Suffolks lead the way with a top of 5,000gns at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic

Posted: November 24, 2025

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 3^rd 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 3^rd 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 1^st 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 3^rd prize ewe from J G Douglas, Woodhead Cairness, selling to Cairness Ltd, Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh. The 1^st prize ewe also from Mr Douglas, sold for 1,000gns to G A Taylor, The Crook, Eastside, South Ronaldsay.

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 2^nd 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 1^st 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 1^st prize Beltex gimmer as the champion from Finn Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple which sold for 1,000gns to Jack Stuart, Belnoe, Glenlivet. The 2^nd 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 1^st prize gimmer from D A & L D Rodger, New Wellhouse, Alford and the 2^nd 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 1^st 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

1^st Lot 2 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 1,000gns

2^nd Lot 3 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 700gns

3^rd Lot 1 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 2,000gns

Gimmer

1^st Lot 10 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 4,500gns

2^nd Lot 5 – James C Innes Dunscroft, Huntly – 5,000gns

3^rd Lot 11 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 3,800gns

Ewe Lamb

1^st Lot 31 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 1,800gns

2^nd Lot 32 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 1,100gns

3^rd 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

1^st Lot 52 – F Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple – 1,000gns

2^nd Lot 47 – G Dinnie Bridgeton, Muir of Fowlis, Alford – 1,000gns

3^rd Lot 49 – G Dinnie Bridgeton, Muir of Fowlis, Alford – 650gns

4^th Lot 48 – G Dinnie Bridgeton, Muir of Fowlis, Alford – 700gns

Ewe Lamb

1^st Lot 54 – Philip Smith Agri, Hill of Braigie Echt – 400gns

2^nd 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

1^st Lot 58 – W G Troup, Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 650gns

2^nd Lot 60 – W G Troup, Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 500gns

Gimmer

1^st Lot 65 – D A & L D Rodger, New Wellhouse, Alford – 850gns

2^nd Lot 64 – G Taylor, Mains of Keithfield, Methlick, Ellon – 850gns

3^rd Lot 66 – D A & L D Rodger, New Wellhouse, Alford – 500gns

Ewe Lamb

1^st Lot 68 – J McKilligan, Mains of Newtongarry, Drumslade, Huntly – 800gns

2^nd Lot 72 – A & K Rhind, Newton of Struthers, Kinloss – 550gns

3^rd 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

1^st Lot 176 – J Marshall Fingask Farmhouse, Fingask Farm, Rhynd, Perth – 650gns

2^nd Lot 75 – J & A Budge, Knockglass Farm, Watten, Wick, Caithness – 400gns

3^rd Lot 79 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 650gns

Gimmer

1^st Lot 81 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 650gns

2^nd Lot 82 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 550gns

3^rd Lot 88 – J & A Budge, Knockglass Farm, Watten, Wick, Caithness – 600gns

Ewe Lamb

1^st Lot 99 – Mrs L E Troup Corrennie House, Shaggart, Sauchen – 800gns

2^nd Lot 105 – B Scott, Burnside Farm, Marypark, Ballindalloch – 550gns

3^rd 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

1^st – Lot 136 – Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff – 2,800gns

2^nd – Lot 128 – Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter – 3,400gns

3^rd – Lot 124 – Kenny Pratt, Oldtown Farm, Peterculter – 2,000gns

Ewe Lamb

1^st Lot 170 – Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff – 3,500gns

2^nd Lot 171 – Robert H Wilson, North Dorlaithers Farm, Turriff – 900gns

3^rd 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

Top Flock Averages

	No.	Average (£)	Top (gns)
Suffolk Gimmers
Birness	5	3,423	4,500
Strathbogie	3	3,290	5,000
Cranorskie	5	2,016	3,000
Balquhain	3	1,225	1,400
Cairness	5	1,176	2,300
Suffolk Ewe Lambs
Birness	6	1,435	1,800
Glenisle	4	1,207	1,300
Texel Gimmers
Hilltop	10	1,743	3,400
Milnbank	7	1,515	2,800
Tillycairn	3	1,190	1,400
Strathbogie	5	840	1,000
Texel Ewe Lambs
Milnbank	3	1,767.50	3,500

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