ROYAL NOTHERN SPRING SHOW
THREE-IN-A-ROW FOR NEWTON OF LOGIERAIT AT BUSY SPRING SHOW
A bright spring-like day greeted thousands of visitors to the Royal Northern Spring Show at
Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on February 28.
The large attendance thronged the crowded trade stand area – which boasted a record 120
trade stands – and show and sale rings throughout the day and it was late afternoon before
cars started leaving the jam-packed car parks. Fortunately, the delays experienced last year in
leaving the show were not repeated as a result of better traffic management.
“The show has been another great success and I’m delighted with how well the day has
gone,” said Harbro trading manager, Colin Booth, the president of the Royal Northern
Agricultural Society.
“Trade stand holders are happy and doing buoyant business and farmers were pleased to see
the sunshine after weeks of wet weather in many areas.”
Highlight of the show, sponsored by Stewart Trailers, Daviot, was the turnout of exhibition
cattle which proved a triumph for Perthshire father and son, John and Craig Robertson,
Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, who walked away with the steer and heifer championships
and went on to win the overall championship for the third year running as well as securing
the top price with another first prize steer.
“It’s the best day we’ve ever had at the show,” said John Robertson. “We never expected to
achieve such clean sweep although we know we had some good calves.”
The overall champion, a 10 month old 386kg Limousin x British Blue steer by the Frenchbred sire, Atilla, sold for £3400 to Andrew Laird, Mossbank, Burray, Orkney, who bought the
champion two years ago and the reserve champion last year.
The winning steer, born in the Robertson’s 160 cow suckler herd, was named Marooned after
becoming trapped in the River Tay as a calf.
“He got stuck in the river and had to be dug out with a shovel when we came back from a
Carlisle bull sale,” said Craig. “That’s why he’s called Marooned.”
The champion heifer, an unnamed April-born 382kg Limousin out of a Limousin cross heifer
bought for £2700 at Carlisle last June with her calf at foot from breeder, Jimmy Mulholland,
sold for £2800 and was also bought by Mr Laird.
But it was another first prize steer from the Robertson’s, a home-bred June-born Limousin
cross by stock bull, Craigatoke Butch, which claimed the top price of the day, selling for
£3800 to Huntly dealer and show enthusiast, Blair Duffton.
In a keenly contested final line up, the judge, Phil Sellers, Lincoln, a prominent exhibitor on
the English show circuit, awarded the reserve overall and reserve steer championships to
Monzie Farms, Gilmerton, Crieff, with a home-bred April-born Limousin x British Blue,
Wonder Boy, a 454kg son of Kype Eliot, a 3500gns Carlisle purchase for their 240 cow
suckler herd. This one is also destined for the summer show circuit having been bought by
Stewart Brown, Roepark, Little Brechin, Brechin.
A nine month old British Blue cross took the reserve heifer championship for Gordon Carroll,
Edendiack, Gartly, Huntly. The 346kg heifer by Strathbogie Edgar and out of a Limousin
cross cow bred by Bill Thompson, Nether Glasslaw, New Pitsligo, realised £3000 to Mr
Dufton who was also on the receiving end of a high price, selling a fourth prize 23 month old
British Blue cross heifer by Penygelly Elite back to breeder, J Richardson, Ghyll House,
Appleby.
A total of 19 heifers averaged £1794.74 (£3.87/kg) and 14 steers £1920 (£4.53/kg).
A pen of three Texel cross hoggs by Knock Toronto topped the improved show of breeding
sheep for first time exhibitor, Colin Scott, Wester Biffie, Maud, with reserve place going to a
pen of Caithness-bred Half-bred ewe lambs bought at Quoybrae last October for £85/head by
Ron Wilkie, Tillyboy, Echt.
BUCHAN EXHIBITORS SHARE CARCASE HONOURS
In the well-filled carcase cattle classes, supported by new sponsor, Grampian Steel Services
Ltd, Oldmeldrum, the top award in the live judging went to Harry Brown, Jun, Auchmaliddie
Mains, Maud, with a 22 month old home-bred Limousin x British Blue/Limousin heifer by
Knock Easter and the reserve to Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft, Turriff, with a 17 month old
Limousin cross bred by the Robertson’s at Newton of Logierait.
Mr Brown stood reserve for both steers and heifers – and repeated these successes on the
hook - taking the reserve steer championship with a 22 month old home-bred Limousin x
Limousin/British Blue by Dumbreck Citroen and the reserve heifer championship with a 22
month old Orkney-bred Charolais x Limousin/Aberdeen-Angus.
