Teens come out on top at Salen Show

Argyll’s usual sunshine and showers didn’t stop hundreds of people enjoying the annual Salen Show on the Isle of Mull last Thursday.

This traditional agricultural show, established in 1831, sports classes of Highland cattle, Blackface, Cheviot, cross and primitive sheep breeds, mountain and moorland horses and riding, as well as the ever-popular dog contests.

New this year were an extra sheep ring due to a rise in entry numbers and music from Tobermory High School Pipe Band.

As judging started in the Highland cattle ring, 16-year-old farmer Kerrie Macgillivray from Pennygowan was putting the finishing touches to her prize hope Lola, a cow which won as a heifer at the Salen Show in 2012. ‘You can only do what you can do,’ she said philosophically.

Kerrie, her sister Shona and dad James tend to more than 250 Highland cows and 800 sheep. Somehow Kerrie managed to fit in all this daily toil, plus six weeks training her show entries, studying for an HNC in hospitality management, sponsored by the Tobermory Hotel – and securing four Highers, including two As, last week.

‘She is a superstar,’ the Tobermory Hotel’s owner Robert MacLeod said. ‘We should be showing you, Kerrie! The girls run the farm. How she found the time to run the restaurant and study as well, I don’t know.’

‘Every night was a late night,’ Kerrie replied.

In the end, Kerrie won the McCartney Cup for best Highland group, best Highland cow with calf at foot, best continental calf, the animal with best beef potential and best cross beef animal bred by a farmer employing no regular labour.

The reserve overall champion in the Highland cattle section was awarded to a heifer calf home bred by Iain MacKay and Claire Simonetta of Torloisk, named Princess Ruadh 2nd of Cnoc na Sith. She was borne by Princess Dubh 3rd of Cnoc na Sith, a 13-year old home-bred cow who won her class as a threeyear-old at Salen Show 10 years ago. The sire is Carpenter Ruadh vom Augustenhof, whose breeding goes back to Glengorm bloodlines.

Iain’s daughter Eilidh MacKay, 11, won the young handlers class with one of Iain’s home-bred Highland bull calves, Hamish Ruadh of Cnoc na Sith.

The champion Highlander, and eventual champion of champions, was Leorin of Glengorm, a three-year-old bull weighing 950kgs, reared by Alexander Craig and shown by Asha Nelson, 17,

Angus MacColl and his Texel shearling tup after winning the champion non-Blackface. 15_T33_Salen Show_14

Tobermory High School Pipe Band gave a ‘wonderful’ performance. 15_T33_Salen Show_19

Oliver McDowell, right, who equalled the junior hill race record, with Douglas Boyd. 15_T33_Salen Show_24

Tension rises during the Blackface judging. 15_T33_Salen Show_05

Dog judge Sue Morley from Aros with the winning puppy Cherryblossom. 15_T33_Salen Show_09

Harry Hickford, 87, the oldest steward on the field, has seen many changes. 15_T33_Salen Show_03

Evie’s dad Richard Kellett came first in the senior hill race. 15_T33_Salen Show_26

Young stock handler champion Colin McDonald. 15_T33_Salen Show_08

Fiona Boa with champion Cheviot female, a ewe lamb off an inkstack tup. 15_T33_Salen Show_18

First girl in the junior hill race Evie Kellett, 11, with her samoyed dog Mia. 15_T33_Salen Show_25