ROYAL NORTHERN SPRING SHOW
An outstanding display of beef and lamb carcases drew fulsome praise from the judge at the
Royal Northern Spring Show carcase competition at Scotbeef Inverurie’s meat plant.
There were no fewer than 22 E grade carcases among the 68 beef carcases, plus 25 grading
U+ and 21 U-.
“The overall quality of the beef carcases was amazing and a credit to all exhibitors,” said
Brian Noble of John Scott Meats, Paisley, who admitted it was a difficult job to select the
winners from the consistent quality line-up.
“I was looking for a smaller carcase, producing sides weighing 150-190kg, which is ideal for
the traditional quality butchers which I sell to in the London area. Steaks from sides of this
size can be cut more thickly to ensure superb eating quality.”
Mr Noble found his champion in a 380.6kg British Blue cross heifer grading E4L from regular
winner, Angus Cumming and his son, Gordon, Tillydesk, Ellon. The heifer was bought from
breeder, Sammy Miller, Burnheads, Deskford, at a Thainstone sale and was reserve heifer
champion in the live judging at the show.
Reserve was a 358.8kg Limousin cross steer grading U4L exhibited by Bill Cameron, Burnside
of Edingight, Grange, Keith, and bred by J Wink and Sons, Bainshole, Huntly.
Reserve champion heifer was a Charolais cross from Scott Willox, Dykenook, Netherley,
Stonehaven, with David and Neil Work, Mains of Dumbreck, Udny, taking the reserve steer
championship with a Limousin cross.
The award for the best combined score for live and dead was also won by Mr Cumming and
a British Blue from David and Val Buchan, Savoch, Longside, recorded the best killing-out
percentage of 65.9%.
Placings in the prime sheep classes very much followed the live placings at the show on
Wednesday with the carcase championship going to a pair of Beltex from Shona Milne,
Parkdargue, Forgue, Huntly.
A pair of home-bred Beltex crosses by a Newton of Carnousie sire from Angus Greenlaw,
Sheep Park, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly, which won the live championship at the show, took
the reserve carcase championship.
Class awards
Light steer – 1 W and J Cameron; 2 J and B Muir, Honeyneuk, Maud; 3 D Work and Son.
Medium steer – 1 D Work and Son; 2 A and E Cumming; 3 D and V Buchan.
Heavy steer – 1 Ellis and Keir, Cairncoullie, Glenkindie, Alford; 2 A and E Cumming; 3 S and C
Roebuck, Lendrum, Birkenhills, Turriff.
Light heifer – 1 Scott Willox; 2 Steven Smith, The Byre, Sunnyhill Croft, Turriff; 3 R and D
Farquhar, Tewel, Stonehaven.
Medium heifer – 1 A and E Cumming; 2 A Fraser, Artrochie, Ellon; 3 J and B Muir.
Heavy heifer – 1 Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud; 2 W and J Cameron; 3 J and M
Penny, Shannas, Clola, Peterhead.
Light hoggs – 1 Shona Milne; 2 and 3 John Young, 7 Millan Court, Lumphanan.
Heavy hoggs – 1 Angus Greenlaw; 2 and 3 Shona Milne.