This year’s Christmas Classic at Thainstone, promises to once again showcase the very best of the North and North-east’s leading prime and pedigree stock.
The usual high standard of 60 prime cattle will be forward for judging with James and Ross Allan, Malcolm Allan Ltd, Larbert, Stirling, placing the open haltered classes.
As ever, the young farmers section of cattle and sheep will feature strongly on Monday evening, judged by Jamie Scott of John Scott Meats (Paisley) Ltd. Also competing at this time will be the unhaltered cattle, to be judged by Ian Sim of Kincraig, Brechin.
The 140 prime lambs will be judged by Sam Carlisle of Border Meats, Lockerbie on Tuesday, November 28.
To round off the Monday evening and showcasing next year’s cream of the crop, the Rising Stars exhibition calf show will be judged by Mr. Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, Crieff.
The event has broadened over the years, and this year is no exception with a record entry of 270 pedigree sheep and 40 pedigree bulls.
The pedigree female sheep category will see an outstanding selection of top-quality animals, with increased numbers in all sections from previous years. Following the success of 2016’s Christmas Classic, there will be 140 Texels, 60 Suffolks, 50 Beltex, 15 Continentals offered, and five Charollais. This year’s event will also feature the dispersal of the ‘Westerton Flock’ of Texel sheep from J.S. Youngson, and will provide established flockmasters with the opportunity to augment their flock and allow new breeders to purchase top pedigree stock. Pedigree sheep will be showcased and judged beginning at 2:00pm on Monday, November 27. The increased entry will see an earlier sale start time of 4:00pm.
The Christmas Classic will also see an excellent panel of experienced and reputable judges for each category. In the pedigree sheep section, Mr. Keith Hourston, Skelbister, Orphir, Orkney will judge Texels; Mr. Robbie Innes, Crossburn, Keith the Suffolks; and Mr. Rory Machray, Bilboa, Daviot the Beltex section.
Sheep sales manager Colin Slessor, said: “It is fantastic to see such a great selection of female sheep entered in this year’s Christmas Classic, having built on 25 years of continued success of this prestigious event in the livestock calendar. We are delighted with the exceptional quality on offer and a record-breaking 270 entries forward.”
This year’s show and sale of pedigree bulls with see 13 Limousin, ten Charolais, nine Simmental, three Aberdeen Angus and one Saler. Mr. W Stewart of Greenfold, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly will oversee the judging of this section.
Executive director of ANM Group John Gregor, said: “We are looking forward to celebrating this, the 25th anniversary of the Christmas Classic and welcoming everyone, including exhibitors, customers, sponsors and the general public to Thainstone Centre on Monday, and Tuesday, November 27 -28.”
The Aberdeen Christmas Classic – sponsored by NorthLink Ferries – is well-established in the agricultural calendar as one of the UK’s most prestigious annual shows and sales of prime cattle and sheep; pedigree female sheep; pedigree beef bulls; and the Rising Stars calf show with £16,000 of prize money and a range of trophies together with commemorative 25th anniversary quaichs for leading prize winners and judges.
Programme of Events
Monday, November 27
11:30am – Judging of cast sow competition
2:00pm – Judging of pedigree Texel, Suffolk, and Beltex female sheep
4:00pm – Sale of pedigree Texel, Suffolk, and Beltex female sheep
6:00pm – Judging of young farmers sheep
6:15pm– Judging of young farmers prime cattle followed by Rising Stars calf show
Tuesday, November 28
8:30am– Judging unhaltered prime cattle and judging of prime sheep
9.30am– Judging of haltered prime cattle
11:30am – Judging of pedigree beef bulls
12:30pm – Parade of bulls, Rising Stars and prime cattle
1:30pm– Presentation of prizes followed by sale of prime cattle and sheep, starting with cattle
2:00pm– Sale of pedigree beef bulls
7:00pm– Young farmers and open
Stock judging Competition
All cattle classes will be judged within the exchange. Prime sheep classes will be judged within the judging area behind Sale Rings 2 and 3.