Commercial heifer takes supreme champion title Quality on show makes it tough for judges as Texel gimmer wins top sheep

A young farmer from Tomintoul was left celebrating at the Banchory Show on Saturday when he lifted the supreme show champion of champions title with a commercial heifer.

Mark Robertson, of Easter Fodderletter Farms, took the top show accolade after clinching the commercial cattle championship and beef interbreed title with a 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer named Nic Nak.

The heifer, which was bred by Simon Stephen of Meikle Geddes, Nairn, and bought at the young farmers show and sale at Thainstone from Ally Fraser for £1,400, stood reserve commercial cattle champion at Echt three weeks before.

Mr Robertson’s heifer was up against the sheep and native horse interbreed for the top title, which was decided by Neil Barclay of HRN Tractors. Mr Barclay was called in to make the final decision after the judges from each of the respective sections failed to reach consensus.

In the sheep lines the top title went to a Texel gimmer which stood interbreed champion at Fettercairn.

Put forward by Kenny Pratt of Oldtown Farm, Peterculter, and shown by his shepherd Richard Reynolds, she is by Hilltop Uncle Sam and out of a Baltier-bred ewe by Baltier Panther.

The native horse championship title went to the winner of the miniature Shetland section from Ann Irvine of Kininvie, Blackford, Rothienorman.

Her six-year-old stallion, Rocky of Haybrake, stood miniature champion at the show last year.

Meanwhile, standing reserve beef interbreed was a Limousin cow and calf outfit from Aileen Ritchie, of Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns.

Brockhurst Howzat is a Wilodge Vantastic daughter bought by Ms Ritchie at the Red Ladies Sale in December for 24,000gn.

She was shown with her bull calf Ritchies Marley, and her Banchory success follows lifting reserve interbreed title at Echt and reserve breed title at Fettercairn.

The reserve interbreed sheep title went to a Suffolk ewe from young Faith Miskelly of Corrybrae, Kildrummy, Alford.

Ms Miskelly took the title with a one-crop ewe by Strathisla Stifler, which stood reserve at New Deer earlier in the month.

Pictures: Ron Stephen. Champion commercial, cattle interbreed and show champion of champions at Banchory Show – a heifer from Mark Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch.