Prices hit an event record of £5,500 at the 2006 Aberdeen Christmas Classic on Tuesday (December 5th).

The event was held at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Monday (December 4th) and Tuesday by Aberdeen & Northern Marts in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association. Bank of Scotland Corporate once again headed the list of sponsors for Scotland’s premier two-day winter farming event.

The Classic prime cattle record price of £5,500 was paid by Allan Carr of All Best Cuts, Cambridgeshire and John Kent of Direct Meats, Colchester for this year’s supreme champion which came from well-known exhibitors Bert and Patsy Paton of Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir.

The Patons’ second supreme champion in as many years was a September 2005-born Limousin cross heifer named “Anna.” Bred by D. & R. Skinner, Windyhills, Meikle Wartle, Inverurie she was exhibited by Wendy Hunter and tipped the scales at 496kg. This was presented by Councillor John Stewart of behalf of Aberdeen Lord Provost, John Reynolds. In addition, a £300 cash prize was presented by John Taylor and Gary Gerrard on behalf of Bank of Scotland Corporate.

Fig 1: Bert Paton and Wendy Hunter received the Aberdeen Town Council Perpetual Silver Challenge Cup from Councillor John Stewart.		Fig 2: The 2006 supreme cattle champion was this 496kg Limousin cross named "Anna" from Mr and Mrs B.S. Paton, Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir.

In addition – and because the champion was bought at the Thainstone Spectacular in the autumn – the Patons also received a cheque for £500 from Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ general manager, John Gregor.

Continuing their successful outing, the Paton family also lifted the overall reserve champion – this time exhibited by Stuart Hunter. This time it was a 528kg August 2005-born Limousin cross steer bred by D. Semple & Son, Dippen, Carradale and named “Dizzy Rascal.” Mr Carr also purchased the overall reserve champion, paying £2,000.

Fig 3: Allan Carr (second right) of All Best Cuts, Cambs and John Kent (right) of Direct Meats, Colchester paid £5,500 for the supreme champion. Also pictured are Wendy Hunter (left) who paraded the champion and Allan Carr's wife Sue.		Fig 4: The Patons' overall reserve champion was this 528kg October 2005 born Charolais cross, "Dizzy Rascal", which sold for £2,000 to Allan Carr, All Best Cuts, Wisbech, Cambs.

Winning the Aberdeen Master Butchers’ Association Perpetual Silver Cup and £200 from Quality Meat Scotland was Don Anderson of Brucewells, Netherley, Stonehaven. Aberdeen butcher Jim Black paid £3,100 for the 588kg March 2005-born Charolais cross heifer, “Sugababe.”

Entries in the young farmers’ classes were again encouraging, with Murray Rainnie, Loanhead, Logie Coldstone, Aboyne lifting the overall haltered championship with a 614kg August 2005-born Charolais cross, “Fancy Nancy.” Inverurie butcher John Davidson made the short trip to Thainstone to buy the champion at £3,800.

Fig 5: The overall champion in the butchers' cattle champion came from Don Anderson (left) of Brucewells, Netherley and he is pictured receiving the Aberdeen Master Butchers' Association Perpetual Silver Cup from Gary Gerrard, head of corporate with the Aberdeen Christmas Classic's main sponsor, Bank of Scotland Corporate.		Fig 6: The young farmers' overall haltered beef cattle champion was exhibited by Murray Rainnie (right), Loanhead, Logie Coldstone, Aboyne and his 614kg August 2005-born Charolais cross, "Fancy Nancy", sold for £3800 to John Davidson (Butcher), Inverurie.

Meanwhile, the reserve – which realised £1,300 to A. P. Jess (Paisley) Ltd – was a 616kg June 2005-born Limousin cross called “Highway” which was bred and exhibited by Grant Sinclair, Brewthin, Skene.

In the prime sheep section, the Norman Wight Perpetual Trophy for the overall champion pair – and £100 from Bank of Scotland Corporate – went to Calum Angus, West Mey, Barrogill Mains, Mey, Caithness. His Continentals tipped the scales at 46.5kg and achieved £300 each to judge Tom Hutchon of J. B. Penman (Butcher), Crail, Fife.

