The annual Caithness Christmas show, and sale took place on Monday 4^th December and Tuesday 5^th December with exhibitors and buyers from North of Scotland traveling to Quoybrae. With a total of 102 cattle and 3,730 sheep sold; it was a successful end to the Quoybrae sales season.

A March 2022- born British Blue cross bullock scaling 630kg, forward from G W Begg, Vauldale, Nybster won Champion position in the Open Prime Cattle section for the second year running, which was sponsored by NFU Mutual and judged by Scott Watson, Old Repeater Station, Muirdrum. The Champion bullock sold to Mackay’s Hotel, Wick for the 24^th year in a row for £3,000 (4.76ppkg).

The Overall Reserve Champion was awarded to a 644kg Limousin cross Bullock also from G W Begg, which sold for £2,200 (3.42ppkg) to J M Munro Ltd, Dingwall.

In the Young Farmers Prime Cattle section the Champion was a 698kg Limousin cross bullock from James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick which sold for £2,200 to McIntosh Donald Kepak. The Young Farmers Reserve Champion went to a 715kg Limousin bullock from Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster which sold for £1,950.

Judging the open section of prime lambs was Iain Laird, Yeldabreck, Burray and kindly sponsored by the Home Bakery, Wick, the Champion was awarded to two 54kg Beltex lambs from C Angus, West Mey which sold for £520 a head to Mr Lamont of Mackay’s Hotel, Wick. The Reserve Champion was awarded to two 47kg Beltex lambs from Kris Sutherland and Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, which sold to Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant for £200 a head.

The Young Farmers Champion Pen of Prime Lambs sponsored by Duncan & Todd, Wick were two 48kg Beltex lambs also from Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms and sold for £380 a head to Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant. The Young Farmers Reserve Champions were two 46kg Blackface lambs from Neve Sutherland, Barnaheigh, Harpsdale which sold for £138 per head.

Best Presented Pair of Lambs in both the Open and Young Farmers sections was kindly sponsored by Thurso Tool Hire. The Open best presented was awarded to Queen Mother, Longoe Farm and the Young Farmers went to Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms. 

The Champion Pen of Ten Untrimmed Prime Lambs sponsored by Willie Gulloch, Hempriggs Mains, Wick and judged by Iain Laird, Yeldabreck, Burray was 43.3kgs Texel lambs from Steven Sutherland, Sibmister. The judge backed his decision when he tapped out at £138 a head.  The Reserve champions were awarded to 42.4kg lambs from the same consigner which sold to £120 per head also  to the judge.

New to this years show was the Baby Beef Competition, kindly sponsored by Vauldale Engineering. The aim of the competition is to encourage Young Farmers to showcase their young calves and practice showmanship skills ahead of the Caithness Overwintering competition in April. The Overall Baby Beef Champion was awarded to Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Farms for a 360Kg Limousin cross heifer bred by U MacDonald, Lower Cairnglass, with the Overall Reserve Champion going to Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms for a 362kg Limousin cross heifer.

Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “It was great to witness a busy ringside of buyers for the Caithness Christmas show which resulted in strong trade throughout the sale. A huge amount of effort goes into preparing stock for the show, well done to all our exhibitors.

As the sales at Quoybrae round up for the year, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our customers and sponsors for their continued support.”

The full sales report is available to view here.

Caithness Christmas Show & Sale: Prize List

Prime Cattle Competition – Haltered/Unhaltered

Sponsored by NFU Mutual

Haltered Bullock

1^st.  Lot 6 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster

2^nd. Lot 7 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick

3^rd. Lot 5 – D Coghill & Sons, Skinnet, Halkirk

4^th. Lot 8 – John Swanson, Framside, Thurso

Unhaltered Bullock

1^st. Lot 1 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster

2^nd. Lot 2 – D Budge, Brae-edge, Castletown

3^rd. Lot 3 – W M Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten

4^th. Lot 4 – D A Budge, Brae-edge, Catletown

Haltered Heifer

1^st. Lot 9 – W M Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten

Open Overall Champion

Lot 6  – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster

Open Overall Reserve Champion

Lot 1 – G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster

Best Opposite Sex

Lot 9 – W M Barnetson & Sons, Lynegar, Watten

Best Home Bred Animal

G Begg, Vauldale, Nybster

Young Farmers Prime Cattle

Sponsored by NFU Mutual

Haltered Bullock – Heavy

1^st. Lot 14 – Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Forss YFC

2^nd. Lot 16 – Neil Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten – Bower YFC

