James Swanson takes home the championship at Caithness Young Farmers Overwintering Competition

News

Posted: April 7, 2026

The annual Young Farmers Overwintering Competition hosted by Aberdeen & Northern Marts, sponsored by A H Mackay, West Greenland and Ross Bremner Transport took place at Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae on Monday 6^th April alongside the Show and Sale of Store Cattle including Aberdeen Angus and other Native Breeds sponsored by Highland News Media.

Ian Pirie, Overton of Bruxie, Maud judged the proceedings with nine young farmers, from across the region participating in the event, with 18 head of cattle forward.

The Overall Champion was awarded to a Limousin cross bullock from Forss club member James Swanson, Framside, Thurso. The bullock scalling 552kgs, went onto achieve £2,700 selling to Iain Laird, Yeldabreck, Burray.

Overall Champion from James Swanson, Sponsor Andrew Mackay and Judge Ian Pirie

The Reserve Champion position was awarded to a British Blue cross heifer scalling 470kgs from Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan, Westfield which went onto sell to the judge for £2,260.

The winner of the W & A Geddes Perpetual Trophy for the best Daily Live Weight Gain and the prize for Best Gross Margin Bullock was awarded to Isla Mackay, Strath Farm, Watten for her 532kgs Limousin cross with 1.629kg per day (+£840).

The Best Daily Liveweight Gain Heifer of 1.293kg per day was awarded to Oliver Ruff, Riva Upper Smerral for his 592kg Charolais cross heifer. The Best Gross Margin Heifer prize went to a British Blue cross heifer from Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan (+£880) which also won the overall reserve championship.

The Homebred Championship was awarded to Iona Campbell, Winless Mains, Wick for her heifer scalling 486kgs which sold for £2,200 to A M Connon & Son, Skilmafilly, Auchnagatt, Ellon. Iona also took home the prize for best paraded and presented animal.

The special prize for the highest placed Charolais Cross Calf sired by a Registered Charolais Bull presented by the Scottish and Northern Charolais Club went to Oliver Ruff for his heifer scalling 592kgs which sold for £2,200 to the judge Ian Pirie.

The next top price of the day was £2,260 which was paid for the W & A Geddes Perpetual Trophy winner, a 523kgs Limousin cross bullock from Isla Mackay, which went onto sell to Blair Duffton.

Other top prices include, £2,240 which was achieved for a Limousin cross bullock scalling 565kgs from Lewis Mackenzie, Brekka Bu, Barrock and £2,200 which was paid for a 530kgs Limousin cross heifer also from Lewis, with both animals sold to the judge.

Another nine cattle also surpassed the £2,000 mark, with an overall sale average of £2,141.67 per head.

The Show and Sale of Store Cattle including Aberdeen Angus and Native breeds, sponsored by Highland News Media, had 1,430 head of cattle forward.

At the pre-sale show, the judge’s champion was a 540kg Limousin cross heifer from J K Manson, Upper Northfield, Wick, which went onto achieve £2,550 selling to Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly.

Open Champion with Judge Ian Pirie and winner Jamie Manson

The reserve champion was awarded to a 353kg Limousin bullock from G W Begg, Vauldale, Nybster which sold to James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick for £2,350.

Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “An excellent show of cattle was presented by today’s consigners, attracting a packed ringside of buyers.

Thank you to our sponsors A H Mackay, West Greenland, Ross Bremner Transport and Highland News & Media for their continued support.”

PRIZE LIST

Young Farmers Overwintering, sponsored by Ross Bremner Transport & Andrew Mackay West Greenland

Class 1 – Unhaltered Bullock

1^st Lot 79 – Lewis Mackenzie, Brekka Bu, Barrock

2^nd Lot 80 – Oliver Ruff, Riva, Upper Smerral

3^rd Lot 78 – William Campbell, Heatherview, Gersa

Class 2 – Unhaltered Heifer

1^st Lot 83 – Lewis Mackenzie, Brekka Bu, Barrock

2^nd Lot 86 – Oliver Ruff, Riva, Upper Smerral

3^rd Lot 84 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

Class 3 – Haltered Bullock

1^st Lot 88 – William Campbell, Heatherview, Gersa

2^nd Lot 89 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

Class 4 – Haltered Bullock

1^st Lot 91 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso

2^nd Lot 90 – Isla Mackay, Strath Farm, Watten

Class 5 – Haltered Heifer

1^st Lot 93 – Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan Farm, Westfield

2^nd Lot 92 – Ross Campbell, Bardnaclavan Farm, Westfield

Class 9- Homebred Heifer

1^st Lot 94 – Iona Campbell, Winless Mains, Wick

Champion – Lot 91 – James Swanson

Reserve Champion – Lot 93 – Ross Campbell

Homebred Champion – Lot 94 – Iona Campbell

Daily Liveweight Gain Bullock

1^st Lot 90- Isla Mackay, Limousin Bullock 1.629

2^nd Lot 80 -Oliver Ruff, Charolais Bullock 1.431

3^rd Lot 89 – Sophie Tucker, Lim Bullock 1.383

Daily Liveweight Gain Heifer

1^st Lot 86 – Oliver Ruff, Charolais Hiefer 1.293

2^nd Lot 85 – Oliver Ruff Aberdeen Angus Heifer 1.275

3^rd Lot 84 – Sophie Tucker, Charolais Heifer 1.239

W & A Geddes Perpetual Trophy for Best Overall Daily Liveweight Gain

Lot 90 – Isla Mackay

Gross Margin Bullock

1^st Lot 90 Isla Mackay Strath Farm +£840

2^nd Lot 91 James Swanson Framside +£700

3^rd Lot 80 Oliver Ruff Riva +£660

Gross Margin Heifer

1^st Lot 93 Ross Campbell Bardnaclavan +£880

2^nd Lot 92 Ross Campbell Bardnaclavan +£700

3^rd Lot 84 Sophie Tucker 21 Smith Terrace +£700

4^th Lot 85 Oliver Ruff Riva +£600

Special Prize for the highest placed Charolais Cross Calf sired by a Registered Charolais Bull presented by the Scottish & Northern Charolais Club

Oliver Ruff

Best Paraded and Presented Animal

Iona Campbell

Club Award

Halkirk