Champion on the hook was a 354kg U+4L British Blue heifer carcase from David Buchan,
Auchtydore Farms, Easterton of Lenabo, Mintlaw, and bred by Gordon Carroll, with the
reserve award going to Mr Brown with the heifer which was placed reserve in the live
judging. This 386kg heifer graded E4L.
Mr Smith’s reserve live champion killed out at 398.7kg and E4L to win the carcase steer
championship with Mr Brown taking reserve spot with his live reserve.
Mr Smith also won the combined live/dead award and the award for the best killing out
percentage of 66.33% went to A Fraser, Atrochie, Ellon.
Convener, Alan Cumming, said the show of carcases was the best ever at the show with 25 of
the 65 carcases achieving E grade.
Veteran exhibitor, 89-year-old John Young, 7 Milan Court, Lumphanan, won the
championship in the live prime lamb judging with a pair of Texel x Beltex and took reserve
in the carcase judging with Beltex x Texel which graded E3L and weighed 23.7kg and 25kg.
Both pairs were bred by Brian Wylie, Balbridie, Kirriemuir.
The carcase championship went for the fifth time to Angus Greenlaw, Sheep Park, Bridge of
Marnoch, with a pair of April-born home-bred Texel x Beltex cross by a Corsairtly-bred sire
grading E3L and weighing 24.5kg and 27.7kg.
FIRST SUPREME FOR BAY STALLION
The huge turnout of horses and ponies saw the overall championship awarded to the pony
champion, a 15 year old stallion, Brookwater Indigo Bunting, by Barway Georgio, exhibited
by Alastair and Beryl Bruce, Lesmore Stud, Mains of Seggieden, Clatt.
This was the 12.2hh bay’s first supreme title after winning the riding pony championship in
2011 and taking reserve spot in the same section last year.
Judge, Mrs Valerie Irvine, Rogerseat, Rothienorman, said the pony “moved beautifully and
had impeccable manners”.
The Highland pony champion from Mrs Lynne McDonald, Mains of Coynach, Tarland, was
placed reserve for the overall championship. The two year old colt, Stone Roses na Dailach,
won the breed championship ahead of his sire, Charlie of Muck, which took reserve spot for
Marguerite and Virginia Osbiorne.
The colt has taken first prize tickets at the Grampian Foal Show and Turriff Show and a
second at the Aberdeen Highland Pony Show since being purchased as a yearling from the
Osborne’s.
The award for the best bred by exhibitor went to Tina Moro, Redhall House, Fordoun, with
her Traditional Cob champion, The Entertainer, a four year old gelding by Fortune Teller.
Arbroath property developer, John Anderson, Drummygar Mains, Carmyllie, led the sizeable
turnout of 27 Clydesdales with the yearling filly, Redcastle Mhorita Millie, backed by
Canadian genetics, being by the former Cawdor Cup winner, Redcastle Brelee Majestic, and
out of Stonecroft Mhorita Jewel. The filly has already chalked up championship successes at
the Lanark Foal Show, the Scottish National Winter Fair and the Lanark and Borders Foal
Show.
The second prize winner in the same class, Tulloes Lady Jane, by Collessie Stepping Stone,
followed through to take the reserve championship for Ally Greenhill, Upper Tulloes, Forfar.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
BEEF CATTLE
Supreme and steer champion – J Robertson and Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry; reserve –
Monzie Farms, Gilmerton, Crieff.
Heifer champion – J Robertson and Co; reserve – Gordon Carroll, Edendiack, Gartly, Huntly.
CARCASE CATTLE
Supreme and heifer champion – Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud; reserve and steer
champion – Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft, Turiff; reserve steer and reserve heifer champion
– Harry Brown.
CARCASES
Supreme and heifer champion – David Buchan, Auchtydore Farms, Easterton of Lenabo,
Mintlaw; reserve supreme and reserve heifer champion – Harry Brown.
Steer champion – Steven Smith; reserve – Harry Brown
PRIME HOGGS
Champion – John Young, 7 Millan Court, Lumphanan; reserve – J and E Forrester, Aldie
Farms, Cruden Bay
BREEDING SHEEP
Champion – Colin Scott, Wester Biffie, Maud; reserve – Ron Wilkie, Tillyboy, Echt
CARCASES
Champion – Angus Greenlaw, Sheep Park, Bridge of Marnoch; reserve – John Young
HORSES AND PONIES
CLYDESDALE – John Anderson, Drummygar Mains, Carmyllie, Arbroath, with yearling
filly, Redcastle Mhorita Millie, by Redcastle Brelee Majestic; reserve – Ally Greenhill,
Upper Tulloes, Forfar, with yearling filly, Tulloes Lady Jane, by Collessie Stepping Stone.
