Grey clouds cleared for a sunny afternoon to showcase the finest in agriculture at the Fettercairn Show.
The Fettercairn Farmers Club reported increased entries in the cattle and sheep classes.
The top title of show champion of champions went to the overall beef champion Grangewood William, which took the Simmental breed championship rosette earlier in the day for Gerald and Morag Smith, of Drumsleed, Fordoun, with their son, Douglas.
The Smiths won the same accolade at last year’s show with Simmental cow Drumsleed Tabytha and her heifer calf Drumsleed Darla at foot.
This year’s champion was a six-year-old bull, by Popes Laird and out of Grangewood Sundial. He was bought by the Smiths, who keep 100 pedigree Simmentals and 150 commercials at home.
The Fettercairn win follows the male champion rosette at Fife and breed champion silverware at Angus.
Limousin breeder Michael Robertson from Easter Fodderletter Farm, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch, judged the supreme beef championship.
He said he chose the Simmental bull as his champion because he was a good representation of the breed, with good locomotion for his age and weight.
Mr Robertson awarded his overall reserve beef champion title to the cross cattle champion Cookie Dough from Blair Duffton of 2 Bogie Street, Huntly.
This yearling heifer, which is by a Limousin bull and out of a Limousin cow, was bred by Colin Stewart, Belnoe, Glenlivet, and purchased in March at the Thainstone Young Farmers overwintering competition for £1,200.
Fettercairn’s Continental championship went to Grangewood William.
The reserve was awarded to the Charolais breed champion, an April 2011-born home-bred cow from Jimmy McMillan, Craigmore, Farnell, Brechin.
Dunesk Glory is by Blelack Digger and out of Dunesk Bianca.
She was reserve breed champion at Alyth.
In the native breed championship, the top title went to Aberdeen-Angus breed champion Dunesk Lady Isla from Kevin Cargill, Millhill Farm, Arbirlot, by Arbroath.
This March 2013-born heifer is by Mosstonmuir Krugerand and out of Mosstonmuir Isadora.
She was bred by Jimmy McMillan and shown as a calf at Forfar last year.
Reserve native champion went to last year’s native champion and this year’s any other breed champion Melora Emma Dubh of Kintore Castle.
This March 2011-born in-calf Highland heifer was put forward by Morag Middleton, Barna, Mid Mains of Balfour, Fettercairn.
By Russell of Idvies and out of Emma 2nd of Lochinch, this one was bought in Oban in October 2012 for 2,000gns.
In the sheep interbreed championship, the top title was awarded to a Beltex gimmer on its first outing from Allan Alston, Drumchapel, Chapelton of Menmuir, Brechin.
The home-bred Drumchapel Topspot is by Kingledores Rascal and out of a ewe by Pentland Kylie.
The reserve sheep championship title went to a pen of three home-bred Texel cross gimmers from Colin Scott, Wester Biffie, Maud.
These are out of Texel X Suffolk females and by Texel tup Knock Toronto.
Results were as follow.
CATTLE
Aberdeen-Angus
Kevin Cargill, Millhill Farm, Arbirlot, by Arbroath, with March 2013-born heifer Dunesk Lady Isla, by Mosstonmuir Krugerand and out of Mosstonmuir Isadora. Bred by Jimmy McMillan and bought at the beginning of the year, she was shown as a calf at Forfar last year.
Reserve: John M Steel, West Drums Farm, Brechin, with his June 2013-born bull Cardona Proud Icon N924, by Cardona Edwin and out of Cardona Proud Isla. His mother was bought in-calf at the Cardona herd’s reduction sale.
Any other pure breed
Morag Middleton, Barna, Mid Mains of Balfour, Fettercairn, with March 2011-born in-calf Highland heifer Melora Emma Dubh of Kintore Castle, by Russell of Idvies and out of Emma 2nd of Lochinch. She was bought in Oban in October 2012 for 2,000gns and won last year’s Fettercairn native breed championship.
Reserve: Morag Middleton, with July 2013-born home-bred Highland bull Archie of Barna, by Aonghas of Dams and out of Boidheach Ruadh of Auchtenny.
Charolais
Jimmy McMillan, Craigmore, Farnell, Brechin, with April 2011-born home-bred cow Dunesk Glory, by Blelack Digger and out of Dunesk Bianca. She was reserve breed champion at Alyth.
Reserve: Jimmy McMillan, Craigmore, Farnell, Brechin, with home-bred January-born bull calf Dunesk Jack, by Balthayock Empire and out of the champion cow Dunesk Glory.
Cross
Blair Duffton, Bogie Street, Huntly, with yearling heifer Cookie Dough, by a Limousin bull and out of a Limousin cow. She was bred by Colin Stewart, Belnoe, Glenlivet, and bought at Thainstone Young Farmers overwintering competition in March for £1,200.
