Sunshine graced the Aberdeen-Angus cattle rings at Harrogate this morning for this year’s Summer National Show, which saw Dinnet, Aberdeenshire-based Graeme Massie of the Blelack herd take centre stage for today’s judging proceedings.

With just shy of 80 cattle in front of him today, Graeme felt the standard was high at the top end of the classes, with many classes having a number of strong cattle. “Females were of a particularly high standard today and in my champion and reserve I’ve found some fantastic examples of the breed.”

Leading the way having come through as female champion and fresh from her championship win at the Royal Highland Show last month was Retties Lady Ruth N228 from Donald Rankin, Isle of Skye.

Brought out by her breeders Carol and Richard Rettie, this April 2013-born Rawburn Elysium F547 daughter has had a coveted show career to date including wins at Central and West Fife Show, alongside her February-born Retties JFK heifer calf Kilmaluag Lady Ruth S348 and was champion at Black Isle and Grantown Shows last year.

Described by Graeme as an easy winner today, her femininity shone through from the second she stepped in to the ring. “She’s a fantastic young cow in great condition and moves well,” he added.

Having had success last year with their own cow, Robert Marshall was back on form this year at the halter of the male and reserve overall champion, Logie Limited Edition M280 from Alasdair Locke, Glenrinnes Farms Ltd. Born May 2012, this Blelack Lord Hildago H972 son out of Logie Lady E365, a Blelack Blackstaff Y288 daughter, is stock sire for the 10-cow Bregach herd in Dufftown, Keith, Banffshire.

Shown once to date this year where he won his class at the Highland Show, he was a consistent winner in the North East of Scotland last year, winning championships at Keith, Nairn and Echt Show. “For his age this bull was clean with a good shoulder and spring of rib. He traced well for a senior bull and has power and presence,” commented Graeme.

Meanwhile, clinching today’s reserve male championship was the Gordon Brooke Estate with the male and reserve champion from the Highland Show, Fenland My Prize P001. Bred by Robbie Moore, this one was born in January 2014 and is by Rawburn Black Hawk L261. As well as his Highland Show success he was interbreed champion at Northumberland County Show.

The reserve female championship went to another successful show cow from this year, Haughton Justine Erica L012 from Andrew and Judith Denning, who with the help of daughter Jessica, made the trip up from the south west with this January 2011-born Chapelton Eventer E801 daughter. 

Out of the Heath House Plato daughter, Rosemount Justine Erica B296, Justine Erica was purchased in October last year in Stirling for 7000gns from Whittaker Farms and was shown with her March-born Retties JFK M195 sired bull calf, Temple Just Epic S673. She was champion at Bath and West, Devon County and reserve at Three Counties this year and together, this pair also won the coveted Cridlan Cup for the best cow and calf pair. 

In the junior championship, Richard Rettie took the top spot for Donald Rankin with Weeton Princess Chartreuse R467. Born June 2015 and bred by John Loftus, this one is by Retties JFK M195 and out of the Nightingale Defiance E264 daughter, Blelack Princess Chartreuse G793.

Reserve junior honours went to Bryan Ronan with his first place yearling bull, Jerusalem Galileo R336. By the stock sire Rawburn Julio Eric L249, this one is out of the Jerusalem Dartagnan H138 daughter, Jerusalem Goldovera K175. This one was calf champion at last year’s Winter National Show at Borderway Agri Expo.

Securing the calf championship was Richard and Carol Rettie Retties Lady Ruth R328 which is a full embryo sister to N228, while in reserve was David and Penny Evans with Tree Bridge Pastor R570, an August 2015-born Nightingale Proud Jake son.

Winning the Netherton Group of Three award was the Donald Rankin team, consisting of Retties Lady Ruth N228, Weeton Princess Chartreuse R467 and the first prize heifer Hillfoots Tidy Bee P288, while in reserve was Bryan Ronan’s group, headed by Jerusalem Galileo R336, Jerusalem Missie R330 and Jerusalem Duchess P308.

However, in the pairs it was a role reversal with Bryan taking top with Duchess and Galileo and Donald Rankin standing reserve with Lady Ruth and Tidy Bee. 

Images to follow….

CLASS RESULTS:

Bull, born on or before 31 December 2013

1, Glenrinnes Farms Ltd’s Logie Limited Edition M80, by Blelack Lord Hildago H972

2, Turnbull Family’s Fell Lane Mr Berbatov N259, by Oakchurch Field Marshall K143

Bull, born on or between 1 January and 31 December 2014

1, Gordon Brooke Estate’s Fenland My Prize P001, by Rawburn Black Hawk L261

Bull, born on or between 1 January and 31 March 2015

1, B S Ronan’s Jerusalem Galileo R336, by Rawburn Julio Eric L249

2, A E and C R Bishop’s Warrenho Edwin R559, by Warrenho Dalmigavie G237

3, T A and P A Johnson’s Yearsely Royal Lupo R209, by Rawburn Transformer

4, T A and P A Johnson’s Haymount Earth Smith R550, by Gretnahouse Blacksmith L500

