At the annual Caithness Christmas show and sale that took place on Monday 1st December and Tuesday 2nd December, a Limousin cross bullock from Ron Mackay, Clyth Mains, Wick, stood champion in the Open Prime Cattle section, kindly sponsored by NFU Mutual.
The bullock scalling 708kgs, was tapped out by judge Ewan Hutcheson and went onto to sell for the top price of £5,000 to MacKay’s Hotel, Wick for the 26th year consecutive year.
The Reserve Champion of the day in the open prime cattle section was awarded to the 1st prize haltered heifer from James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick. The Charolais cross heifer, scalling 663kgs sold for £3,700 to A Ritchie, Tamala.
Best Native was awarded to William Barnetson & Son, Lynegar, Watten for a home bred Aberdeen Angus Bullock scaling 698kg which realised £2,900 to John M Munro.
In the Young Farmers Prime Cattle section, kindly sponsored by Ravenhill, the Champion was awarded to a 629kgs Limousin cross heifer from Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan, Bridge of Westfield, Thurso. The heifer realised £3,500 selling to Puldagon Farm Shop & Restaurant, Wick. The Reserve Champion position went to the 1st prize haltered Limousin cross bullock from James Swanson, Framside, Thurso, which sold for £3,000 to John M Munro.
In the Baby Beef Competition, kindly sponsored by Vauldale Engineering and judged by Henry Sutherland, seen the championship and special prize voucher from D A Manson, awarded to James Swanson, Framside, Thurso for his Limousin cross bullock. The Reserve Champion went to the first prize haltered heifer from Bethany Swanson, Framside.
Judging the open section of Prime Lambs was Haig Murray and kindly sponsored by Home Bakery, Wick, the championship was awarded to a pair of 43.5kg Continental lambs from Callum Angus, West Mey, Thurso. They sold for £500 per head to MacKay’s Hotel, Wick. The Reserve Champion was awarded to a pair of 54kg Continental lambs from Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown which sold for £250 to Puldagon Farm Shop & Restaurant, Wick.
In the Young Farmers Champion Pen of Prime Lambs sponsored by Harper MacLeod were two 52kg Continental lambs from Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale, Halkirk which sold for £280 per head to Puldagon Farm Shop & Restaurant. The Reserve Champion went to a pair of 46kg
Continental lambs from Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains, Latheron which achieved £200 per head to John M Munro.
The Champion Pen of Ten Untrimmed Prime Lambs sponsored by Willie Gulloch, Hempriggs Mains, Wick was 45.5kg Beltex cross lambs from Messrs John M Sutherland, Sibmister, Castletown which sold for £160 per head to the judge. The Reserve Champion was a pen of Beltex cross lambs from Messrs R Campbell, Thirdpart, Bower which sold for £180 per head to Munros of Dingwall.
Best Presented Pair of Lambs in both the Open and Young Farmers Sections was kindly sponsored by Thurso Tool Hire. In the open section best presented was awarded to Callum Angus, West Mey and in the Young Farmers award went to Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains.
Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “Well done to all exhibitors for showcasing a great selection of top-quality prime cattle and sheep. The annual Christmas show once again drew a full ringside of buyers to Quoybrae, resulting in a strong trade.
As we conclude the Quoybrae 2025 sale season, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to our customers and sponsors for their continued support throughout the year.”
PRIZE WINNERS CHRISTMAS SHOW AND SALE 2025
OPEN PRIME CATTLE COMPETITION - Haltered/Unhaltered
Class 1 - Unhaltered Bullock
1st Lot 59 - Lot Wm Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
2nd Lot 58 - A & W Campbell, 5 West Murkle, Thurso
Class 1a - Unhaltered Bullock
1st Lot 61 - D A Budge, Brae-edge, Castletown
2nd Lot 60 - D A Budge, Brae-edge, Castletown
Unhaltered Heifer
1st Lot 62- James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick
Haltered Bullock
1st Lot 65 - R Mackay, Clyth Mains, Lybster.
