Aberdeen & Northern Marts is pleased to announce Rapid Project Development (RPD), a local specialist construction business based in Rothienorman, as the main event sponsor for this year’s Aberdeen Christmas Classic – Scotland’s premier farming winter event.
The traditional two-day Christmas show, organised by Aberdeen & Northern Marts in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association, will showcase the leading prime cattle and sheep from across Scotland. The event takes place on Monday 25, and Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, and will also feature shows and sales of female pedigree sheep, pedigree beef bulls, and the ‘Rising Stars Exhibition Calf Show’.
Tim McDonald, prime and cull cattle manager at ANM, said: “We are pleased to announce RPD as the main sponsor of this year’s Christmas Classic and once again host this prestigious event at Thainstone. The Duxbury family has a strong reputation within the agricultural sector for delivering first-class construction projects and are well-known and respected members of the North-east farming community.
“The Classic is a major livestock show and sale and continues to grow in popularity year on year, regularly attracting the best of livestock from the area. The ringside is always full of buyers from all over the UK and online bidding is available. We encourage everyone to attend and experience the Aberdeen Christmas Classic first-hand.”
John-Paul Duxbury, manager at RPD, commented: “We are proud to sponsor this year’s Aberdeen Christmas Classic and continue to build on our strong links with the farming community.
“RPD has been operating in the North-east farming industry for more than 40 years and this sponsorship opportunity supporting a major local agricultural event was a natural fit for us. We look forward to meeting everyone at Thainstone in November.”
RPD is owned by the Duxbury Family which specialises in agricultural, industrial and domestic building services and has completed small to multi-million-pound projects across Scotland.
Aside from running a successful construction business, the Duxbury’s have deep roots in agriculture and a keen interest in livestock. The family’s mixed-farm at Cowley, Rothienorman, is comprised of a suckler cow herd and breeding ewe flock.
Ross Williams, chairman of the Aberdeen Fatstock Association, commented: “The Christmas Classic is the cream of the crop show and sale in the farming calendar and we’re particularly pleased to have RPD as the main sponsor along with all other class sponsors who make this event possible. We look forward to delivering another successful Classic and seeing everyone at the show.”
Last year’s Christmas Classic was a huge success with an array of quality livestock on show. The haltered beef cattle overall champion title went to Wilson Peters, Monzie, Crieff and sold for the day’s top price of £4,600.
In the quality prime lamb section, the overall champion title was achieved by a pair of Suffolk cross lambs from W & J Brown, Hilton of Culsh, New Deer. The champion pair weighed 56kg and realised £200 per head.
The Rising Stars calf show, launched at the 2014 Christmas Classic, is returning for its fifth year and gives farmers the chance to exhibit the best of their young cattle as a taster for the show season ahead in the coming year. Last year, the overall champion and open champion heifer titles went to an eight-month-old Limousin-cross purchased heifer from W Robertson & Son, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch. The champion animal won the Spring Show and sold for the top price of £4,600.
Once again, the event organisers are offering free entry for spectators on both days allowing everyone the chance to see the impressive display of livestock throughout the classes, visit a variety of trade stands and experience Thainstone Centre in full swing.
L-R Daniel Duxbury John-Paul Duxbury Tim McDonald Ross Williams