Reserve: Blair Duffton, with September 2013-born Limousin cross heifer Sparkles, by Emslies Diehard and out of a Limousin cow. She was bought at Huntly in April for £3,000.
Limousin
I&G Grant, Bank of Gallery, Montrose, with October 2012-born bull Netherhall Hottotty, by Haltcliffe Favori and out of Netherhall Bacardi. On his first outing, he was bought at the reduction sale of David and Maggie Kelly’s Netherhall herd, Cumbria, in May for 4,500gns.
Reserve: W McLaren, Muirhouses, Kirriemuir, with the home-bred April 2013-born bull McLarens Ironman, by Hudscales Darren and out of McLarens Edith. He was reserve interbreed champion at Alyth.
Simmental
Gerald and Morag Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, with six-year-old bull Grangewood William, by Popes Laird and out of Grangewood Sundial. He was male champion at Fife and breed champion at Angus.
Reserve: Gerald and Morag Smith, with home-bred two-year-old in-calf heifer Drumsleed Dorothy 12, by Auroch Ace and out of Drumsleed Tiffany.
Young handlers
1 Lyndsay Nelson; 2 Lewis Singer.
SHEEP
Any other breed
David Henderson and Becca MacLeod, Nether Toucks, Dunnottar, with a three-shear Lleyn tup, by a Laga sire and bred by Robert Johnstone at Falkirk. He was bought in Carlisle for 1,100gns and champion at Perth last year.
Reserve: David Henderson and Becca MacLeod, with a Lleyn gimmer by a Derek Steen tup and bred by Brian Walling. She was bought at Carlisle as part of a champion pen of five last year and was champion at the Royal Highland last year.
Beltex
Allan Alston, Drumchapel, Chapelton of Menmuir, Brechin, with home-bred gimmer Drumchapel Topspot, by Kingledores Rascal and out of a ewe by Pentland Kylie.
Reserve: Graham and Fiona Burke, Cairndrum Cottage, by Edzell, with a ewe lamb by Pentland Showman and out of a ewe bred by Matt Burleigh. She was reserve breed champion at Angus.
Blackface
Brian Cocker, Knowhead of Auldallan, Balintore, Kirriemuir, with a home-bred gimmer by a £3,500 Blackhouse and out of a ewe by a £350 Milnmark.
Reserve: Alan Petrie, 4 Meikle Coull Cottage, Tannadice, Forfar, with a tup lamb by a Newmill sire and out of a Glendamph daughter.
Charollais
Stewart Anderson, East Cairnton Farm, Drumoak, Banchory, with a two-shear tup, by Foulrice Knockout. It was bought in Kelso in 2012 from Herbie Kennedy and was breed champion at Fettercairn, Banchory and Tarland last year.
Reserve: Callum Naismith, Balmaleedie House, Granhall Farm, Marykirk, with a ewe bred by Frieda Brownlie and bought at Lanark two years ago.
Cross
Colin Scott, Wester Biffie, Maud, with a pen of three home-bred Texel cross gimmers, out of Texel X Suffolk females and by Texel tup Knock Toronto.
Reserve: David Black, Minard, Cortachy Road, Kirriemuir, with a pen of three Texel X gimmers, which were bought in Forfar last September from the Stewarts at Kininmonth. They will be sold at Forfar in September.
Jacob
Barbara Webster, No 2 Cottage, Higham Farm, Newburgh, with three-shear tup Blackbrook Darcy, by Blackbrook Aslan. He is shared with Linda McKendrick an Mike Munro.
Reserve: Jennifer Milton, Newton of Auchindachy, Keith, with two-horn gimmer Cairdswood Millie, by Burnside Evril and out of a Moncoffer ewe. She was reserve at Angus.
Suffolk
James Scott, Strathview, East Ingliston, Forfar, with shearling tup Redbrae Real Deal by Ardlea Tonic. Bought in partnership with James’ uncle Robbie Scott, it was reserve interbreed at the Angus last month.
Reserve: Sarah Finnie, Newseat, Blathangie, Cumineston, Turriff, with a ewe lamb by Strathisla Stiffler and out of a Biffie ewe by Cairness Classic Fyvie.
Texel
Sarah Finnie, Newseat, Blathangie, Cumineston, Turriff, with a February-born ewe lamb by Strathbogie Untouchable and out of a Milnbank ewe, by Glenside Razzle Dazzle, that was bought for 1,000gns.
Reserve: Rodney Blackhall, Milton of Durris, Banchory, with shearling tup Ettrick U R A Winner. He was bought for 6,000gns at Lanark and is shared with the Nochnary flock. He was breed champion at Angus and reserve at West Fife.
Young handlers
Age 12 and under: 1 Cameron Henderson; 2 Hugh Gordon.
Age 13-16: 1 Kirstie Blackhall; 2 Craig Hay.
Drumchapel Cup for champion: Kirstie Blackhall.
OTHERS
Trade stands: 1 Mearns Tractors; 2 Agricar; 3 Netherton Tractors.