Getting ready for the greatest show of all

Ingliston prepares to host 200,000 visitors and record number of entries at 178th extravaganza

An audience of almost 200,000 visitors is expected to converge on Ingliston next week for the annual celebration of Scottish food, farming and rural life.

The showground has been a hive of activity for weeks as the final preparations for the 178th Royal Highland Show are well under way, while on farms the length and breadth of Britain, the best livestock are being groomed in preparation for the judges’ scrutiny.

Many livestock classes are bursting at the seams with record entries, and the task of placing more than 5,000 head will be in the hands of 41 judges from Scotland, 47 from England, 11 from Wales, nine from Northern Ireland and one from the Republic of Ireland.

The overall sheep interbreed championship will be in the capable hands of James Sinclair from Crookston in Midlothian, and the overall sheep pairs interbreed and young handlers’ classes will be judged by James Macgregor from Milton of Campsie.

Orkney farmer Liam Muir of Upper Onston Farm in Stenness will select the native beef interbreed team champion and Tom Arnott from Kelso will decide the overall beef interbreed award.

The youngest judge at the show is Laura Green who will place the beef young handlers.

Laura, from Corskie Farm in Moray, will also be joined by sister Jemma, who at just 18 will attend the show for the second time in her own right with her Texel sheep, under the Corskie prefix.

She said: “I enjoy showing sheep and it’s a good way to advertise the flock, however I am also really looking forward to the social aspect of the show as people gather from all around the country, some of whom we only see once a year at the Highland.”

Chrissie Davidson, 25, from Barns Farm in Perthshire, will also be exhibiting for the first time under her own prefix, Barnsview, which she established this year, although she has been going to the show for many years with her parents Ian and Marjory Davidson who exhibited cattle from the Kincardine Castle Angus herd.

“I’ve had the showing bug since an early age, and taking our own Angus cattle will be special, it’s my favourite week of the year,” she said.

“It’s the highlight of the showing year and I can’t wait to get in the ring and compete with the best cattle in the UK.”

Royal Highland Show manager David Jackson describes the show as a “significant platform” for Scottish agriculture, one which is a great marketing opportunity for the nation’s livestock and produce.

He said: “It is also a rare opportunity for the farming community to come together, professionally and socially, enjoy the food, drink and music on offer and have the opportunity to learn about and discuss issues within the sector.”