef Farm of the Year title at the Scottish Agricultural Awards, Andrew Hodge of Rulesmains, Duns, was on hand the next morning to judge the Aberdeen-Angus Winter National Calf Show at Agri-Expo.

From a strong show of females, he selected Neil and Mark Wattie’s Tonley Fiona Y937 as best overall. This 18-month-old heifer is a daughter of Tonley Jester Eric S318 – a bull that has sired sons to 24,000gns and heifers to 20,000gns – while the dam, Tonley Fiona V594, is one of 140 cows in the Wattie family’s herd from Alford, Aberdeenshire. She stood as reserve female champion at the National Show at Turriff during the summer, and her next outing will be to the Black Beauty Bonanza in December.

Reserve overall went to the male champion, Carruthers Equador Z229, a March-born bull calf from Donald and Kerry Graham and sons, Jack and Joe, Birsca Farm, Lockerbie. This home-bred youngster is sired by Auchincrieve Exodus, a bull shared with Duncanziemere, while the dam is Carruthers Eleanor S848, one of 60 breeding cows in the herd. In the pairs championship, Equador teamed up with the Grahams’ heifer, Carruthers Elspeth Z227, to take the title.

Mike and Melanie Alford’s January-born bull calf, Foxhill Diamond Mist Z254, from Devon, finished up reserve overall male champion. A Linton Gilbertines President's son, he is out of Weeton Diamond Mist M351.

Second best in the females, meanwhile, was Duncanziemere Edwina Y508, from the Clark family’s herd at Cumnock. This yearling is a daughter of Duncanziemere Sportsman, while the dam is a home-bred daughter of Carruthers Grenadier.

The yearling bull title went to Andrew and James Adam’s Newhouse Playboy Y014, a 14-month-old son of Brailes Fabulous, from Newhouse of Glamis, while the reserve yearling was Caroline Orr’s Keirsbeath Powerhouse Y586, from Dunfermline. He is sired by Linton Gilbertines President S021.

In the heifer calf championship, the Alfords’ 10-month-old, Foxhill Diamond Mist Z253, finished ahead of the Clark family’s May-born calf, Duncanziemere Ellen Erica Z536.

Leading Awards:

Yearling bull born Jan 1, 2022-July 31, 2022 – 1, AW Neish’s Rodmead Lord Hirta Y106.

Yearling bull born Aug 1, 2022-Dec 31, 2023 – 1, A and J Adam’s Newhouse Playboy Y014; 2, Caroline Orr’s Keirsbeath Powerhouse Y586.

Bull calf born Jan 1, 2023-Feb 28, 2023 – 1, Mr. and Mrs. M Alford’s Foxhill Diamond Mist Z254; 2, Mr and Mrs M Alford’s Foxhill Diamond Mist Z252; 3, Keith Rennie’s Fiddlehall Epic Z051.

Bull calf born Jan 1, 2023-Feb 28, 2023 – 1, Henry and Emily Duncan’s Longbank Paramount Z892; 2, AW Neish’s Rodmead Black Isle Z138; 3, G and N Taylor’s Mosshall Red Lord Z515.

Bull calf born Mar 1, 2023-Mar 31, 2023 – 1, D and K Graham’s Carruthers Equador Z229; 2, Neil Wattie’s Tonley Eagle Z041; 3, Henry and Emily Duncan’s Longbank Orlando Z932.

Bull calf born from Apr 1, 2023 – 1, Neil Wattie’s Tonley Vintage Z052; 2, Hamish Sclater’s Deveron Kris Z934; 3, Keith Rennie’s Fiddlehall Eagle Z058.

Heifer was born Jan 1, 2021-Dec 31, 202 with the first natural calf at foot – 1, Brailes Livestock’s Carbery Urban Boss (Imp).

Heifer born Jan 1, 2022-Jul 31, 2022 – 1, Neil Wattie’s Tonley Fiona Y937; 2, Brailes Livestock’s Brailes Black Bee Y245; 3, Martin McCornick’s McCornick Esther Y888.

Heifer born Aug 1, 2022-Dec 31, 2022 – 1, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Edwina Y508; 2, Neil Wattie’s Tonley Ester Y027; 3, GD and JE Webster’s Wood Moss Queen Mother Y050.

Heifer calf born Jan 1, 2023-Mar 28, 2023 – 1, Mr and Mrs M Alford’s Foxhill Diamond Mist Z253; 2, A and J Adam’s Newhouse Blue Belle Z024; 3, Jamie Rettie’s Hillfoots Evie Z019.

Heifer calf born Jan 1, 2023-Feb 28, 2023 – 1, Hannah Heerema’s Balavilhouse Daisy Duchess Z995; 2, AW Neish’s Rodmead Ebony Z128; 3, Henry and Emily Duncan’s Longbank Patricia Z903.

Heifer calf born Mar 1, 2023-Mar 31, 2023 – 1, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Edwina X512; 2, D and K Graham’s Carruthers Elspeth Z227; 3, Ewen Campbell’s Kilmallie Rosebud Z403.

Heifer calf born from Apr 1, 2023 – 1, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Ellen Erica Z536; 2, Ewen Campbell’s Kilmallie Kylie Z408; 3, William and Margaret Taylor’s Crook Hill Miss Bliss Z076.