Begg family lead the way at Caithness Christmas show
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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
Sponsored by NFU Mutual
Haltered Bullock
1st. Lot 6 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
2nd. Lot 7 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick
3rd. Lot 5 – D Coghill & Sons, Skinnet, Halkirk
4th. Lot 8 – John Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Unhaltered Bullock
1st. Lot 1 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
2nd. Lot 2 – D Budge, Brae-edge, Castletown
3rd. Lot 3 – W M Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
4th. Lot 4 – D A Budge, Brae-edge, Catletown
Haltered Heifer
1st. Lot 9 – W M Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
Open Overall Champion
Lot 6 - G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
Open Overall Reserve Champion
Lot 1 - G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
Best Opposite Sex
Lot 9 – W M Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
Best Home Bred Animal
G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster
Young Farmers Prime Cattle
Sponsored by NFU Mutual
Haltered Bullock - Heavy
1st. Lot 14 – Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Forss YFC 2nd. Lot 16 – Neil Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten – Bower YFC 3rd. Lot 15 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso – Forss YFC
Haltered Bullock - Light
1st. Lot 13 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick – Bower YFC 2nd. Lot 10 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Bower YFC 3rd. Lot 12 – John Gunn, North Killimster, Wick – Bower YFC 4th. Lot 11 - Tiegan Sutherland, Thirdpart, Watten – Bower YFC
Haltered Heifer
1st. Lot 17 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso – Forss YFC
Champion
Lot 13 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Reiss – Bower YFC
Reserve Champion
Lot 14 – Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Forss YFC
Best Home Bred Animal
Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Forss YFC
Open Prime Sheep
Sponsored by The Home Bakery Wick
Pen of Two Any Other Native Breed Lambs
1st. Lot 408 -The Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe Farm, Mey 2nd. Lot 212 - The Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe Farm, Mey 3rd. Lot 417 – A & S Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale
Pen of Two Light Texel Lambs
1st. Lot 203 – E Grant & K Dunnet, Swiney
2nd. Lot 202 – E Grant & K Dunnet, Swiney
3rd. Lot 201 – J Murray, Netherside, Castletown
Pen of Two Heavy Texel Lambs
1st. Lot 407 – Kevin Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder 2nd. Lot -406 – Bisset & Blackwood, Mill Farm, Castletown 3rd. Lot 404 – C Angus, West Mey
Pen of Two Light Any Other Continental Breed Lambs 1st. Lot 405 – K Sutherland & H Levack, Dunbeath Farms 2nd. Lot 414 – Kevin Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder
3rd. Lot 411 – C Angus, West Mey
4th. Lot 415 – Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Sibmister, Castletown
Pen of Two Heavy Any Other Continental Breed Lambs 1st. Lot 410 – C Angus, West Mey
2nd. Lot 416- Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Sibmister, Castletown 3rd. Lot -412 – D A Budge, Brae-edge, Castletown
Champion
C Angus, West Mey
Reserve Champion
Kris Sutherland & Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms
Best Presented Pair
A McArthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey
Young Farmers Prime Sheep
Sponsored by Duncan & Todd Wick
Pen of Two Light Continental Breed Lambs
1st. Lot 503 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale – Forss YFC 2nd. Lot 506 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Bower YFC 3rd. Lot 507 – Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Forss YFC
Pen of Two Intermediate Lambs
1st. Lot 510 – Liam Mackenzie, Achalone Croft, Halkirk – Halkirk YFC 2nd. Lot 508 – Katie Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder- Forss YFC 3rd. Lot 514 – Alister McArthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey – Bower YFC
Pen of Two Heavy Continental Breed Lambs
1st. Lot 525 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC 2nd. Lot 527 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso – Forss YFC 3rd. Lot 528 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso – Forss YFC
Pen of Two Light Native Breed Lambs
1st. Lot 511 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale – Forss YFC 2nd. Lot 512 – Alister McArthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey – Bower YFC 3rd. Lot 513 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale – Forss YFC
Champion
Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC
Reserve Champion
Neve Sutherland, Barnaheigh, Harpsdale – Forss YFC
Best Presented Pair
Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC
Pen Of 10 Untrimmed Lambs
Sponsored by Mr Willie Gulloch
Champion
Steven Sutherland, Sibmister
Reserve Champion
Steven Sutherland, Sibmister.
Baby Beef Competition
Sponsored by Vauldale Engineering
Haltered Bullock
1st. Lot 19 – Isla Mackay, Strath Farm Cottage, Watten – Bower YFC 2nd. Lot 20 – Sophie Tucker, Smith Terrace, Wick – Bower YFC 3rd. Lot 18 – Neil Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten – Bower YFC
Haltered Heifer - Heavy
1st. Lot 25 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC 2nd. Lot 26 – William Campbell, Heatherview, Gersa – Bower YFC 3rd. Lot 24 – Sophie Gunn, The Shien, Hill of Forss- Bower YFC
Haltered Heifer – Light
1st. Lot 22 – Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC 2nd. Lot 23 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Hakirk YFC 3rd. Lot 30 – Sophie Gunn, The Shien, Hill of Forss – Bower YFC
Champion
Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Farms – Halkirk YFC
Reserve Champion
Hannah Levak, Dunbeath Farms – Halkirk YFC
