Large turnout expected
for 2005 Christmas Classic
More than 120 of the country’s top prime cattle will gather for Scotland’s
leading two-day winter farming event next week.
The Aberdeen Christmas Classic at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Monday
(December 5th) and Tuesday (December 6th) will be held by Aberdeen &
Northern Marts in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association. The
main sponsor of the event is Bank of Scotland which heads a list of local and
national sponsors.
The event – which offers a total prize-fund of £15,000 – is renowned for the
quality of its shows and sales of prime stock which are held in conjunction
with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association.
During their time at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic, visitors will also have
the chance to browse an extensive range of indoor trade stands which will
exhibit products and services from all sectors of agriculture and its
associated industries.
A total of 50 pens of prime sheep have been entered with exhibitors in these
classes competing for increased class prize-money this year. A first
prize-winner will receive £40 with £30 on offer to second place, £20 to third
place and £10 for fourth.
Around 200 entries have been received for the pedigree sheep classes, which
will this year be judged on Monday afternoon. The judging for Texel,
Charollais and Suffolk females will take place at 4pm with the sale to
commence at 6pm on Monday.
In addition will be a show of 50 pedigree bulls on Monday at 3pm with the
auction to take place from 2pm on Tuesday. The show of dairy cattle at 3.30pm
on Tuesday has attracted an entry of 85 and the auction will commence at 6pm
on the same day.
The judging of the prime cattle will begin with the unhaltered classes at 6pm
on Monday, followed by young farmers’ prime cattle. Haltered prime cattle and
prime sheep will be judged from 8.30am on Tuesday.
Commenting on this year’s entries, John Taylor, Area Director, Agricultural
Business North of Scotland for main sponsor Bank of Scotland said: “We are
delighted to again sponsor this event which is a showcase for some of the
best livestock in Scotland, and underlines our firm commitment to the sector.
The number of entries to this year’s Christmas Classic shows beyond doubt the
quality of this event.
“The Christmas Classic is taken extremely seriously and is seen as a great
showcase for the Livestock industry. It’s extremely encouraging to see that
it has again attracted a large number of entries from some of the country’s
leading exhibitors.”
Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ general manager John Gregor added: “As well as
a large turnout in the traditional prime sections, there is an excellent
entry of livestock for the other shows and sales. The event’s diverse range
of attractions continues to expand and grow in popularity, regularly
attracting top quality animals from the length and breadth of Scotland and
buyers from all over the UK.”
The judges for the 2005 Aberdeen Christmas Classic are as follows:
Haltered beef cattle:
Gerald David, Minehead, Somerset and Peter Flockhart of Campbells Prime
Meat Ltd, Broxburn, West Lothian.
Open unhaltered beef cattle:
Joe Greenhill, Matheson Jess, Paisley and Katrina Farquhar, M. Sheridan
(Butcher), Ballater.
Prime sheep:
Martin Milne, McIntosh Donald, Portlethen.
Young farmers’ cattle:
Ian Mathers, Mathers (Inverurie) Ltd.
Young farmers’ sheep:
Colin Taylor, Rhinds of Elgin.
Dairy cattle:
Brian Weatherup, Parkend Farm, Aberdour, Fife.
Suffolk and Charollais female sheep:
Bryden Nicolson, Garth Farm, Mossbank, Shetland.
Texel female sheep:
Charlie and Isobel Angus, Oldfield, Thurso.
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Closing date imminent
for £15,000 Aberdeen Christmas Classic
Prospective exhibitors in the 2005 Aberdeen Christmas Classic are reminded
that Monday (November 21st) is the closing date for entries.
The 2005 Aberdeen Christmas Classic at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on
December 5th and 6th will be held by Aberdeen & Northern Marts in
conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association. Bank of Scotland again
heads the list of sponsors.
The Aberdeen Christmas Classic is Scotland’s leading two-day winter farming
event, and is well known for the quality of its traditional shows and sales
of prime stock which are held in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock
Association.
