The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Television cameras at Aberfeldy Show
Stellar turnout of stock from Highland Perthshire
An afternoon of entertainment and competitions at Aberfeldy Show on Saturday followed the judging of livestock at the Atholl and Breadalbane Agricultural Show and Highland Gathering at Wade’s Park.
The entertainment was so varied that there were often up to five or six events taking place at the same time at various parts of the arena.
Spectators joined in the excitement at the caber event when some went very close before Stuart Anderson achieved a 12 o’clock throw.
The carrying of the Menzies Stone attracted many young, and not so young, men and some girls who were not quite able to lift the stone but were all cheered on in their efforts.
There was a noticeably strong representation from France and Germany. The event was eventually won by local lad Ally Marshall for the second successive year with another personal best.
There was a special celebrity attraction while ITV’s This Morning presenter Alison Hammond sampled several of the heavyweight events.
The games were opened after a march to the ground led by local pipers and the 2017 chieftain, Keith Moncrieff of Aberfeldy.
Mr Moncrieff presented awards for long service in agriculture and estate work.
Entries reached record levels at Aberfeldy Show, resulting in a stellar turnout of stock from Highland Perthshire.
Despite mixed reports of unfavourable weather in the surrounding area the sun shone, highlighting the backdrop up the valley towards Loch Tay and Glenlyon for the thousands who attended the show and highland gathering.
It was the bumper cattle section which produced the champion of champions when regular winners, the Robertson family – John, sister Margaret and son Craig – continued their winning streak to claim the coveted supreme sash.
Judged on a points basis by all the section judges, their clear winner from Newton of Logierait was the Perth Show champion, a stylish September-born bullock by the Calogale Irresistible Limousin bull that also sired their record-setting heifer sold at the Royal Northern Spring Show for £9,000.
Taking the reserve supreme title was Kevin Wilson’s Clydesdale mare, Westbank Ruby Tuesday, which has had a great 2017 season and remains unbeaten. This 10-year-old Doura Above All daughter was most recently champion of champions at Braco and earlier in the year stood heavy horse champion at Gargunnock as well as reserve overall at Doune and Dunblane.
A bumper entry of commercial sheep saw the top ticket awarded to a home- bred gimmer from the Thomson family at West Park, shown by show chairman Roddy and cousin Bobby McLeod. This powerful gimmer is by a Beltex cross Charollais tup bought from Auchenlay at Kelso Ram Sales.
There was further celebration for the Thomsons when they won the prime lamb section with a trio of Beltex-sired lambs by a Tiree tup that went one better than their red rosette at Perth Show.
From another strong entry of blackface sheep, it was a ewe from the Tay and Torridon team that won the championship in the hope of matching her champion of champions title here two years ago. Brought out by Billy Brady and son Alan for the North Amulree flock, she is by a £16,000 Connachan tup.
The catalogued entry of Highland ponies proved a quality line-up and great for the local exhibitors that the top trophies stayed in the Aberfeldy area.
Claiming the overall title was Marion Rogers’ home-bred nine-year-old mare, Cailin of Drumdewan, a Beechwood Maol Rubha daughter shown with her feisty April-born colt foal, Campbell of Drumdewan, that was certainly a crowd favourite with his antics in the main ring.
Going on to stand reserve Highland to Cailin was Sally Murray’s ridden champion, Lurgan Tay Mhor, an eight-yearold Red Rock Dunain daughter that was novice champion and reserve ridden at Alyth as well as at the Highland, Fell and Dales Show at Brechin earlier this year.