A fantastic show of Rams were forward at the annual two-day sheep fair hosted by Aberdeen & Northern Marts at Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th of September.
The event kicked off with the show and sale of Multi Breed Rams with 145 Rams sold under the auspices of the Caithness Sheep Breeders Association and kindly sponsored by HRN Tractors.
In the Suffolk section, judged by Scott Morrison, Shinsharnie, Huntly, the champion position was awarded to a shearling from William Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, which went on to sell for £2,200 to Douglas Webster, Keiss Mains, Keiss. The reserve champion went to a shearling from William Barnetson & Son, Lynegar, also selling for £2,200 to R & N Barclay, Harestone Farm, Banchory.
Louise Coghill, Skinnet, Halkirk, judged the Texel section awarding the champion to a shearling from Douglas Wesbter, Keiss Mains Wick, backing her decision she went onto purchase the ram for £2,400. The reserve went to a shearling from D N Campbell & Sons, Bardnaclavan, Thurso, going onto sell for £2,000 to W & G Coghill, Balnahard, Halkirk.
Top price in the Texel section went to a 3rd prize shearling ram from Douglas Webster, Keiss Mains, which sold for £2,600 to William Barnetson & Son, Lynegar.
Champion in the Any Other Breed section, judged by Dougie Munro, Banniskirk Mains, was a Blue Face Lieciester from A Gunn, The Shein Hill of Forss which sold for £1,700 to William Barnetson & Son, Lynegar. Reserve champion was awarded to a Beltex Cross shearling from A & S Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Halkirk, going on to sell for £700 to the judge.
On Friday 19th September, under the auspices of the North Country Cheviot Sheep Society, sold a total of 87 rams to an average of £1,104.60. The Show & Sale was kindly sponsored by new sponsors Shearwell UK.
The Overall Champion of the day selected by judges Alistair Armstrong, 54 Aughentaine Road, Filvemiletown, Co Tyrone and Mr John Robert Burgess, Lower House, Hillwell, Quendale, was awarded to Andrew Polson, Glenfinnan, Findon, Aberdeenshire. The champion was Smerlie Falcon, a North Country Cheviot ram, sired by Upper Cornquoy Classic which went onto sell for £4,000 to R Davis, Maerdy Isaf, Talley, Llandeilo.
The Reserve Champion was a ram, Sebay Forever, sired by Gremista Classy from J S Baillie & Co, Sebay, Tankerness, Orkney, which sold for £2,400 to Firm of Mackay, South Balkeith, Tain.
The top price of the day was achieved for another North Country Cheviot ram, Smerlie Foreman from Andrew Polson. The ram, sired by Smerlie Epic, sold to D N Campbell & Son, Bardnaclvan and J & J Smith, Upper Cornquoy for £6,000.
The second top price of £4,800 was achieved for a ram from Messrs J & J Smith Upper Cornquoy Holm, Orkney which went onto sell to Andrew Polson, Glenfinnan, Findon. Followed by £4,000 achieved twice firstly for the Overall Champion, and secondly for a Ram from A G Simpson, Cairnside, 36 Oldhall, Watten selling to David Bruce, Hagg Farm, Scarborough.
In the females and groups section judged by Rhys Davies, Maerdy Isaf, Talley, Llandeilo and Brendan Drew, Low Gill Beck Farm, Glaisdale, Whitby, the champion group of 3 was awarded to J & J Smith, Upper Cornquoy, Holm. In the group of 5, the champion went to Messrs Mill, Achscrabster, Westfield.
The champion female was a Gimmer from Mesr H Mill, Achscrabster, Bridge of Westfield and realised £1,300 to James Swanson, Framside. The top price was £1,800 for gimmer from a J & W Mackay, Biggins which sold to Vickie Elder, East Whitestones, Cuminestown.
Scott Chapman, Auctioneer, Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “Once again Caithness breeders came out in style with an outstanding show of rams forward exceeding vendors expectations. With a packed ringside of buyers, sellers were well rewarded with averages up significantly on the year.
We would like to thank our sponsors HRN Tractors and new sponsor Shearwell UK for their valued support, which makes the events such a success.”
Following on from the sale of North Country Cheviot Rams was the annual show and sale of 887 gimmers.
Champion pen of 10 Gimmers judged by Christopher & Cameron Coghill, Knockdee Farm Halkirk were 10 North Country Cheviots from J & J Smith, Upper Cornquoy, Holm which went onto sell for £460 to A Miller & Sons, Aimster, Thurso. The Reserve was 10 Cheviot Mules from H H & A Swanson, Tister farm, Halkrik, which sold for £292 to J M & B Sutherland, Latheronwheel Mains.
Park Cheviot (171) averaged £315.14 (+£23.74) to £1,200 from 8 Henderson Square, Watten. Hill Cheviot (331) averaged £173.18 (+£4.55) to £230 from Longoe Farm, Castle of Mey. Cheviot Mule (73) averaged £242.60 (+£77.14) to £292 from Tister, Halkirk. Mule (159) averaged £224.08 (+£39.86) to £280 from Wardhead, Strichen. Continental (113) averaged £205.95 (+£23.08) to £250 from Myrelandhorn.