Angus Show drew some of Scotland’s best livestock to Brechin Castle showground on Saturday and presented a great preview of some of the top quality animals that will be heading to the Royal Highland later this month.
The weather may have been dull and drizzly but exhibitors and stock alike seemed oblivious as they stood patiently in the rings waiting to be judged.
Show chairman Allan Alston from Chapelton of Menmuir praised the stocksmen and women for increasing the turnout of cattle and sheep although, in common with other shows this year, there were fewer dairy cows on the showground.
“The weather hasn’t been brilliant but we had the best day we could possibly hope for,” he said.
The names of the 2016 summer show season champions are starting to become familiar, and at Brechin a selection of the winners from previous Saturdays at Kelty and Cupar reigned supreme yet again. However some of the stock were promoted to the glories of the interbreed awards on their debut appearances.
The interbreed line-ups were exclusively continental, with the Beltex gimmer, Aberdeen Lassie from Stuart Wood from Woolhillock at Skene taking the supreme sheep championship.
In reserve place was the two-shear Charollais tup which won the any other breed award. The winner, Rhaeadr Orlando was purchased for 5000gns at Worcester last year by William and Carole Ingram from Logie Durno, Pitcaple and was on just his first show outing.
Leading the cattle parade was the Limousin champion from Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside who has a pedigree herd of 10 cows. It was a first time out for her two-year-old cow, Goldies Inchantress, a daughter of Keprico Germander and Goldies Etoile.
Reserve supreme in the cattle lines was the Charolais heifer, Firhills Jasmine, a two-year-old heifer-in-calf from Jim Muirhead, Firhills Farm, Arbroath.
The Clydesdale champion from the Clark family at Muirton Stud, Crieff dominated the heavy horse line-ups, just as she did at the Fife and West Fife shows. However Muirton Melba, the home-bred yearling filly by Muirton Sabre and out of Muirton Megan won’t be competing at the Highland as family member, Willie Clark is judging the breed this year.
The nine-year-old Shetland mare shown by Brooke MacDonald on behalf of the Robertsons beat the Highland champion into reserve supreme place.
And over in the goat classes awards were divided into male and female supreme champions. Gordon Webster and Gordon Smith took the female championship with their high-milking two-year-old, Guilden Erin, while goat show steward, Agnes Aitken, Hilberry, Stonehaven won the male championship with her British Alpine, two-year-old Rogerian Eamonn.
The champions
Cattle
Aberdeen-Angus – John Steel, West Drums, Brechin with eight-year-old cow, Cardona Proud Isla by Eastfield Fusilier and out of Cardona Proud Isla.
Reserve – Allan Rennie, Mosston Muir, Guthrie, Forfar with a seven-year-old cow, Mosston Muir Edwira by Netherton Bellsam and out of Mosstonmuir Edwira.
Commercial – Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, Crieff with 14-month-old Limousin heifer, Tooshie Noir by Kype Elliot Champion at Fife and West Fife shows.
Reserve – Derek Nelson, Mains of Lundie, Edzell with 16-month-old Limousin cross bullock, Parahandy bred by Tom Hamilton, Pardovan, Linlithgow. On his first outing.
Simmental – Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, Laurencekirk with bull, Drumsleed Goliath 15 by Haystar Cracker and out of Drumsleed Caitlin. On his first outing.
Reserve – Douglas Smith, Drumsleed with 16-month-old heifer, Drumsleed Georgia by Davensdale Chopper and out of Drumsleed Dallas.
Charolais – Jim Muirhead, Firhills Farm, Arbroath with two-year-old heifer in calf, Firhills Jasmine by Maerdy Grenedier and out of Ugie Erin.
Reserve – Jim Muirhead with 15-month-old bull, Firhills Lotus by Maerdy Grenedier and out of Firhills Foxy.
Limousin – Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside with two-year-old cow, Goldies Inchantress by Keprico Germander and out of Goldies Etoile.
Reserve – Aileen Ritchie with two-year-old heifer, Goldies Joyful by Goldies Fortress and out of Goldies Empress.
Any other native breed – J M Cant and partners, Easter Knox, Arbilot with 13-month-old Hereford bull, Panmure 1 Mumford by Panmure 1 Karl and out of Panure 1 Plum.
Reserve – J M Cant and partners with 15-month-old heifer, Panmure 1 Plum by Hawkesbury 1 Volcano and out of Panmure 1 Plum.
Highland cattle – Keith Howman, Boirland, Blacklunans, Blairgowrie with two-year-old heifer, Hevlwen 7th of Boralnd by Stepdancer 3rd of Glengorm.
