Black Beauty Bonanza

2023 Black Beauty Bonanza Report More than 100 cattle from across Scotland entered the 2023 Black Beauty Bonanza organised by the North East of Scotland Aberdeen- Angus Club at Thainstone, Aberdeenshire. 96 forward from 28 herds on the day made it a good show for judge, David Murray of Wolflaw across the 12 classes of calves and yearlings. Heifer calf championship went to the January-born Foxhill Diamond Mist Z253, from Mike and Melanie Alford’s Foxhill herd from Devon. By Linton Gilbertines President S021 and out of Weeton Diamond Mist M351, she has already stood junior female champion at Agri Expo in Carlisle and native junior champion at the Stars of the Future Calf Show. Reserve heifer calf champion from Hannah Heerema, of Balavil Home Farm, Kingussie, was Balavilhouse Daisy Duchess Z995. An AI calf from of Kilmaluag Eriskay T203, out of Ardoyne Daisy Duchess P256, she had also won her class at Agri Expo. The Watties, Mains of Tonley, Alford, took champion yearling heifer with Tonley Fiona Y937, who also had a good showing at the Society’s Winter National at Agri Expo standing champion and reserve female champion at the national show at Turriff in the summer. She is a 19-month-old daughter of Tonley Jester Eric S318, who has bred sons to 24,000gns and daughters to 20,000gns. Reserve in this section, was Newton-Struthers Espresso Y649, a female of similar age from the Rhinds at Newton of Struthers, Kinloss. Espresso had already had a busy summer, taking seven breed championships, two reserve inter-breed wins and Champion of Champions at Grantown Show. Ballindalloch Home Farms took the bull calf champion with Ballindalloch Flame Z696. He is an April born son of Rosemead January W189, and Ballindalloch Flora. Ray Gardiner, Newton, Skene, stood reserve bull calf with May-born Newton Nelson Z139, by Idvies Ferrari and out of Newton Muchalls Nutmeg. The class of yearling bulls, saw both champion and reserve tickets going to Tonley. Tonley Edward Y938 took champion, by Tonley Jester Eric, whilst reserve went to Tonley Picasso Y953. The pairing went on to win yearling pair championship. Champion pair went to Balavilhouse, while R Gardiner’s Newton herd took reserve with their duo. Commenting on his day in the ring, judge Dave Murray said: “The quality in front of me today has been superb. There was some real strong female classes, perhaps the strongest I have seen at this event.”

Stockmanship Awards

The Junior Showmanship & Senior Stockmanship awards were ably judged by Tom Beadle of the Noir Aberdeen-Angus herd and stockman with Angus Stovold’s Rosemead herd. Senior (18-26 years) – 1, Andrew Reid; 2, Hannah Lorimer; 3, James MacIver. Intermediate (16-17 years) – 1, Grant Rhind; 2, Jasmin Strachan; 3, Rachel Forbes. Intermediate (14-15 years) – 1, Finlay Hunter; 2, Anna Fettes; 3, Jack Stuart. Junior (13 years and under) – 1, Jess Williams; 2, Abbie Brown; 3, Cameron Elliot. Andrew Reid Jnr from Ellon won the chairman’s special prize for Endeavour.

Leading Awards

Class 1 – 1, Mr and Mrs M Alford’s Foxhill Diamond Mist, by Linton Gilbertines President S021; 2, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Daisy Duchess Z995, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203; 3, H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Blaeberry Z990, by Balavilhouse Loyal Era X915. Class 2 – 1, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Blackbelle Z967, by Auchincrieve Eminem W557; 2, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Empress Z000, by Kilmaluag Eriskay; 3, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Edwinasa Z963, by Shawtonhill Ninja W751. Class 3 – 1, A and P Davie’s Perkhill Cherry Blossom Z385, by Perkhill Black Evor V307; 2, G and R Miller’s Birkenbower Ginnie Z626, by Casino Buffon S008; 3, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Edwinasa Z971, by Shawtonhill Ninja. Class 4 – 1, NA Wattie’s Tonley Princess Z044, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203; 2, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Miss Pristine Z693, by Rosemead January W189; 3, AJR Farms’ Logie Eyebright Z453, by Blelack Ever Creole W042. Class 5– 1, R Gardiner’s Newton Jill Erica, by Idvies Ferrari S752; 2, AN Calcott and Son’s Blelack Hill Bluebird Z028, by Blelack Dual Mine U913; 3, B MacAngus’ Little Glencoe Perdita Z023, by Rawburn Ernan W110. Class 6 – Mar 25-Dec 17 2022 – 1, NA Wattie’s Tonley Fiona, by Tonley Jester Eric S318; 2, A and K Rhind and Son’s Newton-Struthers Espresso Y649, by Idvies Ed W875; 3, AJR Farms’ Logie Eyebright Y417, by Blelack Ever Creole W042. Class 7 – 1, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Galahad Z991, by Balavilhouse Loyal Era X915; 2, K Rennie’s Fiddlehall Epic Z051, by Tonley Jester Eric S318; 3, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Pilbeam Z996, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203. Class 8 – 1, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Lucifer Z983, by Auchincrieve Eminem W557; 2, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Eusane Z964, by Auchincrieve Eminem W557; 3, Mrs H Heerema’s Balavilhouse Black Bingham Z001, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203. Class 9 – 1, C and E McCombie’s Auchincrieve Jerry Eric Z990, by Shawtonhill Ninja W751; 2, Mosston Muir Farm’s Mosston Muir Invictus Z459, by Balmachie Ranald T223; 3, NA Wattie’s Tonley Eagle Z041, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203. Class 10 – 1, Ballindalloch Home Farms’ Ballindalloch Flame Z696, by Rosemead January W189; 2, Mosston Muir Farm’s Mosston Muir Eroco Z464, by Balmachie Ranald T223; 3, PM Hepburn’s Burnside Bandit Man Z066, by Burnside Eyeful W967. Class 11 – 1, R Gardiner’s Newton Nelson Z139, by Idvies Ferrari S752; 2, AN Calcott and Son’s Blelack Hill Prospero Z032, by Kimaluag Eriskay T203; 3, AN Calcott and Son’s Blelack Hill Buster Z033, by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203. Class 12 – 1, NA Wattie’s Tonley Edward Y938, by Tonley Jester Eric S318; 2, NA Wattie’s Tonley Picasso Y953, by Duncanziemere Jesterstream V322; 3, A and P Davie’s Perkhill Black Magic Y373, by Perkhill Charlie Brown U302.