Honours were evenly spread out at the 20th Black Beauty Bonanza which attracted an outstanding entry of more than 100 Aberdeen-Angus calves and yearlings from 30 herds from Clachmannan to Ross-shire.

Organised by the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club, with Glenrinnes Estate, Dufftown, as main sponsor, the show was widely viewed by the large ringside audience as the best in the 20 years of the event and drew warm praise from the judge, Rob Bishop, owner of the noted Warrenho herd in Berkshire.

“It’s a fantastic well-organised show and the top bulls, displaying style and breed character along with conformation and good tops, will go on and do well at the bull sales,” said Mr Bishop. “The heifers, although sometimes not the biggest, were very correct and a credit to the breed.”

Leading the entry of 53 bull calves born in 2018 was a promising January-born calf, Blelack Dakota U898, by Netherallan Peter Pershore E052, from regular winners at the event, NF Massie and Sons, Blelack, Dinnet, Aboyne, closely followed in reserve place by the March-born, Cardona Jeweliot Eric U047, by the North American sire, SAV Solid Gold 9187, from Scotbeef managing director, Robbie Galloway’s Cardona herd at Doune.

Blelack Dakota.

Yearling bulls were topped by the 20 month old, Logie Dynamite T740, a well-grown son of Logie Electric P438, from AJR Farms, Mains of Collieston, Ellon, who acquired the Logie herd from the Bruce family last year, retaining Andrew and James Reid as cattlemen.

Logie Dynamite.

Runner-up was the second prize winner in the same class, the 20 month old, Tonley Elijah T367, by Tonley Essien N955, from Sellars Agriculture managing director, Neil Wattie and son, Mark, from Mains of Tonley, Alford.

Champion heifer calf was the January-born, Tulloes Pride U003, by the privately purchased Blelack Jock Eric R434, following her native breeds junior championship success at Stars of the Future, from first-time exhibitor, David Raeburn, Burnside of Tulloes, Letham, Forfar.

Tulloes Pride.

Reserve, and again the second prize winner in the class, was the January-born, Retties Evita U005, by Retties JFK M195, shown by Richard and Carol Rettie, Devonside, Clackmannanshire, from their herd at Methven, Perth.

The Rettie’s had a successful day, bringing out the yearling heifer and reserve champions from their livery, on behalf of Donald Rankin, Kilmaluag, Duntulm, Isle of Skye, who took top honours with the 18 month old, Kilmaluag Lady Ruth T207, another by Retties JFK M195, with reserve spot going to the furthest travelled exhibitor, Richard Hassel, of Brailes Livestock in Oxford – though all his cattle are kept in Scotland – with the 18 month old, Cheeklaw Black Beath T597, by Balmachie Lord Jack R198, bought at the Cheeklaw dispersal.

Kilmaluag Lady Ruth.

The coveted McCombie Trophy for the best pair of calves went to Robbie Galloway with his reserve bull calf, along with a second prize April-born bull calf, Cardona Prize Fighter U053. Blelack were reserve with their champion, which was paired with the first prize April-born bull calf, Blelack Dual Mine U913, by Weeton Diamond Mine P944.

Winner of the Shand Trophy for the best pair of yearlings was Hamsh Sclater, Denhead, Dunlugas, Turriff, with two yearling bulls, Deveron Exstatic T593, by Gretnahouse Blacksmith L500, and the fourth prize, Deveron Joules Eric T581, by Deveron Master Banbury L376.

Standing reserve were two by Retties Euromillions R307 from Mr Rankin, the third prize heifer, Kilmaluag Lady Iris T220, and the unplaced bull, Kilmaluag Jack Eric T216.

The new award for herds of 20 cows or fewer founded within the last five years went to Moray farmer and vet, Hugh Thomson and his wife, Cara, whose class placings included a red ticket with the April-born heifer calf, Tynet Diana U041, by Gretnahouse Blacksmith L500.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Heifer calf – David Raeburn, Burnside of Tulloes, Letham, Angus, with 10 month old, Tulloes Pride U003, by Blelack Black Jock R534; reserve – Richard and Carol Rettie, Devonside, Clackmannanshire, with 10 month old, Retties Evita U005, by Retties JFK M195

Yearling heifer – Donald Rankin, Kilmaluag House, Duntulm, Isle of Skye, with 18 month old, Kilmaluag Lady Ruth T207, by Retties JFK M195; reserve – Brailes Livestock, Upper Brailes, Banbury, Oxford, with 18 month old, Cheeklaw Black Beth T597, by Balmachie Lord Jock R198

