Begg family lead the way at Caithness Christmas show

Published: 10:58, 07 December 2023

| Updated: 10:59, 07 December 2023

A British Blue cross bullock from G W Begg, Vauldale, Nybster was Open Prime Cattle champion for the second year running at the Caithness Christmas show.

The annual Caithness Christmas show and sale by Aberdeen and Northern Marts at Quoybrae took place on Monday and Tuesday, December 4 and 5, with exhibitors and buyers travelling from across the north of Scotland to take part.

With a total of 102 cattle and 3730 sheep sold it was a successful end to the Quoybrae sales season.

A March 2022-born British Blue cross bullock scaling 630kg, forward from G W Begg, Vauldale, Nybster won Champion position in the Open Prime Cattle section for the second year running, which was sponsored by NFU Mutual and judged by Scott Watson, Old Repeater Station, Muirdrum.

The Champion Bullock sold to Mackay’s Hotel, Wick for the 24th year in a row for £3000 (4.76ppkg).

The Overall Reserve Champion was awarded to a 644kg Limousin cross Bullock also from G W Begg, which sold for £2200 (3.42ppkg) to J M Munro Ltd, Dingwall.

In the Young Farmers Prime Cattle section the Champion was a 698kg Limousin cross bullock from James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick which sold for £2200 to McIntosh Donald Kepak.

The Young Farmers Reserve Champion went to a 715kg Limousin bullock from Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster which sold for £1950.

Judging the open section of prime lambs was Iain Laird, Yeldabreck, Burray and kindly sponsored by the Home Bakery, Wick.

The Champion was awarded to two 54kg Beltex lambs from C Angus, West Mey which sold for £520 a head to Mr Lamont of Mackay's Hotel, Wick.

The Reserve Champion was awarded to two 47kg Beltex lambs from Kris Sutherland and Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, which sold to Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant for £200 a head.

The Young Farmers Champion Pen of Prime Lambs sponsored by Duncan & Todd, Wick were two 48kg Beltex lambs also from Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms and sold for £380 a head to Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant.

The Young Farmers Reserve Champions were two 46kg Blackface lambs from Neve Sutherland, Barnaheigh, Harpsdale which sold for £138 per head.

The Champion Pen of Ten Untrimmed Prime Lambs sponsored by Willie Gulloch, Hempriggs Mains, Wick and judged by Iain Laird, Yeldabreck, Burray was 43.3kgs Texel lambs from Steven Sutherland, Sibmister.

The judge backed his decision when he tapped out at £138 a head.

The Reserve champions were awarded to 42.4kg lambs from the same consigner which sold to £120 per head also to the judge.

New to this year's show was the Baby Beef Competition, sponsored by Vauldale Engineering.

The aim of the competition is to encourage Young Farmers to showcase their young calves and practice showmanship skills ahead of the Caithness Overwintering competition in April.

The Overall Baby Beef Champion was awarded to Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Farms for a 360Kg Limousin cross heifer bred by U MacDonald, Lower Cairnglass, with the Overall Reserve Champion going to Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms for a 362kg Limousin cross heifer.

Scott Chapman, auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “It was great to witness a busy ringside of buyers for the Caithness Christmas show which resulted in strong trade throughout the sale.

"A huge amount of effort goes into preparing stock for the show, well done to all our exhibitors.

"As the sales at Quoybrae round up for the year, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our customers and sponsors for their continued support.”

Caithness Christmas Show & Sale: Prize List

Prime Cattle Competition - Haltered/Unhaltered

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