Mixed emotions at Highland Cattle Show
IT WAS a weekend of mixed emotions at the Highland Cattle Society’s 120th annual autumn show and sale at Oban Livestock Centre.
Members were excited to have newly-appointed United Auctions selling the cattle on Monday and they celebrated the 120th event in true style with enthusiasm and good ‘craik’. They also raised their glasses with fond memories to absent friends Angus MacColl and Jim McConachie.
During the dinner and trophy presentation on Sunday evening a shepherd’s crook made of Highland horn donated by Archie Cameron was auctioned by Raymond Kennedy and raised £1,300, donated to the Beatson Cancer Centre along with the proceeds of Lot 5 Una Bhuidhe 10th of Muingairigh, who sold to Graeme Keep of the Chedley fold for 2,000 guineas on Monday.
Judge Matt Auld of the Pollok fold found his overall champion in Kirsty 11th of Craigowmill from Ken and Eva Brown. Kirsty won the threeyear-old heifer section winning the Bell Ingram Quaich before going on to lift the Invernairn Cup.
The herd person bringing out the overall champion winning the K W Walker Memorial Quaich was Ken Brown’s stockman David Burt. This heifer was sold to the Balnabroich fold of Michael and Sally Nairn for 3,600 guineas.
The reserve overall champion was awarded to the best two-year-old heifer, Sguillin 4th of Mottistone from the home of Michael Poland. Michael and his stockman Willie MacLean lifted the newly-donated Dooris Family Rose Bowl and also took home the George Bruce Memorial Trophy. The newly-formed Witches Craig fold of Veda Dewar and Kenneth Wood topped the sale by purchasing this heifer for 4,000 guineas.
The reserve best three-year-old heifer went to Highland Cattle Society vice-president Gordon McConachie from the firm of J&M McConachie & Son with Nessia 4th of Culfoich. The red heifer was purchased by Paul Harris for 2,800 guineas for his Harris fold. Standing in reserve in the two-year-old section was Hazel 17th of Knockendon from Ronald and Frances Fergie.
Gordon McConachie lifted his second title of the day in the yearling heifer class with Carlin 4th of Culfoich taking the Best Yearling Heifer title and winning the Braes of Greenock Challenge Bowl. The red yearling heads back to Aberdeenshire to the home of J&L Fraser & Son for 1,200 guineas. The reserve title went to R&S Strachan from the Isle of Mull with Netta Dhubh of Cailaich, a black heifer brought out by Shirley Strachan.
The Myrecairnie Perpetual Trophy was won by Dexter Logan of Blairlogan Highlanders with the white heifer calf Katie Morag 13th of Blairlogan, ably brought out by Carolyn Ross. Lord Denham of the Dunach Fold stood reserve with Nighean Ruadh 2nd of Dunach, a red heifer brought out by John, Wilma, Ruari, Murn and Kate Cameron.
The Thaggnam Cup for the best cow was awarded to Emma and Simon Haley of the Seam fold with Diorbhail of West Edmondsley who was bred by L&L Braines and brought out by son Mark Braines. Donald MacNaughton stood reserve with Malda 4th of Knockendon, a yellow, six-year-old cow bred by Ronald and Frances Fergie.
The Oban Times Young Handlers’ Trophy was hotly contested. Twelve young people were split into two classes, the senior class aged 14 to 18 and the junior class aged 13 and under. The winners of each section went head-to-head for the overall title. Winning the senior section was 16-year-old Asha Nelson of the Glengorm fold and standing top of the junior section was Logan Ross, who was assisting Blairlogan Highlanders. Matt Auld crowned Logan Ross as the overall young handler champion and the prizes were presented by Angus MacColl’s mother Jeannie MacColl.