Bull calf – NF Massie and Sons, Blelack, Dinnet, Aboyne, with 10 month old, Blelack Dakota U898, by Netherallan Peter Pershore E052; reserve – Robbie Galloway, Cardona, Doune, Perthshire, with the eighth month old, Cardona Jeweliot Eric U047, by SAV Solid Gold 9187

Yearling bull – AJR Farms, Milton of Collieston, Ellon, with 21 month old, Logie Dynamite T740, by Logie Electric P438; reserve – Neil Wattie, Mains ot Tonley, Alford, with 20 month old, Tonley Elijah T367, by Tonley Essien N955

Pair home-bred calves – Robbie Galloway with 20 month old, Cardona Jeweliot Eric U047, and 19 month old, Cardona Prize Fighter U053; reserve – NF Massie and Sons with 22 month old, Blelack Dakota U898, and 19 month old, Blelack Dual Mine U913

Pair home-bred yearlings – Hamish Sclater, Denhead of Dunlugas, Turriff, with 19 month old, Deveron Joules Eric T581, and 19 month old, Deveron Exstatic T593; reserve – Donald Rankin with 12 month old, Kilmaluag Lady Iris T220, and 12 month old, Kilmaluag Jack Eric T216

New herd award – Hugh Thomson, Burnside Cottage, Tynet, Buckie

Special prize for endeavor – Katie Meston, Ballater

Junior Showmanship

Junior – 1 Andrew Reid, Mains of Collieston, Ellon; 1 Rachel Forbes, Lochdhu, Nairn; 3 Fraser Neve

Intermediate – 1 Faye Wilkie, Echt; 2 Ian Lockhead-Anderson, Glassel, Banchory; 3 Nicola Howie, Cairnton, Lumphanan

Class Awards

Heifer calf (born 2018)

Jan 7 – March 10 – 1 David Raeburn’s Tulloes Pride U003; 2 Richard and Carol Rettie’s Retties Evita U005; 3 FJ Fraser and Son’s Idvies Privola U820

March 15 – April 2 – 1 Hugh Thomson’s Tynet Diana U041; 2 Dave Murray’s Wolflaw Jill U728; 3 Ewen and Gill MacGregor’s Raddery Elderflower U220

April 7 – May 9 – 1 Hamish Sclater’s Deveron Jill Erica U615; 2 David Walker’s Galcantray Lassie U159; 3 NF Massie and Sons’ Blelack Evora U920

Yearling heifer (born 2017)

Jan 3 – Nov 22 – 1Donald Rankin’s Kilmaluag Lady Ruth T207; 2 Brailes Livestock’s Cheeklaw Black Beth T597; 3 Donald Rankin’s Kilmaluag Lady Iris T220

Bull calf (born 2018)

Jan 12 – Feb 28 – 1 NF Massie and Sons’ Blelack Dakota U898; 2 Neil Wattie’s Tonley Everest U481; 3 AJR Farms’ Kincardine Castle Expectation U215

March 2 – March 13 – Robbie Galloway’s Cardona Jeweliot Eric U047; 2 C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Jura Eric U267; 3 FJ Fraser and Son’s Idvies Euro U821

March 15 – March 31 – FJ Fraser and Son’s Idvies Proud Parish U823; 2 Ewenn and Gill MacGregor’s Raddery Elan U219; 3 David Walker’s Galcantray Jewjet Eric U138

April 1 – April 10 – 1 Hamish Sclater’s Deveron Fantastic U608; 2 FJ Fraser and Son’s Idvies Euroman U831; 3 Dave Murray’s Wolflaw Proud Imran U735

April 11 – April 24 – 1 NF Massie and Sons’ Blelack Dual Mine U913; 2 Robbie Galloway’s Cardona Prize Fighter U053; 3 David Walker’s Galcantray Duke U155

Yearling bull (born 2017)

Feb 24 – April 12 – 1 AJR Farms’ Logie Dynamite T740; 2 Neil Wattie’s Tonley Elijah T367; 3 Richard and Carol Rettie’s Retties Lord Harvey T406

April 27 – Nov 17 – 1 Hamish Sclater’s Deveron Exstatic T593; 2 AJR Farms’ Logie Defiance T774; 3 Wendy Willox’s Strathinver Jacobite T048