In addition are numerous other attractions such as such as dairy and
pedigree stock, and young farmers’ events which annually attract top
quality stock from throughout Scotland and buyers from all over the
UK.
A total of £15,000 in prize-money will be distributed to class and
championship winners over the two days.
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Overwintered cattle
competition - Last call for entries
Young farmers have until the end of this month to get involved in the
2005-06 annual overwintered cattle competition.
The competition aims to give young people practical experience in the
selection and preparation of cattle for show and sale. It also provides the
opportunity for participants to learn the business skills required to
operate a successful beef finishing enterprise and features a novice award
for exhibitors aged between 14 and 18.
It is again being sponsored by Johnston Carmichael chartered accountants
and business advisers, and run by the Young Farmers in conjunction with
Aberdeen & Northern Marts.
This year’s competition also features a new award for the best commercial
overwintered animal, outwith the championship animals. The winner will be
determined by a points system taking into account the quality of the
animal, liveweight gain and gross margin and it is hoped that the new prize
will help recognise even more the real challenges in commercial cattle
production.
Commenting on the competition, Johnston Carmichael chief executive Patrick
Machray said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this competition, not only
because it recognises the impressive achievements of our Young Farmers, but
also because it takes full account of the commercial aspects of beef
finishing.”
Participants have until the end of November to select store cattle or
weaned calves purchased at any Aberdeen & Northern Marts autumn sale,
or home-bred animals, to take part in the overwintering competition.
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1,200 Lots for
forthcoming Elgin Antiques sale
Wednesday (November 9th) will see an auction of around 1,200 lots of
antiques and collectables at Elgin Auction Centre.
The latest auction has again attracted a good variety of items including
some unusual lots as Elgin Auction Centre manager Gordon Pirie explained.
He said: “We are delighted to offer for sale a painting entitled: ‘Sniper’s
Corner’ by Lossiemouth artist David West, and one lot which is sure to
catch the eye of bidders is a full captain’s regalia from the Cheshire
regiment.”
Viewing takes place between 6pm and 9pm on Tuesday (November 8th) and from
9am on the day of the sale. The auction itself will commence at 11am on
Wednesday.
For further information on the sale, contact Elgin Auction Centre on
(01343) 547047.
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Champion and reserve
for Meikle Geddes
The two top prizes went to Nairn during a show and sale at Thainstone
Centre, Inverurie on Friday (October 28th).
The show of spring-born weaned and suckled calves was sponsored by Pfizer
Animal Health and judged by Insch man Bert Alexander of Auchinbreddie Farm.
It attracted an entry of more than 1,200 animals with the championship and
reserve championship both going to W. D. Stephen & Co of Meikle
Geddes.
Both prizes were presented by Andrew Pryde – senior territory manager with
event sponsor Pfizer Animal Health – to Simon Stephen.
The Stephens won the Lady Forbes Leith of Fyvie Perpetual Cup and £100 with
a black seven-month-old Limousin steer out of a Belgian Blue cross cow. It
weighed 344kg and was bought by judge Mr Alexander for £920.
The reserve champion was a red seven-month-old Limousin, and this 320kg
steer realised £1,120 to Blair Duffton, Bogie Street, Huntly.
The full prize-list is as follows:
Single steer – 1 W. D. Stephen & Co, Meikle Geddes, Nairn (344kg,
£920); 2 W. D. Stephen & Co, Meikle Geddes, Nairn (320kg, £1,120); 3
MacArthur Bros, Mid Fleenas, Nairn (294kg, £1,000). Single heifer – 1 W. D.
