Keith show cattle: Victory lap for Scottish Beef supreme champion of champions Tonley Lady Heather, as Scottish Limousin Grand Prix winner Burnbank Ruby Tuesday nabs Show supreme
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THE winning ways of Mark Wattie's Tonley Lady Heather continued at the Keith Show yesterday (August 8) with a champion of champions win.
Despite a shock loss in the Aberdeen Angus breed champion contest, Mr Wattie's three year-old cow with calf beat out champions of shows across the north to win one of Scotland's top cattle honours – the Scottish Beef champion of champions.
Tonley Lady Heather's success at Keith, the year's last show, rounds off a remarkable year, having won champion of champions at the Turriff Show, champion at the Stirling Show, reserve champion at the Royal Highland Show, Angus national champion and champion at the Yorkshire Show and Echt.
Speaking after his supreme beef triumph, Mr Wattie said: "I am really happy about this, absolutely delighted actually.
"It has been a a great end to a really good season."
The Angus breed champion crown, however, escaped Mr Wattie, as his prize cow was narrowly beaten by Stephick Evora, shown by Steph Dick from Cowie.
A one year-old heifer, home-bred beast Stephick Evora previously took junior interbreed champion at the Royal Highland Show.
Ms Dick said: "Her mum Weeton Evora was actually my foundation cow.
"I know she's a good heifer, but Mark's cow has been winning a lot this year.
"But we came through today and that shows that you can only try."
The Scottish Limousin Grand Prix, held this year at Keith Show, was won by Burnbank Ruby Tuesday from D&L Graham at Stirling, before going on to take overall cattle champion.
The two year-old heifer in calf, then toppled the overall champion sheep and horses to take Show supreme champion honours.
Mr Graham said: "It is a great feeling to win at such a brilliant show.
"She was champion at Stirling and reserve champion at the Royal Highland.
"It is a privilege to win such a prestigious competition as this, especially when going up against such great cattle.
"I am so happy about this. Really happy and really chuffed.
"We didn't expect to win but when you go to a show you have to hope, you just never know."
Show overall cattle champion judge David Lowry, who made the trip up from Lanark for the show, made a speech setting out what he looks for in a winning animal.
He said: "It is a privilege and an honour to be able to judge at a show like this, and especially when there are cattle of this standard.
"In a winner, I want to see a little bit of flash, something that catches the eye, while making sure the beast can still get around and move well.
"At a show like this, though, every animal being considered is of the highest quality and I want to commend every person showing cattle today."
Two year-old heifer Islavale Lullaby took reserve Keith Show cattle champion and Simmental breed champion.
Islavale Lullaby was shown by Rhys Simmers from R&A Simmers at Backmuir Farm, Keith.
The win caps off a great season for the heifer, as it won champion Simmental at the Scottish National Overall Championships at the Black Isle Show and breed champion at the Royal Highland Show.
Mr Simmers said: "We didn't know how she would do, we just had to see what happened on the day."
Huntly man Blair Duffton also capped off a successful season by taking reserve commercial champion of champions, along with commercial cross cattle breed champion, with one year-old heifer Black Magic, as well as best group of three cattle.
Black magic was previously champion at the Great Yorkshire Show and took champion of champions at Perth.
Mr Duffton said: "We hoped she would do well, you can only hope.
"The guy who was judging at Perth said she was faultless, and you really can't do better than that."
Champion of champions in the commercial category went to Sexyspice, a one year-old heifer from S&L Bett at Kippen.
Charolais breed champion was won by Lagavaich Lucy, from Billy and Gary Wright at Glenlivet.
The cow with calf was a surprise winner, as Keith was her first outing this year.
Mr Wright said: "We haven't shown her anywhere else this year.
"She won several championships when she was last shown as a two year-old heifer, she is six now.
"She had a lot of luck in the past at Turriff, Tarland and Grantown.
"We didn't expect her to do so well, since she was unshown this year until now.
"Even though it was the first time in a while, she got right back to it and took it in her stride."
It was a last hurrah for Highland cattle breed champion, Ban Righ 4th of Mottistone, from Kevin and Veronica Thomson at Frostybrae, Maud.
The ten year-old cow, being shown for the final time, was champion at New Deer this year.
Ms Thomson said: "This will be her last ever show, since she is 10 years-old now.
"She has done so well through her career and has had champion wins throughout.
"So far, this has been a fitting end and she will be able to relax now.
"We didn't expect to win, she has always been between second and third behind Morag Middleton's cow, so this was a great result."
Shorthorn breed champion Blackjack Powerhouse, from Ross and Kirsty Williams at Upper Tullochbeg Farm, Huntly, was shown by Vic Watson.
The one year-old bull was reserve champion at New Deer and first at Echt and Banchory.
Mr Watson said: "He is a lovely cow and this has been a really nice finish to the show season."
The British Blue breed champion Fodderletter Rosie Lea came from Sarah Balfour at Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul.
Ms Balfour: "We are delighted.
"Obviously it is a pity, though, that there weren't more entries in the category.
"She is home bred and went to the Nairn Show where she picked up first in her class and reserve junior.
"She also got first in class at Turriff."
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