Gold Rush strikes it rich

Charolais cross heifer crowned supreme overall champion

The interbreed cattle champion award at Fettercairn Show went to the cross cattle champion, a Charolais cross heifer from Rebecca Stuart and Blair Duffton of Huntly.

Named Gold Rush, this 14-month-old caught Mr Duffton’s eye earlier this year when he was judging at Dungannon in Northern Ireland.

He placed Gold Rush as his champion and backed his judgment by paying £3,200 for her.

The reserve interbreed was the three-year-old Simmental cow Drumsleed Farina, from Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun.

Farina has already stood as champion at Angus and taken a first prize ticket at the Royal Highland.

Gold Rush went on to win the show champion of champions title against the sheep and horse champions judged by NFU Scotland vice-president Gary Mitchell.

The pairs competition was won by Highlanders from J and J Singer, Kintore House, Auchenblae with the yearling bull Dubh Armunn of Searn paired with the two-year-old heifer Cruidhe Kaylee Dubh of Kintore Castle.

In the sheep rings, the interbreed champion emerged as the Texel gimmer shown by Jemma Green, Corskie, Fochabers.

This was the first show outing for this gimmer by Glenside Valhalla out of a Strathbogie Terminator-sired ewe.

The interbreed reserve was the Suffolk champion, a gimmer from JA Lorimer, Cadgerford, Kingswells.

The supreme horse championship saw another triumph for 14-year-old retrained racehorse King Brex.

Shown by owner Hilary Mackie, Old Chance Inn, Glenogil, he landed his fifth supreme championship in a row having won at Angus, Alyth, Brechin Castle and Stonehaven Riding Club.

The reserve overall horse was the Highland pony brood mare West Lodge Ashley from R and K Stewart, Stablebraes, Durris, Banchory.

Rebecca Stuart, of Huntly, and Debbie Watt with Gold Rush, the winner of the overall cattle championship at Fettercairn Show.

Champion texel and interbreed sheep champion at Fettercairn went to the gimmer from Jemma Green, of Corskie, Fochabers, left, while the reserve interbreed sheep prize was awarded to the Suffolk from JA Lorimer, of Cadgerford, Kingswells, right.