Royal Northern Spring Show promises to be a celebration of quality livestock

Thainstone: Event continues to grow in stature attracting enthusiasts from all over the country

The Royal Northern Spring Show, to be held this year at its usual venue of the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on Wednesday February 28, continues to go from strength to strength with every inch of available trade stand space sold and a waiting list of companies desperate to be accommodated.

The highlight of the show for many farmers is the show and sale of exhibition cattle which always attracts an outstanding display of quality beef cattle and attracts enthusiasts from all over the country.

Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ annual spring show and sale of pedigree bulls is now an integral part of the show and this year has attracted 90 entries, comprising 12 Aberdeen-angus, 27 Charolais, 24 Limousin, 14 Simmental, 12 Salers and one Hereford.

Auctioneer John Angus, recently appointed head of livestock at Aberdeen and Northern Marts, says the show remains one of the best events in the north-east to source top-quality livestock. This was confirmed last year when a 10-monthold Limousin cross heifer from John and Craig Robertson, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, sold for a record price of £9,000.

“The livestock sale element of the show is a fast-growing part of the event and we are delighted to be working once again with the RNAS,” said Mr Angus.

“We will have a strong entry of pedigree bulls forward from noted north-east breeders and top-quality exhibition cattle suitable for further showing on offer.”

This year the carcase classes have been split in two for continental and Aberdeen-angus sired cattle, and a new section for sport and performance horses has been introduced in the horse and pony section.

Exhibition cattle – Mark Harryman, Pickering, Yorkshire.

Carcase cattle – John Troup, Skene, Westhill.

Prime hoggs – Denny, Stirling.

Breeding sheep Kilsyth, Glasgow.

Carcases (cattle Buchan, Torphins. Andrew – John Macgregor, and Morton, hoggs)

Cereals – Ian Keith, Inverurie – Eric

Potatoes and turnips – Ron Dawson, Kennethmont, Huntly.

Silage and hay – Ali Martin, Muir of Ord, Ross-shire.

Clydesdale – Alistair Christie, Balfron. Shetland, miniature and young handlers – Brian Hunter, Unst, Shetland.

Highland – Wm Allan, Freuchie. Mountain and moorland – Kirsty Aird, Markinch.

Hunters and hacks and sport and performance horses – Pat Stirling, Galashiels.

Coloured and ride and drive – Nicola Neill, Coldstream.

Young handlers and overall horse and pony championship – Jill Cousens, Dunblane.

Stockjudging – Callum Auchterless, Turriff. Carcases – Eric Buchan. Decorative box of produce Dawson.

Industrial display – Lynne Durris, Banchory.

Chalmers, – Ron Petrie,

A previous champion heifer at the Royal Northern Spring Show with Llyr Jones. Picture: Jim Irvine.