Stephen & Co, Meikle Geddes, Nairn (336kg, £560); 2 W. D. Stephen &
Co, Meikle Geddes, Nairn (310kg, £440); 3 W. and G. Strachan, Mill of
Balmaud, King Edward (336kg, £500). Pair of steers – 1 D. & R. &
and Sons, Auchorachan, Glenlivet (383kg, £610); 2 MacArthur Bros, Mid
Fleenas, Nairn (402kg, £560 and 363kg, £500); 3 G. P. Smart & Son,
Shiel, Muir of Fowlis, Alford (312kg, £600). Pair of heifers – 1 MacArthur
Bros, Mid Fleenas, Nairn (312kg, £760 and 324kg, £600); 2 W. D. Stephen
& Co, Meikle Geddes, Nairn (332kg, £620); 3 N. Meldrum, Shenval,
Ballindalloch (343kg, £435). Pen of four steers – 1 G. P. Smart & Son,
Shiel, Muir of Fowlis, Alford (310kg, £750; 342kg, £710; 370kg, £720;
338kg, £590); 2 W. D. Stephen & Co, Meikle Geddes, Nairn (332kg, £620);
3 MacArthur Bros, Mid Fleenas, Nairn (363kg, £500). Pen of four heifers – 1
A. G. Howie, West Knock, Mintlaw (296kg, £385).
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Entries open for
£15,000 Aberdeen Christmas Classic
Entries are now being accepted for Scotland’s premier two-day winter
farming event at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on December 5th and 6th.
The 2005 Aberdeen Christmas Classic will be held by Aberdeen & Northern
Marts in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association. Bank of
Scotland again heads the list of local and national sponsors.
The Aberdeen Christmas Classic has a long-standing reputation as the
leading two-day winter agricultural event in the country, and is renowned
for the quality of its traditional shows and sales of prime stock which are
held in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association.
But the event’s diverse range of other attractions – such as dairy and
pedigree stock, and young farmers’ events – continue to expand and grow in
popularity, regularly attracting top quality animals from the length and
breadth of Scotland and buyers from all over the UK.
During their time at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic, visitors will also
have the chance to browse an extensive range of indoor trade stands which
will exhibit products and services from all sectors of agriculture and its
associated industries.
Exhibitors in the prime sheep classes will be competing for increased class
prize-money this year. A first prize-winner will receive £40 with £30 on
offer to second place, £20 to third place and £10 for fourth.
In total, £15,000 in prize-money will be distributed to class and
championship winners over the two days.
This year will see the pedigree sheep classes judged on Monday afternoon
instead of Tuesday afternoon. The judging for Texel, Charollais and Suffolk
females will take place at 4pm with the sale to commence at 6pm on
Monday.
John Taylor, Area Director, Agriculture for main sponsor Bank of Scotland,
commented: “It’s great news to hear that the prize-money for the sheep
classes has increased this year – a real incentive for exhibitors.
“On a wider scale, the future of the livestock sector post-Single Farm
Payment is extremely important. So much so, in fact, that it’s a topic that
one of our guest speakers, Brian Pack, will be covering on November 9 at
Thainstone during our Bank of Scotland seminar focussing on the key issues
affecting farmers post CAP reform.”
Schedules for the Aberdeen Christmas Classic have been distributed, and
copies are available from Aberdeen & Northern Marts on (01467) 623700.
Entry forms are schedules are also available online at www.goanm.co.uk The
closing date for entries is Monday, November 21st at 12noon.
The judges for the 2005 Aberdeen Christmas Classic are as follows:
Haltered beef cattle – Gerald David, Minehead, Somerset and Peter Flockhart
of Campbells Prime Meat Ltd, Broxburn, West Lothian. Open unhaltered beef
cattle – Joe Greenhill, Matheson Jess, Paisley and Katrina Farquhar, M.
Sheridan (Butcher), Ballater. Prime sheep – Martin Milne, McIntosh Donald,
Portlethen. Young farmers’ cattle – Ian Mathers, Mathers (Inverurie) Ltd.
Young farmers’ sheep – Colin Taylor, Rhinds of Elgin. Dairy cattle – Brian
Weatherup, Parkend Farm, Aberdour, Fife. Suffolk and Charollais female
sheep – Bryden Nicolson, Garth Farm, Mossbank, Shetland. Texel female sheep
– Charlie and Isobel Angus, Oldfield, Thurso.
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