At the annual Caithness Christmas show and sale that took place on Monday December 2 and Tuesday December 3, a Limousin cross heifer from the Begg family, Vauldale stood overall champion in the Open Prime Cattle Section, kindly sponsored by NFU Mutual.
The heifer scaling 648kg, forward from G W Begg, Vauldale, Nybster was tapped out as the champion by judge Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly which went onto sell to MacKay’s Hotel, Wick for the 25th consecutive year for the top price of £5,000.
The Overall Reserve Champion was awarded to a 664kg Charolais cross heifer from WM Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten which sold for £2,300 to Kepak, McIntosh Donald.
In the Young Farmers Prime Cattle section, the Champion was awarded to a 641kg Limousin cross heifer from Tilly Munro, Invercharron, Ardgay, which sold for £2,900 to the judge Blair Duffton of Bogie Street, Huntly. The Young Farmers Reserve Champion went to a 641kg Limousin bullock from Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster which sold for £2,200 to J M Munro Ltd, Dingwall. They also received a special prize voucher, kindly sponsored by D A Manson.
Best Native was awarded to William Barnetson & Son for a home bred Aberdeen Angus Bullock scaling 702kg which realised £2372.76 (338p).
Judging the open section of prime lambs was Scott McRobbie, Woodhead Brothers, Turriff and kindly sponsored by the Home Bakery, Wick, the Champion position was awarded to a pair of 49.5kg Continental lambs from Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown which sold for £650 per head to MacKay’s Hotel Wick. The Reserve Champion was awarded to a pair of 62.5kg Texel lambs from D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield, which sold to Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant for £320 per head.
In the Young Farmers Champion Pen of Prime Lambs sponsored by Duncan & Todd, Wick were two 48kg Continental lambs from Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso and sold for £400 a head to Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant. They were also awarded a Special Prize Voucher from D A Manson. The Young Farmers Reserve Champions were a pair of 46.5kg Continental lambs from Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains which sold for £200 per head.
The Champion Pen of Ten Untrimmed Prime Lambs sponsored by Willie Gulloch, Hempriggs Mains, Wick and judged by Hugh McRae, Shethin Farm, Tarves, Ellon was Beltex cross lambs from Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Castletown, Thurso. The champion pen sold to J M Munro Ltd, Dingwall for £180 per head.
The Reserve champions were awarded to a pen of 10 Beltex cross lambs from Messrs R Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten which sold to £158 per head to the Judge Hugh Macrae.
In the Baby Beef Competition, kindly sponsored by Vauldale Engineering and judged by Mark Munro, Invercharron, Ardgay seen the championship and special prize voucher from D A Manson, awarded to Sophie Gunn, The Shiean, Hill of Forss for a Limousin cross heifer. The Reserve Champion went to Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick for a British Blue cross heifer.
Best Presented Pair of Lambs in both the Open and Young Farmers Sections was kindly sponsored by Thurso Tool Hire. In the Open Prime Lambs section, the best presented was awarded to John Sutherland, Stainland & Sibmister Farms, Castletown, with the Young Farmers award going to Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains.
Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “A huge well done to the exhibitors for presenting a fantastic line-up of top-quality prime cattle and sheep for sale. With a busy ringside of buyers present for the annual Christmas show, a strong trade was achieved with a total of a total of 88 cattle and 4092 sheep sold.
As the Quoybrae sales season draws to a close, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our customers and sponsors for their continued support.”