5, M R Lane’s Penguin Mr Elderado R581, by Cardona Potter K703

6, Turnbull Family’s Foxfoot Black Bandit R477, by Ballathie Dida

Bull, born on or between 1 April and 31 July 2015

1, B S Ronan’s Jerusalem Faberge R346, by Rawburn Julio Eric L249

2, A E and C R Bishop’s Warrenho Esquire R754, by Warrenho Dalmigavie G237

3, H W Sclater’s Deveron Lomax R510, by Gretnahouse Bailiff M560

4, Miss J H Swires’ Cragg Mr Bombastic R123, by Hallington Edition M362

5, Messrs D A and P A Evans’ Tree Bridge Elector R547, by Tree Bridge Pathfinder

6, A E and C R Bishop’s Warrenho Ericson R567, by Warrenho Dalmigavie G237

7, J M Steel’s Alewater Proud Innes R352, by Netherton Americano M703

8, Mrs C Rock’s Jack Rock Elgin R007, by Abberton Dazzle G160

Bull calf, born on or between 1 August and 31 December 2015

1, Messrs D A and P A Evans’ Tree Bridge Pastor R570, by Nightingale Proud Jake

2, C D Timm’s Wensleydale Broderado R038, by The Moss Ethos L058

3, Shadwell Estate Co Ltd’s Shadwell Fury R857, by Idvies Eland N596 

Bull calf, born in 2016

1,  J P Walsh’s Buckhurst Endeavour S178, by Rawburn Boss Hogg

2, A and J Denning’s Temple Just Epic S283, by Retties JFK M195

Female, born on or before 31 December 2012

1, A and J Denning’s Haughton Justine Erica L012, by Chapelton Eventer

2, Messrs D A and P A Evans’ Tree Bridge Polly Perkins J241, by Chapelton Dark Mahmoud

3, J E Foster’s Waterned Princess M104, by Blelack Evergreat H003

Female, born on or between 1 January and 31 December, with natural born calf at foot

1, D Rankin’s Retties Lady Ruth N228, by Rawburn Elysium F547

2, R and C Rettie’s Retties Lady Rose N271, by Fell Lane Ploughman J211

3, J P Walsh’s Rawburn Ebony, by Oakchurch Field Marshall

4, Shadwell Etate Co Ltd’s Shadwell Fleur N666, by Netherallan Peter Pershore E052 

Female, born in 2014

1, D Rankin’s Hillfoots Tidy Bee P288, by Retties JFK M195

2, B S Ronan’s Jerusalem Duchess P308, by Rawburn Julio Eric L249

3, B S Ronan’s Jerusalem Missie P130, by Rawburn Julio Eric L249

4, Glenrinnes Farms Ltd’s Blelack Princess Camilla P318, by Rawburn Double Oseven J985 (placed by referee judge Tom Arnott).

5, Gordon Brook Estate’s Linton Gilbertines Rosie P867, by Linton Gilbertines Rowan K414

Heifer, born on or between 1 January and 31 March 2015 (first split)

1, Marsdens Farms Ltd’s Liley Kinannie R173, by Lockerely Kougar

2, A and J Denning’s Temple Rosebud R653, by Temple Fully Loaded

3, A Hodge’s Rulesmains Kitty R621, by Hallington Edition M362

4, B S Ronan’s Jerusalem Diana R323, by Rawburn Julio Eric L249

5, Shadwell Estate Co Ltd’s Shadwell Jury Erica R790, by Netherallan Peter Pershore E052  

6, T A and P A Johnson’s Comlongon Jody R043, by Liley Elder

7, J M Steel’s Westdrums Emma R177, by Mosston Muir Mr Angus L288

8, Marsdens Farms Ltd’s Liley Eye Spy R169, by Lockerley Jougar

Heifer, born on or between 1 January and 31 March 2015 (second split)

1, D Rankin’s Weeton Lady Heather R450, by Duncanziemere Edwin J311

2, J P Walsh’s Buckhurst Lady Heather R154, by Blelack Entertainer

3, B S Ronan’s Jerusalem Missie R330, by Rawburn Julio Eric L249

4, Brailes Livestock’s  Rawburn Elsie R045, by Linton Gilbertines Rocco M603

5, Dr W and Mrs M Taylor’s Crook Hill Belle, by Rawnburn Mambo Prince

6, W and S Crystal’s Wingate Grange Polly Pride R001, by Abberton Dazzle G160

Heifer, born on or between 1 April and 31 July 2015

1, D Rankin’s Weeton Princess Chartreuse R467, by Retties JFK M195

2, Gordon Brook Estate’s Linton Gilbertines Rosebud Willabar R946, by Rawburn Blackhawk L261

3, O Tunney’s Haughton Lola R151, by Rawburn Elysium F547

4, O Tunney’s Morpheus Kristy R025, by Liley Elder M073

5, Messrs D A and P A Evans’ Tree Bridge Ermine R539, by Abberton Dazzle G160

6, R Moore’s Fenalnd Princess Mary R004, by Rawburn Elmer D284

7, Miss J H Swires’ Cragg Lady Laurel R122, by Hallington Edition M362

8, T A and P A Johnson’s Weeton Eyrie R457, by Te Mania Berkley

Heifer, born on or between 1 August and 31 December 2015

1, R and C Rettie’s Retties Lady Ruth R328, by Rawburn Elysium F547

2, R and C Rettie’s Retties Lady Ruth R329, by Duncanziemere Edwin J311

3, Messrs D A and P A Evans’ Tree Bridge Emily R569, by Tree Bridge Pathfinder

Heifer, born in 2016

1, D Rankin’s Kilmaluag Lady Ruth S348, by Retties JFK M195 

2, R and C Rettie’s Retties Lady Rose S347, by Retties JFK M195