The Royal Highland Show 2024: A triumph for Tonley Fiona Y937 bred by Neil and Mark Wattie

The Royal Highland Show 2024 once again proved to be a pivotal event for the Aberdeen-Angus breed with breeders from across the UK bringing their finest Aberdeen-Angus cattle. The commitment and passion of these breeders ensured an outstanding showcase of the breed reinforcing its reputation and celebrating its success. The beautiful weather brought out over 220 000 visitors all enjoying the high calibre of competition.

The Champion prize was won by Tonley Fiona Y937, bred by Neil and Mark Wattie from Alford, Aberdeenshire resulting in celebrating their first championship win at The Royal Highland after showing at RHS for the past 10 years. This March 2022 born champion is homebred and is sired by Tonley Jester Eric and out of Tonley Fiona V594. Fiona was also champion at last year’s Agri Expo and Thainstone’s Black Beauty Bonanza and secured the reserve female title at last year’s National Show at Turriff.

Tom Slater from North Yorkshire earned the reserve title with his two-year-old bull, Oakmoor Boss Y637, also achieving his best result at the show. Champion at the Royal Welsh Show the previous year, Oakmoor Boss is a progeny of the privately purchased Wedderlie Osprey and Oakmoor Beauty.

Runner-up in the male category was Balavilhouse Galahad Z991 from Hannah Heerema of Balavil Home Farm, Kingussie. Presented by farm manager Gerald Joyce, this bull boasts home-bred genetics, being sired by Balavilhouse Loyal Era and out of Balavilhouse Genevieve.

Mike and Melanie Alford from Foxhill, Devon, were awarded runner-up in the female category with their April 2023-born heifer, Gretnahouse Evas Honey Z499. Bought as a calf at the herd dispersal for 8,000 gns, she is a daughter of Rodmead Primero and Gretnahouse Evas Honey U052. She has been a reserve champion at Cornwall and the Three Counties and is set to compete at the upcoming Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh Shows.

Special commendation also goes to Mosshall Red Saltire Y490 (G & N Taylor), who secured the Beef Breeder Class Champion title. In the Beef Cattle Pairs Competition, Oakmoor Boss Y637 (Tom Slater) and Tonley Fiona Y937 (Neil A Wattie) emerged victorious.

This year’s achievements highlighted the breed’s status and success. The event has not only celebrated the Aberdeen-Angus breed but also set the high standard for future competitions, ensuring continued recognition and success for this iconic breed.

The Aberdeen-Angus section saw tough competition, with the following notable achievements:

Best Junior Female:  GRETNAHOUSE EVAS HONEY Z499 – MR & MRS M ALFORD

Reserve Junior Female: LOGIE EYEBRIGHT Y417 – AJR FARMS

Best Cow:  MOSSHALL RED ERINDA X291 – MESSRS G & N TAYLOR

Best Female: TONLEY FIONA Y937 – NEIL A WATTIE ESQ

Reserve Female: GRETNAHOUSE EVAS HONEY Z499 – MR & MRS M ALFORD

Best Junior Bull: BALAVILHOUSE GALAHAD Z991 – MRS HANNAH HEEREMA

Reserve Junior Bull:  GRETNAHOUSE EGBERT Z489 – MRS LISA FLEMING

Best Bull: OAK MOOR BOSS Y637 – MISS MV GUTTERY & MR TOM SLATER

Reserve Bull:  BALAVILHOUSE GALAHAD Z991 – MRS HANNAH HEEREMA

Best Junior Animal:  GRETNAHOUSE EVAS HONEY Z499 – MR & MRS M ALFORD

Reserve Junior Animal:  LOGIE EYEBRIGHT Y417 – AJR FARMS

Aberdeen-Angus Champion: TONLEY FIONA Y937 – NEIL A WATTIE ESQ

Reserve Champion: OAK MOOR BOSS Y637 – MISS MV GUTTERY & MR TOM SLATER

Royal Highland Show 2024 Beef Breeder Class Champion: MOSSHALL RED SALTIRE Y490 – G & N TAYLOR

