More than 100 Aberdeen-Angus cattle from all over the country were forward for the Black Beauty Bonanza at Thainstone last week.
The event, organised by the North East Aberdeen- Angus Club, attracted one of its largest entries for some time, with 96 of the 106 entries forward from 28 top herds.
Forfar-based breeder, David Murray of the Wolflaw herd, was tasked with judging the 12 classes of calves and yearlings, before going on to select his champion and reserve winners in each section. He said the quality in front of him for judging had been superb. "There was some real strong female classes, perhaps the strongest I have seen at this event," said Mr Wolflaw, who has exhibited here in the past.
The heifer calf championship was won by January-born Foxhill Diamond Mist Z253, from Mike and Melanie Alford’s Foxhill herd in Devon. Brought out by freelance stockman Drew Hyslop, who looks after the couple’s show cattle in Ayrshire, this heifer is by Linton Gilbertines President S021, out of Weeton Diamond Mist M351. She stood junior female champion at Agri Expo in Carlisle and was native junior champion at the Stars of the Future Calf Show.
Reserve heifer calf champion for Hannah Heerema, and farm manager Gerald Joyce, of Balavil Home Farm, Kingussie, was the similarly aged calf Balavilhouse Daisy Duchess Z995. This one is an AI son of Kilmaluag Eriskay T203, out of Ardoyne Daisy Duchess P256, and won her class at Agri Expo.
Neil and Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford, stood champion yearling heifer with Tonley Fiona Y937, which was overall champion at the society’s Winter National Calf Show at Agri Expo and reserve female champion at the national show at Turriff. She is a 19-month-old daughter of Tonley Jester Eric S318, which has bred sons to 24,000gns and daughters to 20,000gns.
Reserve to Tonley, was Newton-Struthers Espresso Y649, a similarly aged female from the Rhind family at Newton of Struthers, Kinloss, Forres. Espresso had a summer to remember when she won seven breed championships as well as two reserve inter-breed wins and champion of champion at Grantown Show. She is by Idvies Ed, out of Newton-Struthers Emma.
The main sponsors of the event, Ballindalloch Home Farms, won the bull calf championship with Ballindalloch Flame Z696. Winning for farm manager David Johnstone and wife Susan was the April born son of Rosemead January W189, and the first calf out of Ballindalloch Flora. Flora’s dam is the well known Ballindalloch Earl, which stood calf champion here 10 years ago.
Ray Gardiner, Newton Smiddy, Skene, was reserve bull calf with May-born Newton Nelson Z139, by Idvies Ferrari, out of Newton Muchalls Nutmeg.
There was just one class of yearling bulls, with the champion and reserve tickets going to Tonley. Champion was Tonley Edward Y938, by Tonley Jester Eric, while the other was Tonley Picasso Y953, one of the first sons of Duncanziemere Jetstream. They went on to win the yearling pair championship and are destined for sale at Stirling in February.
Balavilhouse heifers took champion in the pairs of calves, while Ray Gardiner’s Newton Muchalls herd took reserve with another heifer duo. Reserve pair of yearlings also went to Tonley.
Andrew Reid Jnr from Ellon won the chairman’s special prize for Endeavour.
Leading Awards
Heifer calves – Jan 01-25 2023 – 1, Mr and Mrs M Alford’s Foxhill Diamond Mist, by Linton Gilbertines President S021; 2, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Daisy Duchess Z995, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203; 3, H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Blaeberry Z990, by Balavilhouse Loyal Era X915.
Feb 09-Feb 27 2023 – 1, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Blackbelle Z967, by Auchincrieve Eminem W557; 2, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Empress Z000, by Kilmaluag Eriskay; 3, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Edwinasa Z963, by Shawtonhill Ninja W751.
Mar 02-Mar 19 2023 – 1, A and P Davie’s Perkhill Cherry Blossom Z385, by Perkhill Black Evor V307; 2, G and R Miller’s Birkenbower Ginnie Z626, by Casino Buffon S008; 3, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Edwinasa Z971, by Shawtonhill Ninja.
Mar 21-Apr 09 2023 – 1, NA Wattie’s Tonley Princess Z044, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203; 2, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Miss Pristine Z693, by Rosemead January W189; 3, AJR Farms’ Logie Eyebright Z453, by Blelack Ever Creole W042.
Apr 12-May 07 2023 – 1, R Gardiner’s Newton Jill Erica, by Idvies Ferrari S752; 2, AN Calcott and Son’s Blelack Hill Bluebird Z028, by Blelack Dual Mine U913; 3, B MacAngus’ Little Glencoe Perdita Z023, by Rawburn Ernan W110.
Yearling heifers – Mar 25-Dec 17 2022 – 1, NA Wattie’s Tonley Fiona, by Tonley Jester Eric S318; 2, A and K Rhind and Son’s Newton-Struthers Espresso Y649, by Idvies Ed W875; 3, AJR Farms’ Logie Eyebright Y417, by Blelack Ever Creole W042.
Bull calves – Jan 01-Jan 22 2023 – 1, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Galahad Z991, by Balavilhouse Loyal Era X915; 2, K Rennie’s Fiddlehall Epic Z051, by Tonley Jester Eric S318; 3, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Pilbeam Z996, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203.
Feb 03-Mar 09 2023 – 1, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Lucifer Z983, by Auchincrieve Eminem W557; 2, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Eusane Z964, by Auchincrieve Eminem W557; 3, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Black Bingham Z001, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203.
Mar 12-Mar 28 2023 – 1, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Jerry Eric Z990, by Shawtonhill Ninja W751; 2, Mosston Muir Farm’s Mosston Muir Invictus Z459, by Balmachie Ranald T223; 3, NA Wattie’s Tonley Eagle Z041, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203.
Apr 01-Apr 10 2023 – 1, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Flame Z696, by Rosemead January W189; 2, Mosston Muir Farm’s Mosston Muir Eroco Z464, by Balmachie Ranald T223; 3, PM Hepburn’s Burnside Bandit Man Z066, by Burnside Eyeful W967.
Apr 18-Jun 15 2023 – 1, R Gardiner’s Newton Nelson Z139, by Idvies Ferrari S752; 2, AN Calcott and Son’s Blelack Hill Prospero Z032, by Kimaluag Eriskay T203; 3, AN Calcott and Son’s Blelack Hill Buster Z033, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203.
Yearling bulls – Mar 21-Aug 20 2022 – 1, NA Wattie’s Tonley Edward Y938, by Tonley Jester Eric S318; 2, NA Wattie’s Tonley Picasso Y953, by Duncanziemere Jesterstream V322; 3, A and P Davie’s Perkhill Black Magic Y373, by Perkhill Charlie Brown U302.
Stockmanship - Senior (18-26 years) - 1, Andrew Reid; 2, Hannah Lorimer; 3, James MacIver. Intermediate (16-17 years) - 1, Grant Rhind; 2, Jasmin Strachan; 3, Rachel Forbes. Intermediate (14-15 years) - 1, Finlay Hunter; 2, Anna Fettes; 3, Jack Stuart. Junior (13 years and under) - 1, Jess Williams; 2, Abbie Brown; 3, Cameron Elliot.
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