Kicking off the annual Aberdeen Christmas Classic, held in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association, was the show and sale of Pedigree Female Sheep, kindly sponsored by RPD.
Colin Slessor, Deputy Head of Livestock said: “Tonight’s sale of Pedigree Female Sheep saw an excellent trade for all breeds. The Suffolks started off with a total clearance and a top of 5,000gns. Texels and indeed all other breeds saw a super demand, which was enhanced by strong online bidding. 139 sold averaging £1,142.90 per head.
A massive thank you to all our sponsors who give so much support to make the event a success.”
The top price of 5,000gns was paid for the Reserve Champion Suffolk Gimmer, from James C Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly. She is sired by Rempstone Gambler and sold to Craig Coutts, Anfield, Mains of Tonley, Tough.
In the pre-sale show, judged by John Barclay, Mid Brockloch, Maybole, Ayrshire, G L Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon was awarded the Suffolk Championship with a gimmer sired by Dunfell Dynamite, which sold for 4,500gns to R & P Machray, Bilboa, Daviot.
Birness also secured the next two top prices, first 4,000gns for a gimmer sired by Dunfell Dynamite which went onto sell to Angus Brimms, Thruster Mains, Bilbster, followed by the 3rd place gimmer, which sold for 3,800gns to D Delday, Quoy Belloch, Deerness.
A Suffolk Gimmer from Craig Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder achieved 3,000gns, sired by Lakeview Cobra, she went onto sell to Munro, Calcari, Dorrery.
Suffolk Ewe Lambs topped at 2,000gns for the 3rd prize lamb, from R & P Machry, Beech Lodge, Daviot, sold to Graeme Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple. Followed by 1,800gns 3 times, first from R & P Machray, selling to H Goldie, Harpercroft Farm, Dundonald. Then the 1st prize ewe lamb from G L Stuart, Milltown of Birness sold to G Mather & Sons, Shandford, Fern, also from the Stuart family selling to Craig Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder.
The Suffolk Ewe trade topped at 2,000gns for the 3rd prize ewe from J G Douglas, Woodhead Cairness, selling to Cairness Ltd, Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh. The 1st prize ewe also from Mr Douglas, sold for 1,000gns to Taylor, Crook Farm, Birsay.
In the Texel section judged by Kerr Jarvie, Wester Rottearns, Glenloaning, the champion was awarded to Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff for the first prize gimmer and went onto sell for 2,800gns to Steven Stewart, The Cottage, Wardes, Kintore.
Topping the gimmers was the 2nd prize and Reserve Champion from Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter selling for 3,400gns to MacNiven, Craigfarg, Glen Farg. Kenny Pratt, also sold to 2,600gns to Jack & Sons, Woodend, Muir of Ord, and 2,000gns selling to Messrs Cursiter, Henley, Evie.
The 1st prize Ewe Lamb from Robert Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff, tapped out at the top price of the Texel section of 3,500gns selling to Duncan Whyte, Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns.
Harry Askwith, Low Mown Meadows Farm, Crook, County Durham judged this year’s Beltex classes, selecting the 1st prize Beltex gimmer as the champion from Finn Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple which sold for 1,000gns to Jack Stuart, Belnoe, Glenlivet. The 2nd prize gimmer from Grant Dinnie, Bridgeton, Muir of Fowlis, Alford also achieved 1,000gns to the Smith Family, Drumnahive, Kildrummy.
In the Blue Texel section, the championship was awarded to the Ewe Lamb from J McKilligan, Mains of Newtongarry, Drumblade, Huntly, which sold to 800gns to Kay, The Dykes, Fallin. The 1st prize gimmer from D A & L D Rodger, New Wellhouse, Alford and the 2nd prize gimmer from G Taylor, Mains of Keithfield, Methlick, Ellon sold to 850gns both to Colin Matthew, Newton, Tullynessle.
The Dutch Spotted top price was 1,100gns from Messrs J Simpson, Tarrdoes, Kilmarnock to E Paterson, Mill of Delgaty, Turriff. The second top prize went to the 1st prize ewe lamb which went onto win the championship in the section, from L E Troup, Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen, which went onto sell to the Judge Mr J Simpson, Tarrdoes.
The Blue Faced Leicester's reached 850gns for a gimmer from Matthew Seed, Home Farm of Auchry, Cuminestown, Turriff which was purchased by Murray, Netherside, Castletown, Caithness.
Finally, the Badgerface section saw 550gns achieved 3 times for gimmers M Hanson, Upper Drakemyres Farm, Forgie, Keith, with two selling to Colin Matthew and the other to Mackay, 14 Stendaal, Skellister.
