The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Online Showcase voted big success
Entering the Ingliston showground without encountering traffic jams, queues, the usual crowds of 40,000 folk or even signs pointing the way, makes the Royal Highland Showcase an eerie experience.
There is no grandstand, no flags are flying and kist parties are sadly absent, but exhibitors, teams of camera crews and organisers totalling no more than 1,000 people are scattered across the showground – and a vaccination centre is operating inside what’s usually a busy food hall.
Yet the organisers of the behind-closed-doors event have hailed the first day of the week-long effort to uplift the industry as a resounding success after thousands of people logged on from early in the morning to watch the live streaming of judging – and an unscheduled array of runaway livestock!
Alan Laidlaw, the chief executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), which staged the event, admitted that above all he was relieved the concept which was devised just 80 days ago was working.
“We’ve pulled it together under the most difficult of circumstances so I’m really proud,” he said.
The new £5m members’ pavilion housed the control room for the live broadcasts, supplying four separate live streams broadcast globally throughout the day.
It was blustery around the sheep rings where interbreed judge Blair Cockburn selected the Charollais winner from the Ingram family of Logie Durno, Pitcaple, as best overall, from a strong line-up of MV accredited champions. Their leader was a one-crop ewe by Loanhead Talisman and out of a Nympton-bred ewe.In the pairs championship, that ewe teamed up with the Ingrams’ reserve breed champion, Foxhill Vavavoom, to secure the inter-breed pairs title.
Reserve overall sheep was the Texel champion from Robbie Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff. A home-bred gimmer from his 50-ewe Milnbank flock, she is by renowned sire Knock Yardsman and out of a ewe by Strathbogie Yes Sir.
Inverurie-based Alan and Ellie Miller secured the Beltex championship with Lurg Fern, a home-bred gimmer by Baileybrook Chief. She teamed up with the shearling ram, Clary Forkout, to take the reserve overall pairs title.
Roy and Jane McFarlane and Lorna Rennie, West Lecropt, Bridge of Allan,
triumphed for the first time in the Hampshire Down section and the young handlers section was won by 14-year-old Finlay Shone, of Cheshire, showing a Zwartbles, while reserve place went to Gregor Milne, 12, of Kennieshillock, Lhanbryde, showing a Suffolk.
In a strong show of goats, Monikie’s Gordon Webster and Gordon Smith, of Guildy Den, led the way with their show veteran, Guilden Erin.
In the cattle rings the native champion was shown by Northumberland Hereford breeders T&D Harrison. The winner was their three-year-old bull, Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks, and in reserve place were J & A Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock, with their Galloway champion, a senior female named Blackcraig Dora May U450.
The winner of the native pairs championship was the champion and reserve Aberdeen-Angus from Brailes Livestock from Gloucestershire and Donald Rankin from the Isle of Skye. In reserve place were the champion and reserve Herefords from T & D Harrison, Moralee, Stocksfield, Northumberland.
HM The Queen won the Highland championship with the two-year-old bull Gusgurlach of Balmoral, by Tomintoul of Glamis Castle and out of Bhadair Ruadh 44th of Balmoral.
The reserve champion was Kevin Carnegie, Balrownie Farms, Brechin, with 16-month-old heifer Lynn 12th of Mottistone, by Eoin Mhor 17th of Mottistone and out of Lynn 6th of Mottistone.
The Lincoln Red champion came from Andrew Mylius, St Fort Farm, Newport-on-Tay, with a senior bull, St Fort Yeovil and he took reserve with a junior bull, St Fort Zulu.