Reserve – Steven Reid and Amy Singer, Forest Park, Stonehaven with two-year-old heifer, Sorcha Dubh 2nd of Cladich by Seonaidh Mor of Ardura and out of Sorcha Dubbh of Cladich.
Dairy – Allan Alston, Drumchapel, Chapelton of Menmuir, Brechin with seven-year-old cow-in-milk, Drumchapel Atlas Valtma by Atlas. Champion at Angus in 2015.
Reserve – Allan Alston with eight-year-old cow, Drumchapel Phil Whitney by Dolbytop Phil.
HORSES
Clydesdale – Tom Clark and Sons, Muirton Stud, Crieff with yearolng filly, Muirton Melba by Muirton Sabre and out of Muirton Megan.
Reserve – S Greenhill, xxxxxxxxx with six-year-old mare, Macfin Ruby by Doura High Spirit. Reserve champion at West Fife.
Shetland -W and P Robertson, Montrose with nine-year-old mare, Hedderwick Red Ribbon by Emperor of St Ninian.
Reserve – Donna Lochtie, Tillicoultry with 10-year-old mare, Hawkdale Dixie by Roseremus of Transy. Reserve champion at RHS and champion at Black Isle in 2015.
Highland – Hamish Cameron, Westcot, Pitkennedy with 10-year-old mare, Rosanna of Turin Hill by Kincardine Ben Macdhui. Qualified for Blair Atholl Trials in 2016.
Reserve – J Cumming, Brechin with 10-year old mare, Lady Elizabeth of Lonmay.
SHEEP
North Blackface – D Beaton, Newmill, Forfar with three-shear ewe by a £4000 McAvoy tup bought in Ireland and out of a dam by a Kilburn tup lamb.
Reserve – R C Myles and Sons, Dalbog, Edzell with a tup lamb by High Index from Kirkton, Auchtertyre and out of a dam by a Chamberwells tup.
South Blackface – A Walker, Cramie, Glen Prosen with a gimmer by a £10,000 Aitkenhead tup and out of a ewe by a Nunnerie tup.
Reserve – M Simpson, Drumdewan, Blairgowrie with a tup lamb by a £16,000 Lochalsh tup and out of a dam by a Dalchirla tup.
Beltex – Stuart Wood, Woolhillock, Skene with a gimmer, Aberdeen Lassie by Matts Wazza and out of a Belgium import ewe.
Reserve – Stuart Wood with a four-shear tup, Double O Seven by an imported Belgian tup.
Cross sheep – H Smith, Scobhaugh Farm, Cortachy, Kirriemuir with three Beltex cross lambs sired by Cortaine Willie Winky and out of Beltex cross ewes.
Reserve – D Black, Minard, Cortachy Road, Kirriemuir with three Texel cross gimmers bought as lambs from Pitnacairn.
Suffolk – C Croal, Hollycroft, Blairgowrie with a gimmer by Burness Black Jack out of a ewe by Lakeview Leroy. Reserve champion at Perth as a ewe lamb.
Reserve – Gordon Machie, Drimmie Farm, Forfar with a ewe lamb by Forkins Bold Boy.
Texel – William and Carole Ingram, Logie Durno, Pitcaple with a shearling, Deveronvale Warrior bought at Lanark in 2015 for 19,000gns in partnership.
Reserve – David McKerrow, Nochnary Farm, Freuchie with a gimmer by Stainton Vigilante. Reserve at Fife and West Fife shows this year.
Jacob – Mr and Mrs W Crowe with a ewe, Gowanbank Anna by Hindshaw Ryan and out of Gowanbank Vida May.
Reserve – Mr and Mrs W Crowe with gimmer, Bentley Gala, bought privately as a ewe lamb.
Any other sheep breed – William and Carole Ingram, Logie Durno, Pitcaple with two-shear Charollais tup, Rhaeadr (CORRECT) Orlando bought at Worcester for 5000gns in 2015. On his first show outing.
Reserve – William and Carole Ingram with one-crop home-bred Charollais ewe by Riverdale Noble. On her first show outing.
Goats (female) – Gordon Webster and Gordon Smith, Guildy Den Farm, Monikie, Dundee with two-year-old British milker, Guilden Erin by Guilden Blue and out of Toddbrook Elentari. Recorded as giving 3.95kg over 12 hours.
Reserve – Gordon Webster and Gordon Smith with two-year-old British milker, Guilden Enya by Guilden Blue and out of Toddbrook Elentari. Recorded as giving 3.1kg over 12 hours.
Goats (male) – Agnes Aitken, Hillberry, Stonehaven with two-year-old British Alpine, Rogerian Eamonn.
Reserve – Agnes Aitken with two-year-old British Alpine, Rogerian Dapper.
