INVERURIE butcher John Davidson took home the Overall Champion animal from the Aberdeen Christmas Classic on Tuesday, December 1.
The Classic is widely regarded as Scotland's leading two day winter agricultural event and was held at Thainstone Centre near Inverurie, run by Aberdeen and Northern Marts and Aberdeen Fatstock Association. Title sponsor was Bank of Scotland and thei
r local agricultural team presented trophies and prizes.
The champion, a 614kg Charolais Cross Heifer from Mr and Mrs H Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud, sold, in front of a packed ringside, for £5,000 to Mr Davidson who runs a butchery shop in the town's Burn Lane. Mr Davidson was one of the judges and he, with fellow judge Iain Mathers, selected Mr Brown's animal as the overall champion praising its level of fat cover and its shape.
There was success all round for the Brown family with Christopher Brown, Harry's nephew, taking the Young Farmers' championship with the 580kg March 2008 born Limousin Cross heifer, Twinkle Toes. It went on to sell for £2,100 to Harry Emslie Farmers, Brae of Coynach, Mintlaw.
Meanwhile Harry Brown senior took the unhaltered championship with a 624kg November 2007 born Limousin Cross heifer which sold for £1,400 to K Duffton, Blackfolds, Corse, Huntly. Mr Brown snr also took the reserve championship award at Scotch Premier Meat's Carcase show on Monday with a 329.8kg carcase which sold for £2,400 to All Best Cuts Meats, Wisbech.
The butchers' champion came from Wilson Peters, Cuilt, Monzie, Crieff. This March 2008 born Limousin Cross steer weighed in at 602kg and sold to Gordon Simpson butcher, Bridge of Don for £1,800.
Reserve butchers' champion was a 622kg April 2008 born Limousin Cross steer from Watson & Work, Mains of Dumbreck, Udny, Ellon. It sold for £1,800 to JB Penman, butcher, High Street, Crail.
The heifer champion in that category came from BS Paton, Spott, Glenprosen, a 490kg, October 2008 born Limousin cross. It was bought by John Dossett, Butcher, The Square Kintore for £1102 (225p/kg).
The overall reserve champion came from BS Paton, Spott Farm, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir and was shown by the Patons' daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Stuart Hunter. The 532kg September 2008 born Limousin Cross steer was also overall steer champion and sold for £1,600 to John Kent of Direct Meats, Colchester.
The Patons also took the reserve steer and heifer awards: the steer reserve was The Bard, an April 2008 born 722kg Limousin Cross. It sold for £1,584 (220p/kg) to Woodwards of Henfield. The heifer reserve was Tootie Frootie, a September 2008 born 520kg Limousin Cross which sold for £1,352 (260p/kg) to W Stewart, Greenfold, Bridge of Marnoch.
Winner in the Prime Sheep category was C Angus, West Mey Farm, Thurso with two Texel cross weighing 45kg. They sold to judge Tom Hutchon of JB Penman Butchers, Crail for £300 per head. Reserve champion came from W&C Ingram, Logie Durno Farm, Pitcaple, Inverurie with two Charollais Cross Texels weighing 44kg. They too sold to Tom Hutchon this time for £160 apiece.
Young Farmers' champion was Bruce Ingram, Logie Durno, Pitcaple with a pair of Texel Cross Charollais, weighing 43kg. They sold to Tom Hutchon for £220 a piece.
Reserve young farmers' sheep went to Rory Gregor, Oakfield, Thainstone with a pair of Beltex Cross weighing 36kg. They sold for £180 per head to G Dinnie, Bridgeton, Muir of Fowlis, Alford.
Overall bull champion was the Charolais winner, March 2008 born Bonnykelly Darra from R Leggat, Mormond Prop, New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh. It sold for 3000gn to I&R Urquhart, North Kessock, Inverness.
Top price amongst the bulls was 4,200gn for Shannas Duke, the March 2008 Limousin from Mr and Mrs J Penny, Shannas, Clola, Peterhead. It sold to I Proctor & Son, Glenlogie, Alford. The same price was attained by C&E McCombie, Auchincrieve, Rothiemay, Huntly for the February 2008 born Charolais Auchincrieve Dart. It sold to Glass & Smith, Mill of Fowlis, Muir of Fowlis, Alford.
In the strongly contested pedigree sheep classes, pedigree Texel champion was the gimmer from AG Howie, West Knock, Mintlaw. It sold for 1,900gn to EH Alexander, Auchenbreddie, Insch. The reserve Texel champion, a gimmer from Brian Buchan, Clinterty, New Aberdour, Fraserburgh, sold for 1,400gn to S Johnstone, Marionburgh, Ballindalloch Farm, Ballindalloch.
Suffolk champion came from H Stuart & Sons, Davishill, Udny and sold for 1,300gn to LF Dunn, Fair Muir Road, Muir of Ord. The reserve, also from H Stuart & Sons, sold for 650gn to the same buyer.
Charollais champion came from W&C Ingram and sold for 400gn to DA Douglas, Quoybrae Farm, Watten, Wick. The reserve, also from the Ingrams, sold for 300gn to A Johnstone & Son, Tannadice, Stonehaven.
Champion in the dairy class was Deveronside Dargue Pamela, a September 2007 born Holstein from SG Mair & Son, Kinnermit, Turriff. It sold for 2000gn to judge W Taylor of Taylors of Tannadice, Baldoukie Farm, Tannadice, Forfar.