	Fig 7: Prime sheep champions were these 46.5kg Continentals from Calum Angus, West Mey, Barrogill Mains, Mey, Caithness which sold for £300 each to J.B. Penman (Butcher), Crail, Fife

Mr Hutchon was also the buyer of the best pen of butchers’ lambs, again from Calum Angus. This time they were 44kg Texels and sold for £300 each. He then paid £150 each for the reserve butchers’ lambs which were also Texels, this time scaling 48kg each and exhibited by Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly.

Also held as part of the 2006 Aberdeen Christmas Classic was a show and sale of pedigree beef bulls, and the overall championship went to W. & G. Strachan, Mill of Balmaud, King Edward, Banff for “Balmaud Apostle,” a June 2005-born son of Moyness Singlemalt which fetched 3,600gn to J. & E. Oliphant, Keiss Mains, Keiss, Caithness.

Top price of the sale was 5,200gn which was paid for “Bonnykelly Action,” an April 2005-born Charolais by Maerdy Rumbull from R. Leggat, Mormond Prop, New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh. It was bought by J. Baxter, Troup Home Farm, Gamrie, Banff.

And the record for pedigree female sheep was also broken when the Texel champion – a gimmer by Milnbank Klondyke from Marina E. Gibb, Haremoss Farm, Cuminestown, Turriff – realised the record top price of 3,800gn to J. C. Innes & Sons, Dunscroft, Huntly during a sale which saw an excellent trade for all breeds.

Charollais champion was exhibited by William and Carole Ingram, Logie Durno Farm, Pitcaple, Inverurie and their gimmer by Cornorstown Foxy sold for 300gn to A. J. Laird, Mossbank, Burray, Orkney.

Showing the Suffolk champion were Messrs Henry Stuart & Sons, Davishill, Udny and their gimmer by Glenho Gadaffi was bought by R. H. Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff for 1,400gn.

Monday also saw the dispersal sale of Jock and Brenda McCallum’s Mountrich flock, where prices reached a top of 1,700gn for a gimmer by Mountrich Magic. This was followed by A. J. & A. Benzie, Meikle Whiterashes, Turriff who paid 1,500gn for a ewe lamb by Roseden Haggis and 1,300gn paid by H. P. Sleigh & Son, St Johns Wells, Fyvie for another ewe lamb, this time by Burndale Bobby.

Averages for the Mountich flock were 28 ewes averaged £297, 18 gimmers averaged £303 and 26 ewe lambs averaged £363.

The focus returned to the young farmers for the finale of the 2006 Aberdeen Christmas Classic, when more than 250 of them took part in a stockjudging competition sponsored by Ledingham Chalmers.

The full prize list was as follows:

Prime Cattle

Overall and heifer champion –
Mr and Mrs B. S. Paton, Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir with 496kg September 2005-born Limousin cross, “Anna.” £5,500 to Allan Carr, All Best Cuts, Wisbech, Cambs and John Kent, Direct Meats, Chappel, Colchester.

Reserve overall and steer champion –
Mr and Mrs B. S. Paton, Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir with 528kg October 2005-born Charolais cross, “Dizzy Rascal.” £2,000 to Allan Carr, All Best Cuts, Wisbech, Cambs.

Reserve heifer –
Mrs L. H. A. Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, Crieff with 528kg September 2005-born Limousin cross, “Rhianna.”

Reserve steer –
Watson & Work, Mains of Dumbreck, Udny, Ellon with 678kg September 2005-born Limousin cross, “Black Jack.” 175p/kg to Scotch Premier Meat Ltd, Inverurie.

Butchers’ overall champion –
Don Anderson, Brucewells, Netherley, Stonehaven with 588kg March 2005-born Charolais cross heifer, “Sugababe.” £3,100 to Jim Black (Butcher), Torry, Aberdeen.