Caithness Christmas Show & Sale Prize List
Prime Cattle Competition - Haltered/Unhaltered
Haltered Bullock
1st Lot 5 – Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown
2nd Lot 6 – Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown
Unhaltered Bullock
1st Lot 3 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
2nd Lot 4 – Wm Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
3rd Lot 1 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Reiss
Haltered Heifer
1st Lot 7 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
2nd Lot 8 – Wm Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
Open Overall Champion
Lot 7 - G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
Open Overall Reserve Champion
Lot 8 - WM Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
Best Opposite Sex
Lot 3 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
Best Home Bred Animal
Lot 7 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
Best Native Animal
Lot 4 - WM Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
Young Farmers – Beef Production Competition
Sponsored by NFU Mutual
Unhaltered Heifer
1st Lot 9 – Neil Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten
Light Haltered Heifer
1st Lot 11 – Tilly Munro, Invercharron, Ardgay
2nd Lot 10 – Robbie Swanson, Mid Calder, Thurso
Intermediate Haltered Bullock
1st Lot 14 – Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster
2nd Lot 12 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
3rd Lot 13 – Tegan Sutherland, Thirdpart, Watten
Heavy Haltered Bullock
1st Lot 16 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster
2nd Lot 17 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
3rd Lot 15 – Neil Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten
4th Lot 18 – Euan Bremner, North Calder, Thurso
Champion
Lot 11 – Tilly Munro, Invercharron, Ardgay
Reserve Champion
Lot 16 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster
Best Home Bred
Lot 16 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster
Best Opposite Sex
Lot No 16 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster
Open Prime Sheep
Sponsored by The Home Bakery Wick
Pen of 2 Suffolk Lambs
1st Lot 702 – D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
2nd Lot 704 – E Grant and K Dunnet, Newton, Swiney
3rd Lot 703 – E Grant and K Dunnet, Newton, Swiney
Pen of 2 Native Breed Lambs
1st Lot 705 – D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
Pen of 2 Light Texel Lambs
1st Lot 710 – Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Castletown, Thurso
2nd Lot 711 – Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe, Mey
3rd Lot 709 – Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe, Mey
Pen of 2 Intermediate Texel Lambs
1st Lot 716 – D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
2nd Lot 717 – D A Budge, Brae Edge, Castletown
3rd Lot 718 - E Grant and K Dunnet, Newton, Swiney
Pen of 2 Heavy Texel Lambs
1st Lot 725 – D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
2nd Lot 724 - Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Castletown, Thurso
3rd Lot 723 - E Grant and K Dunnet, Newton, Swiney
Pen of 2 Light Any Other Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot 707 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
2nd Lot 708 – K A Campbell, Winless Mains, Wick
3rd Lot 706 – K A Campbell, Winless Mains, Wick
Pen of 2 Intermediate Any Other Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot 714 – Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown
2nd Lot 712 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
3rd Lot 715 - Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Castletown, Thurso
Pen of 2 Heavy Any Other Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot No 719 - Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Castletown, Thurso
2nd Lot No 720 – Henry Sutherland, Drummuie, Golspie
3rd Lot No 722 – D A Budge, Brae Edge, Castletown
Champion
Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown
Reserve Champion
D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
Best Presented Pair of Lambs – Open
Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Castletown, Thurso
Young Farmers Prime Sheep
Sponsored by Duncan & Todd Wick
Pen of 2 Native Breed Lambs
1st Lot No 805 – Morven Mackenzie, Achalone Croft, Halkirk
2nd Lot No 802 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale
3rd Lot No 804 – Alistair McCarthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey
Pen of 2 Light Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot No 810 – Katie Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder
2nd Lot No 807 - Alistair McCarthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey
3rd Lot No 808 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster
Class A - Pen of 2 Intermediate Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot No 811 - Katie Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalde
2nd Lot No 814 - Alistair McCarthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey
3rd Lot No 812 – Iona Campbell, Winless Mains, Wick
Class B - Pen of 2 Intermediate Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot No 819 – Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
2nd Lot No 816 – Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
3rd Lot No 818 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Pen of 2 Heavy Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot No 821 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
2nd Lot No 823 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
3rd Lot No 825 – Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
Champion
Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Reserve Champion
Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
Best Presented Pair of Lambs – Young Farmers
Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
Pen Of 10 Untrimmed Lambs Sponsored by Mr Willie Gulloch
10 Untrimmed Native Lambs 1st D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield 2nd D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
10 Untrimmed Continental Lambs 1st Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Castletown, Thurso 2nd Messrs R Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten 3rd B & J MacKay, Skitten, Wick
Champion Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Castletown, Thurso
Reserve Champion Messrs R Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten
Baby Beef Competition
Sponsored by Vauldale Engineering
Light Heifer
1st Lot 22 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
2nd Lot 20 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
3rd Lot 21 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrance, Wick
Intermediate Heifer
1st Lot 23 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick
2nd Lot 24 – Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
3rd Lot 25 – Sophie Gunn, The Shiean, Hill of Forss
Heavy Heifer
1st Lot 27 - Sophie Gunn, The Shiean, Hill of Forss
2nd Lot 26 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick
3rd Lot 28 – Isla Mackay, Strath Farm, Watten
Bullock
1st Lot No 29 – Katie Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder
Champion
Lot 27 - Sophie Gunn, The Shiean, Hill of Forss
Reserve Champion
Lot 23 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick