News

ROYAL NORTHERN SPRING SHOW REPORT
RECORD ATTENDANCE AT ROYAL NORTHERN SPRING SHOW

A record attendance estimated at more than 6000 ensured the Royal Northern Spring Show enjoyed its best-ever day at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on Wednesday (February 28) after being hit for the last three years by snow.

The main car park filled up before 10.00am and show enthusiasts continued to stream in throughout the day to savour the outstanding show and livestock and tour the large exhibition area with more than 100 trade stands.

“This is the best attendance we have had since the show moved from Aberdeen to Thainstone in 1990,” said Bill Mackie, Whiteside, Tullynessle, Alford, president of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.

“We’ve had better weather today and the sun even came out. Things are a bit more positive in agriculture compared with previous years and trade stand holders reported good business.”

The large attendance included 261 primary school children from seven schools who were conducted on a guided tour of the show by stewards from the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative. A total of 1118 pupils from 34 schools applied to attend the show but only seven schools could be accommodated.

“It is disappointing that we are unable to cope with more children but the interest from schools is highly encouraging,” said RNCI chairman, Martin Birse, Pitgaveny Estate, Elgin. “The children really enjoyed their day.”

As always, the judging of the beef cattle classes attracted the largest audience to see top showman, Michael Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, lift his first championship at the show since 1989.

His winner, a 10 month old home-bred Charolais cross heifer, Milky Way, by Glassel Satchmo, tipped the scales at 390kg and went on to sell for the top price of £2700 to the judge, Wil Owen from Wales, who himself has bred champions at the Welsh Winter Fair and the National Prime Stock Show at Stafford.

Mr Owen said his champion was “stylish, very sweet and very correct.” Winner of the championship last year, Ian Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Gollanfield, Inverness, had to be content with reserve award on this occasion with his 404kg nine month old home-bred Limousin cross steer, Alfie, by Middledale Toronto. Buyer at£1400 was veteran showman, Bert Paton, Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir. The 34 steers averaged 181.75p/kg and 18 heifers 225.25p/kg.

Overall champion in the huge turn-out of horses and ponies was the Clydesdale leader, the two year old filly, Barns Camilla, Middlebank Carlogie Sneddon, which was making her show debut for owner, James Ingram, 42 Sunnyside Avenue, Drumoak, Banchory. Reserve was the Shetland pony champion, Wells Masterclass, a five year old stallion by Wells Royal Command, from H P Sleigh and Son, St Johns Wells, Fyvie.

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ABERDEENSHIRE VENUE FOR BEEF TECH 2007

Clydesdale Bank and Quality Meat Scotland have been confirmed as the mainline sponsors of next year’s Royal Northern on-farm beef event, BEEF TECH 2007.

This major technical event for the beef industry in Scotland is being organised by the Royal Northern Agricultural Society and will be held on Thursday, May 31, on the farm of Sjirk and Thyna Oosterhof at Savoch, Lonmay, in the heart of Scotland’s main beef producing area of Buchan in Aberdeenshire.

Plans are already well advanced for the event which will feature practical demonstrations, breed displays, educational exhibits, seminars, trade stands and farm tour, with a unique farm interpretation trail.

“Savoch is a superb venue for BEEF TECH 2007 and we are greatly indebted to Mr and Mrs Oosterhof for opening up their farm for what will be the main promotional event for the beef industry in Scotland next year,” said RNAS president, Bill Mackie, Whiteside, Alford.

“Not only is Savoch widely recognised as one of the leading beef farms in the area and home to a top class suckler herd and finishing enterprise, but the extensive range of farm buildings will be ideal for accommodating such a large event.

“The valued support of Clydesdale Bank and Quality Meat Scotland as mainline sponsors will ensure a first class technical and promotional event for the Scottish beef industry.”

Read the full press release (click to read or right click to save or print)

Breed Societies booking set (click to read or right click to save or print) (updated 17 December 2006)

Trade Spaces booking set (click to read or right click to save or print) (updated 17 December 2006)

The President and Directors warmly invite you to now enter this year’s competition.
 Note the closing date, 11th Nov. - later than usual so we may not be able to judge any late entries.
 After judging we shall send useful specific feedback to you, in confidence.

 ‘FARM  TURNIPS & SWEDES 2006/2007’

NORTH-EAST COMPETITION

For Feeding and Shopping Crops

(MINIMUM 2.5 ACRES           1.0 ha. )

ORGANISED BY  THE ROYAL NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

to Recognize and Encourage Good Crop Husbandry

and kindly sponsored again by    MURRAY DUGUID ,OLDMELDRUM.

Crops will be judged for Quality and Yield. Aspects will include Uniformity, Freedom from weeds and pests, Soundness of the bulb and Tonnes per Hectare. There are two fine trophies.  First prizes of £20 will be awarded for each Section in LFA and non LFA (Feeding, Shopping/Processing). A special prize and trophy will be awarded to the best Entrant under 26yrs. Also a range of other prizes. Entries close on 11th November, 2006

ENTRIES CLOSED

ROYAL NORTHERN SPRING SHOW 2006

Adverse weather conditions failed to dampen the enthusiasm of neither exhibitors nor showgoers attending the Royal Northern Spring Show at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, on Wednesday (March 1).

For the third year running, heavy snow marred the event and the attendance was hit. The outside trade stands and the horse and pony section were worst affected.

But all the beef cattle were in place, having arrived the previous day, and thousands of North-east farmers braved the elements to attend the traditional first show of the year in Scotland.

“There’s not much to do on a day like this on the farm so it’s just as well to come to the show and enjoy a day out,” summed up the general feeling of most showgoers.

The organisers, the Royal Northern Agricultural Society, were delighted with the attendance and enthusiasm of all those attending.

“We have a remarkable attendance, given the weather conditions, which just goes to demonstrate the resilience of the show,” said president, Martin Birse. “Even the trade stands were reporting good business and the show of beef cattle – always one of the highlights of the show – was first-class.”

This was confirmed by judge, Archie MacGregor, Allanfauald, Kilsyth, Glasgow, who said the show of prime steers was particularly strong.

“There was an abundance of good steers and a champion with a lot of potential,” said Mr MacGregor. “The champion was well balanced and very correct with an exceptional top line and loin.”

Mr MacGregor said the champion could have gone on to do well at the Royal Smithfield Show. The cancellation of the biennial show in London’s Earls Court – where cattle from the Spring Show have often won championship honours – was announced the previous day.

“It’s a real shame there’s not going to be a Smithfield Show this year,” said Mr MacGregor.

Lifting the top honours for the first time were father and son, Ian and Paul Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Gollanfield, Inverness, with their home-bred yearling Limousin cross steer, Bertie, by Goldies Oswald, which sold for £1050 to Somerset butcher and prime stock exhibitor, Gerald David, Minhead.

Mr Davis also paid £2000 for the reserve champion, another home-bred Limousin cross steer, by Middledale Toronto, from veteran exhibitor, Bertie Paton, Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir, Angus.

Heifer champion was a nine month old Charolais cross heifer, Roxie, by Fairleycopse Pastoral from father and son, Willie and Michael Robertson, Fodderletter Farms, Tomintoul, Banffshire, which sold for £1100 to Scott Watson, Balhousie, Carnoustie, Angus, on behalf of D Blair and Son.

Top price of the sale was £2400 paid by A J Forsyth, Mid Bishopton, Whithorn, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, for a home-bred yearling Limousin cross steer by Roepark Trampus which won a first prize for Harry Brown, Jun, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud, Aberdeenshire.

Numbers in the usually large horse and pony section were depleted because of the weather. But competition was still keen with the same two exhibitors as last year vieing for the overall horse and pony championship.

The outcome was a reversal of the previous contest with last year’s reserve champion stepping up to take the top honour. This was the Shetland pony leader, Westpark Princess, a nine year old mare by Westpark Rising Star, from Mrs Winnie Anderson, Strocherie, King Edward, Banff.

Reserve – and a full sister to last year’s champion – was the Clydesdale champion, Udale Poppy, a yearling daughter of Greendykes Northern Star, from Jenny Henderson, Udale Farm, Poyntzfield, Dingwall, Ross-shire.