Reserve butchers’ champion –
Blair Duffton, Bogie Street, Huntly with 502kg December 2005-born Charolais cross heifer, “Little Minx.” £1,800 to A. W. Jackson & Son, Holbeach, Spalding.

Unhaltered overall and heifer champion –
Messrs W. A. Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie with 631kg April 2005-born Charolais. £1,500 to Gordon Simpson Family Butcher, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.

Unhaltered overall reserve and steer champion –
Blair Duffton, Bogie Street, Huntly with 642kg June 2005-born Limousin cross. £1,300 to A. P. Jess (Paisley) Ltd.

Unhaltered reserve heifer champion –
Alexander Bros, Auchenbreddie, Insch with 578kg June 2005-born Limousin cross, “Miss Smarty.” 160p/kg to Gordon Simpson Family Butcher, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.

Unhaltered reserve bullock champion –
J. & J. Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Gollanfield, Inverness with 640kg June 2005-born Charolais cross. 142p/kg to A. P. Jess (Paisley) Ltd.

Prime Sheep

Champion –
C. Angus, West Mey, Barrogill Mains, Mey, Caithness with 46.5kg Continentals. £300 each to J. B. Penman (Butcher), Crail, Fife.

Reserve champion –
Sheep Park Farms, Sheep Park, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly with 52kg Continentals. £150 each to A. P. Jess (Paisley) Ltd.

Best pen of butchers’ lambs –
C. Angus, West Mey, Barrogill Mains, Mey, Caithness with 44kg Texels. £300 each to J. B. Penman (Butcher), Crail, Fife.

Reserve best pen of butchers’ lambs –
Sheep Park Farms, Sheep Park, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly 48kg Texels. £150 each to J. B. Penman (Butcher), Crail, Fife.

Young Farmers

Overall haltered beef cattle champion and heifer champion –
Murray Rainnie, Loanhead, Logie Coldstone, Aboyne with 614kg August 2005-born Charolais cross, “Fancy Nancy.” £3,800 to John Davidson (Butcher), Inverurie.

Reserve haltered beef cattle champion and steer champion –
Grant Sinclair, Brewthin, Skene with 616kg June 2005-born Limousin cross “Highway.” £1,300 to A. P. Jess (Paisley) Ltd.

Reserve champion heifer –
Aileen Ritchie, Tamala, Burnside, Whitecairns, Aberdeen with 558kg October 2005-born Limousin cross “Soda Pop.”

Reserve champion steer –
Murray Rainnie, Loanhead, Logie Coldstone, Aboyne with 628kg March 2005born Limousin cross “Artic Monkey.” 180p/kg to Bruce of the Broch, Broad Street, Fraserburgh.

Unhaltered beef cattle champion –
Christopher Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud, Peterhead with 627kg May 2005-born Limousin cross. £1,200 to A. P. Jess (Paisley) Ltd.

Reserve unhaltered beef cattle champion –
David Thompson, Nether Glasslaw, New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh with 612kg March 2005-born Belgian Blue, “Black Magie.” £1,400 to Gordon Cameron, Newton Cottage, Acharacle, Argyll.

Champion pair of lambs –
Richard Moir, Tapiken, Tyrie, Fraserburgh with 43kg Texel crosses. £150 each to J. B. Penman, Crail, Fife.

Reserve champion pair of lambs –
Graham Shepherd, Cowiehillock, Echt, Westhill with 41.5kg Texel crosses. £100 to J. B. Penman, Crail, Fife.

Bulls

Charolais champion and overall champion –
W. & G. Strachan, Mill of Balmaud, King Edward, Banff with June 2005-born “Balmaud Apostle” by Moyness Singlemalt. 3,600gn to J. & E. Oliphant, Keiss Mains, Keiss, Caithness.

Reserve Charolais champion –
R. & N. Barclay, Harestone Farm, Crathes, Banchory with March 2005-born “Harestone Acajoutwo” by Tyrol. 2,500gn to D. R. & A. Henderson, Mains of Wardhouse, Insch.