Averages: 38 Suffolk averaged £1,834.72; 48 Texel averaged £1,179.05; 5 Beltex averaged £778.74; 11 Blue Texel averaged £634.77; 29 Dutch Spotted averaged £561.20; 4 Badger Faces averaged £564.37; 3 Blue Faced Leicester averaged £787.50.
Prize List
Suffolk
Judge - John Barclay, Mid Brockloch, Maybole, Ayrshire
Class sponsor – Murray Duguid Seed Merchants Ltd
Ewe
1st Lot 2 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 1,000gns
2nd Lot 3 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 700gns
3rd Lot 1 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 2,000gns
Gimmer
1st Lot 10 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 4,500gns
2nd Lot 5 – James C Innes Dunscroft, Huntly – 5,000gns
3rd Lot 11 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 3,800gns
Ewe Lamb
1st Lot 31 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 1,800gns
2nd Lot 32 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 1,100gns
3rd Lot 41 – R & P Machray Beech Lodge, Daviot, Inverurie – 2,000gns
Suffolk Champion
Lot 10 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 4,500gns
Reserve Champion
Lot 5 – James C Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly – 5,000gns
Beltex
Judge – Harry Askwith, Low Mown Meadows Farm, Crook, County Durham
Gimmer
1st Lot 52 – F Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple – 1,000gns
2nd Lot 47 – G Dinnie Bridgeton, Muir of Fowlis, Alford – 1,000gns
3rd Lot 49 – G Dinnie Bridgeton, Muir of Fowlis, Alford – 650gns
4th Lot 48 – G Dinnie Bridgeton, Muir of Fowlis, Alford – 700gns
Ewe Lamb
1st Lot 54 – Philip Smith Agri, Hill of Braigie Echt – 400gns
2nd Lot 55 – Philip Smith Agri, Hill of Braigie Echt – 400gns
Beltex Champion
Lot 52 – F Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple – 1,000gns
Blue Texel
Judge – Harry Askwith, Low Mown Meadows Farm, Crook, County Durham
Ewe
1st Lot 58 – W G Troup, Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 650gns
2nd Lot 60 – W G Troup, Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 500gns
Gimmer
1st Lot 65 – D A & L D Rodger, New Wellhouse, Alford – 850gns
2nd Lot 64 – G Taylor, Mains of Keithfield, Methlick, Ellon – 850gns
3rd Lot 66 – D A & L D Rodger, New Wellhouse, Alford – 500gns
Ewe Lamb
1st Lot 68 – J McKilligan, Mains of Newtongarry, Drumslade, Huntly – 800gns
2nd Lot 72 – A & K Rhind, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss – 550gns
3rd Lot 71 – A & K Rhind, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss – 500gns
Blue Texel Champion
Lot 68 – J McKilligan, Mains of Newtongarry, Drumslade, Huntly – 800gns
Dutch Spotted
Judge – Matthew Simpson, Tardoes, Kilmarnock is now judging the classes
Ewe
1st Lot 176 – J Marshall Fingask Farmhouse, Fingask Farm, Rhynd, Perth – 650gns
2nd Lot 75 – J & A Budge, Knockglass Farm, Watten, Wick, Caithness – 400gns
3rd Lot 79 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 650gns
Gimmer
1st Lot 81 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 650gns
2nd Lot 82 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 550gns
3rd Lot 88 – J & A Budge, Knockglass Farm, Watten, Wick, Caithness – 600gns
Ewe Lamb
1st Lot 99 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 800gns
2nd Lot 105 – B Scott, Burnside Farm, Marypark, Ballindalloch – 550gns
3rd Lot 109 – S Skinner, Monellie, Drumblasde, Huntly – 350gns
Dutch Spotted Champion
Lot 99 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 800gns
Reserve Champion
Lot 81 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 650gns
Texel
Judge – Kerr Jarvie, Wester Rottearns, Glenloaning
Class sponsor – Grampian Steel Services Ltd.
Gimmer
1st – Lot 136 – Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff – 2,800gns
2nd – Lot 128 – Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter – 3,400gns
3rd – Lot 124 – Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter – 2,000gns
Ewe Lamb
1st Lot 170 – Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff – 3,500gns
2nd Lot 171 – Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff – 900gns
3rd Lot 174 – William Duthie, Woodside of Chapelton, By Brechin – 750gns
Texel Champion
Lot 136 – Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff – 2,800gns
Reserve Champion
Lot 128 – Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter – 3,400gns