SHETLAND – J and G Wilson, Leys Farm, Muckhart, Dollar, with nine year old mare,
Warrockstone Guylian, by Titus of Hutton; reserve – Donald MacLeod, Brannen, Dornoch,
with four year old miniature mare, Hjaltland Hirta, by Vallendale Geordie.
HIGHLAND – Mrs Lynne McDonald, Mains of Coynach, Tarland, with two year old colt,
Stone Roses Na Dailach, by Charlie of Muck; reserve – Mrs Marguerite Osborne, Kinclune,
Kirriemuir, with 13 year old stallion, Charlie of Muck, by Strathmashie Seumus Mhor
MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND – Linda Cheyne and Dennis Andrew, Auchmaliddie
Stud, Maud, with five year old stallion, Hilin Olympian, by Hiwin Etifedd; reserve – Mrs
Wayne Gayler, Croft of Feith Hill, Fortie, Turriff, with 10 year old gelding, Urwins Tom
Boy, by Heltondale Tom Tom
HUNTERS AND HACKS – Jane Jeffries, The Mill, Auchenhove, Lumphanan, with eight
year old gelding, Hot Topic, by Hollylands O’Donevan; reserve – George and Ruth Skinner,
Strathorn, Pitcaple, with three year old filly, Strathorn Breeze, by Brimstone Commander
PONIES – Mrs Beryle Bruce, Lesmore Stud, Mains of Seltieden, Clatt, with 15 year old
stallion, Brookwater Indigo Bunting, by Barkway Georgio; reserve – Mrs Sue Williamson,
Eskside Pony Stud, Justinhaugh, Forfar, with three year old gelding, Eskside Diamond
Geezer, by Strinesdale Mastermind.
TRADITIONAL COBS – Tina Moro, Redhall House, Fordoun, with four year old gelding,
The Entertainer, by Fortune Teller; reserve – Melanie Riley, South Silverford Croft,
Longmanhill, Banff, with five year old gelding, Pride.
CEREALS
SEED BARLEY – George Wilson, Turtory, Bridge of Marnoch (Concerto); reserve – David
Brown, Burnside of Dipple, Fochabers (Carrat).
MALTING BARLEY – David Brown (Concerto); reserve – J K Ledingham, Fintry, Turriff
(Propino).
MILLING OATS – George Campbell, Thurdistoft, Castletown, Caithness (Atego); reserve –
J R and J A Barron, Findowrie, Brechin (Canyon).
WINTER WHEAT – W N Lindsay, Northeask Granaries, Brechin (Leeds); reserve – Angus
Jacobsen, Grange, Kinneff (Istabraq)
OVERALL CHAMPION – George Wilson (seed barley); reserve – W N Lindsay (winter
wheat)
ROOTS
WARE POTATOES – George Cumming, 4 Station Road, Newmachar (Winston); reserve –
George Cumming (Maxine)
TURNIPS - J and E Forrester, Aldie Farm, Cruden Bay (Kenmore); reserve – A and J
Gordon, Slack, Wardhouse, Insch
SILAGE AND HAY
SILAGE – W W Martin and Son, Garguston, Muir of Ord (pit); reserve – A and S Loder,
Culquoich, Glenkindie (wrapped).
HAY – A G Stephen and Co, Burnside of Idoch, Turriff; reserve – Steven Smith, Sunnyhill
Croft, Turriff.
YOUNG FARMERS
DECORATIVE BOX OF PRODUCE – Alford; reserve – Udny
INDUSTRIAL DISPLAY (CHRISTMAS TIME) – Alford; reserve – Strathbogie.
MOST POINTS – Alford
STOCKJUDGING
BOYS – Clark Hibberd, Inverurie; reserve – Gary Bruce, Udny
GIRLS – Gail Dickson, Garioch; reserve – Jo Bruce, Alford
TEAM – Inverurie; reserve – Strathbogie
CARCASE JUDGING
JUNIOR – Aly Bruce, Alford.
SENIOR – Gordon Cumming, Belhelvie
TEAM (EQUAL) – Alford (Alan Duncan, Ali Bruce and Jo Bruce) and Belhelvie (Gordon
Cumming, Fraser Sleigh and Rory Gray)
SWRI
AFTERNOON TEA – Mrs Michelle Paterson, Midmar; reserve – Mrs Hilda Herald,
Marykirk
TRADE STANDS
OUTDOOR – W and W Mackie
INDOOR - Realm fire and Security