2nd Lot 64 - D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
3rd Lot 63 - James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick
Haltered Heifer
1st Lot 66 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick
Champion – Lot 65 - R Mackay, Clyth Mains, Lybster
Reserve Champion – Lot 66 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick sold
Best Opposite Sex – Lot 66 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick
Best Home Bred Animal – Lot 65 - R Mackay, Clyth Mains, Lybster
Best Native Animal – Lot 59 - Lot Wm Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten
YOUNG FARMERS – BEEF PRODUCTION COMPETITION
Unhaltered Bullock
1st Lot 68 – Colin Mackay, Hillhead, Lybster sold for 425ppk to John M Munro
2nd Lot 67 – Tegan Sutherland, Thirdpart, Watten sold for £3500 to G Hooker
Unhaltered Heifer
1st Lot 69 – Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
Haltered Bullock
1st Lot 70 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
2nd Lot 71 – Neil Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten
3rd Lot 72 – Colin Mackay, Hillhead, Lybster
Haltered Heifer
1st Lot 73 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Champion - Lot 69 – Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
Reserve Champion - Lot 70 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Best Home Bred – Lot68 – Colin Mackay, Hillhead, Lybster
Best Opposite Sex – Lot 70 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
OPEN PRIME SHEEP
Pen of 2 Suffolk Lambs
1st Lot 501 - D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
2nd Lot 504 - D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
3rd Lot 502 - Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown
Pen of 2 Native Breed Lambs
1st Lot 511 - Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe Farm, Mey
2nd Lot 509 - Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown
3rd Lot 510 - D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
Pen of 2 Light Texel Lambs
1st Lot 521 - D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
2nd Lot 523 -D A Budge, Brae-edge, Castletown
3rd Lot 520 – Messrs John M Sutherland, Sibmister, Castletown
Pen of 2 Heavy Texel Lambs
1st Lot 526 - Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe Farm, Mey
2nd Lot 524 - D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
3rd Lot 525 - James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Pen of 2 Light Any Other Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot 529 - C Angus, West Mey, Mey
2nd Lot 527 - C Angus, West Mey, Mey
3rd Lot 528 - Bissett & Blackwood, Mill Farm, Durran
Pen of 2 Intermediate Any Other Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot 531 - D MacDonald, Taldale, Forss
2nd Lot 532 - A & S Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale
3rd Lot 533- Messrs John Sutherland, Sibmister, Castletown
Pen of 2 Heavy Any Other Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot 536 - Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown
2nd Lot 535 - Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
3rd Lot 537 - D A Budge, Brae-edge, Castletown
Champion – Lot 529 - C Angus, West Mey, Mey
Reserve Champion – Lot 536 - Messrs Swanson, Quarryside, Castletown
Best Presented Pair of Lambs – Open - C Angus, West Mey, Mey
YOUNG FARMERS – PRIME SHEEP
Pen of 2 Native Breed Lambs
1st Lot 552 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
2nd Lot 551 – Morven Mackenzie, Achalone Croft, Halkirk
Pen of 2 Light Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot 540 – Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
2nd Lot 542 – Ryan Cormack, Achalone Croft, Halkirk
3rd Lot 541 – Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
Pen of 2 Intermediate Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot 543 – Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
2nd Lot 544 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
3rd Lot 545 – Morven Mackenzie, Achalone Croft, Halkirk
Pen of 2 Heavy Continental Breed Lambs
1st Lot 548 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale
2nd Lot 549 – Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan, Westfield
3rd Lot 550 – Alistair McCarthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey
Champion - Lot 548 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale
Reserve Champion - Lot 543 – Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
Best Presented Pair of Lambs – YF - Lot 541 – Hannah Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains
BABY BEEF
Haltered Bullock
1st Lot 74 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
2nd Lot 75 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick
Haltered Heifer
1st Lot 76 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Champion – Lot 74 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Reserve Champion - Lot 76 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso
Best Exhibited Animal - Lot 74 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso
PEN OF 10 UNTRIMMED L AMBS
10 Untrimmed Native Lambs
1st - D & S Webster, Keiss Mains, Wick
2nd - Messrs T Sinclair, Reaster, Lyth
10 Untrimmed Continental Lambs
1st – Messrs John M Sutherland, Sibmister, Castletown
2nd – Messrs R Campbell, Thirdpart, Bower
3rd – Bisset & Blackwood, Mill Farm, Durran
Champion - Messrs John M Sutherland, Sibmister, Castletown
Reserve Champion – D & S Webster, Keiss Mains, Wick