Royal Highland Show 2024 Beef Cattle Pairs Competition Champions: OAKMOOR BOSS Y637, TOM SLATER AND TONLEY FIONA Y937, NEIL A WATTIE

Class Results

Female born on or after 1st April 2023

1st GRETNAHOUSE EVAS HONEY Z499 – MR & MRS M ALFORD

2nd IDVIES ELISA Z150 – BRAILES LIVESTOCK

3rd DUNCANZIEMERE ELLEN ERICA Z536 – A CLARK & SONS

4^th RULESMAINS PRICELESS Z872 – ANDREW S HODGE ESQ

5th CARDONA EDWINA Z458 – J ROBERT GALLOWAY ESQ

Female born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2023

1st FOXHILL DIAMOND MIST Z253 (ET) – MR & MRS M ALFORD

2nd CARRUTHERS ELSPETH Z227 – MESSRS D & K GRAHAM

3rd DUNCANZIEMERE EDWINA Z512 – A CLARK & SONS

4th HILLFOOTS EVIE Z019 – JAMIE A M RETTIE ESQ

5^th FOXHILL DIAMOND MIST Z259 (ET) – MR & MRS M ALFORD

Female born on or between 24th June and 31st December 2022

1st LOGIE EYEBRIGHT Y417 – AJR FARMS

2nd TONLEY PRINCESS Y022 – NEIL A WATTIE ESQ

3rd DUNCANZIEMERE EDWINA Y508 – A CLARK & SONS

4th TONLEY ESTER Y021 – NEIL A WATTIE ESQ

Female born on or between 1st January and 23rd June 2022 with calf at foot 

1st DUNCANZIEMERE EDWINA Y468 – A CLARK & SONS

2nd SHADWELL LADY HEATHER Y292 – JOHN M STEEL ESQ

Female born on or between 1st January and 23rd June 2022, in calf

1stTONLEY FIONA Y937 – NEIL A WATTIE ESQ

2nd FOXHILL PRINCESS CAROLINE Y167 – MR & MRS M ALFORD

3rd BRAILES BLACK BEE Y245 – BRAILES LIVESTOCK

4th MOSSHALL RED ESSENCE Y436 – MESSRS G & N TAYLOR

5th BALAVILHOUSE BLAEBERRY Y969 – MRS HANNAH HEEREMA

Female born on or between 1st January and 31st December 2021

1st MOSSHALL RED ERINDA X291 – MESSRS G & N TAYLOR

2nd CARDONA JEWER ERICA X257 – J ROBERT GALLOWAY ESQ

Bull born on or after 1st April 2023 

1^st BLELACK HILL PAT CASH Z035 (ET) – MESSRS A N CALCOTT & SON

2nd CULFOICHMORE JALAPENO ERIC Z074 – GORDON G MCCONACHIE ESQ

3rd GRETNAHOUSE KP Z530 – MR DANIEL COOKE

4th OAK MOOR KINGSTON Z709 – IAIN DAVID COLVILLE ESQ

5th FIDDLEHALL EAGLE Z058 – KEITH RENNIE ESQ

Bull born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2023

1^st BALAVILHOUSE GALAHAD Z991 – MRS HANNAH HEEREMA

2^nd GRETNAHOUSE EGBERT Z489 – MRS LISA FLEMIMG

3rd ETTRICK GORDY Z327 – FIRM OF G GRAY

4th RULESMAINS PEDRO Z819 – ANDREW S HODGE ESQ

5th LONGBANK PARAMOUNT Z892 – COLIN A H RODGER

Bull born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2022 

1st OAK MOOR BOSS Y637 – MISS MV GUTTERY & MR TOM SLATER

2nd RETTIES RING LEADER Y253 – DONALD RANKIN ESQ

3rd MOSSHALL RED SALTIRE Y490 – MESSRS G & N TAYLOR