Limousin champion –
Harry Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, Peterhead with November 2004-born “Emslies Vavavoom” by Nestor. 2,000gn to R. & J. Greenlaw, Groddie, Logie Coldstone, Dinnet, Aboyne.

Reserve Limousin champion –
Messrs Peter A. Walker, Easterside, Dunnottar, Stonehaven with January 2005-born “Walkers Admiral” by Grahams Samson. 2,000gn to A. W. Frank & Son, Rennieshill, Newmachar.

Simmental champion –
W. J. Barclay, Whiteknowes, Deskford, Cullen with February 2005-born “Whiteknowes Samson” by Islavale Marvel. 2,000gn to W. Crawford & Son, Mains of Towiebarclay, Auchterless.

Pedigree Sheep

Texel champion –
Marina E. Gibb, Haremoss Farm, Cuminestown, Turriff with gimmer by Milnbank Klondyke. 3,800gn to J. C. Innes & Sons, Dunscroft, Huntly.

Reserve Texel champion –
Mrs E. Alexander, Auchenbreddie Farm, Insch with ewe by Glenside Drum Major.

Charollais champion –
William & Carole Ingram, Logie Durno Farm, Pitcaple, Inverurie with gimmer by Cornorstown Foxy. 300gn to A. J. Laird, Mossbank, Burray, Orkney.

Reserve Charollais champion –
William & Carole Ingram, Logie Durno Farm Pitcaple, Inverurie with gimmer by Logie Durno Glenmorangie. 200gn to Sandy Douglas, Caithness.

Suffolk champion –
Messrs Henry Stuart & Sons, Davishill, Udny with gimmer by Glenho Gadaffi. 1,400gn to R. H. Wilson, North Dorlaithers, Turriff.

Reserve Suffolk champion –
Messrs Henry Stuart & Sons, Davishill, Udny with gimmer by Pexhill Golden Chance. 700gn to Ron Greig, South Tillydesk, Ellon.

Dairy

Senior champion –
J. & I. Wilson, Carskerdo, Cupar, Fife with a June 2001-born cow in milk “Burnbrae Derry Topsy” by Regancrest Emory Derry.

Reserve Senior champion –
J. & I. Wilson, Carskerdo, Cupar, Fife with an August 2002-born cow in milk “Mileoak Kendal Katrina” by Alfrag Juror Kendal.

Junior champion –
J. & J. D. Anderson, Mayne Farm, Elgin with a January 2004-born heifer in milk “Mayne Lyster Patience PI” by Tcet Lyster. 2,100gn to C. Innes & Sons, Drumduan, Nairn.

Reserve junior champion –
J. & J. D. Anderon, Mayne Farm, Elgin with a heifer in calf “Mayne Magik Beam” by Trelissick Magik. 1,000gn.

Cast Sows

Champion – Bill W. Laird & Co, Brownhill, New Pitsligo.

Reserve – W. & M. Ewing, South Blachrie, Fyvie.

Young Farmers’ Stockjuding

Individual Junior 18 and Under –
1 Keith Murdoch (Garioch);
2 Michael Wilson (New Deer);
3 Victoria Foad (Turriff).

Individual Senior 18 and Over –
1 David Watson (Durriss);
2 Stuart Johnston (Strichen);
3 Mairi Anne Fraser (Inverurie).

Open –
1 Frank Smart;
2 Craig Bruce;
3= Keith Mitchell; 3= James Buchan; 3= Andrew Knox.

Junior Club Team 18 and Under –
1 Alford ‘H’ (Eric Sim, Nicola Duncan, William Bruce);
2 Udny ‘C’ (Helen Bruce, Gemma Bruce, Gary Bruce);
3 Turriff Ladies (Kirsty Black, Suzanne Gray, Kim Taylor).

Senior Club Team 18 and Over –
1 New Deer ‘A’ (Ryan Noble, Michael Wilson, Craig Strachan);
2 Inverurie ‘A’ (Stuart Douglas, Mark Ingram, Lynsay Cruden);
3 Strichen ‘A’ (David Johnston, Stuart Johnston, Bruce Irvine).

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