3^rd. Lot 15 – Bethany Swanson, Framside, Thurso – Forss YFC

Haltered Bullock – Light

1^st. Lot 13 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Wick – Bower YFC

2^nd. Lot 10 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Bower YFC

3^rd. Lot 12 – John Gunn, North Killimster, Wick – Bower YFC

4^th. Lot 11 – Tiegan Sutherland, Thirdpart, Watten – Bower YFC

Haltered Heifer

1^st. Lot 17 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso – Forss YFC

Champion

Lot 13 – James Gunn, Whitefield, Reiss – Bower YFC

Reserve Champion

Lot 14 – Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Forss YFC

Best Home Bred Animal

Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Forss YFC

Open Prime Sheep

Sponsored by The Home Bakery Wick

Pen of Two Any Other Native Breed Lambs

1^st. Lot 408 -The Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe Farm, Mey

2^nd. Lot 212 – The Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe Farm, Mey

3^rd. Lot 417 – A & S Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale

Pen of Two Light Texel Lambs

1^st. Lot 203 – E Grant & K Dunnet, Swiney

2^nd. Lot 202 – E Grant & K Dunnet, Swiney

3^rd. Lot 201 – J Murray, Netherside, Castletown

Pen of Two Heavy Texel Lambs

1^st. Lot 407 – Kevin Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder

2^nd. Lot -406 – Bisset & Blackwood, Mill Farm, Castletown

3^rd. Lot 404 – C Angus, West Mey

Pen of Two Light Any Other Continental Breed Lambs

1^st. Lot 405 – K Sutherland & H Levack, Dunbeath Farms

2^nd. Lot 414 – Kevin Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder

3^rd. Lot 411 – C Angus, West Mey

4^th. Lot 415 – Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Sibmister, Castletown

Pen of Two Heavy Any Other Continental Breed Lambs

1^st. Lot 410 – C Angus, West Mey

2^nd. Lot 416- Sibmister & Stainland Farms, Sibmister, Castletown

3^rd. Lot -412 – D A Budge, Brae-edge, Castletown

Champion

C Angus, West Mey

Reserve Champion

Kris Sutherland & Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms

Best Presented Pair – sponsored by Thurso Tool Hire

A McArthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey

Young Farmers Prime Sheep

Sponsored by Duncan & Todd Wick

Pen of Two Light Continental Breed Lambs

1^st. Lot 503 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale – Forss YFC

2^nd. Lot 506 – Lauren Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Bower YFC

3^rd. Lot 507 – Will Oag, Achiebeg, Shebster – Forss YFC

Pen of Two Intermediate Lambs

1^st. Lot 510 – Liam Mackenzie, Achalone Croft, Halkirk – Halkirk YFC

2^nd. Lot 508 – Katie Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder- Forss YFC

3^rd. Lot 514 – Alister McArthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey – Bower YFC

Pen of Two Heavy Continental Breed Lambs

1^st. Lot 525 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC

2^nd. Lot 527 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso – Forss YFC

3^rd. Lot 528 – James Swanson, Framside, Thurso – Forss YFC

Pen of Two Light Native Breed Lambs

1^st. Lot 511 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale – Forss YFC

2^nd. Lot 512 – Alister McArthy, Seafield Cottage, Mey – Bower YFC

3^rd. Lot 513 – Neve Sutherland, Bardnaheigh, Harpsdale – Forss YFC

Champion

Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC

Reserve Champion

Neve Sutherland, Barnaheigh, Harpsdale – Forss YFC

Best Presented Pair – sponsored by Thurso Tool Hire

Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC

Pen Of 10 Untrimmed Lambs

Sponsored by Mr Willie Gulloch

Champion

Steven Sutherland, Sibmister

Reserve Champion

Steven Sutherland, Sibmister.

Baby Beef Competition

Sponsored by Vauldale Engineering

Haltered Bullock

1^st. Lot 19 – Isla Mackay, Strath Farm Cottage, Watten – Bower YFC

2^nd. Lot 20 – Sophie Tucker, Smith Terrace, Wick – Bower YFC

3^rd. Lot 18 – Neil Campbell, Thirdpart, Watten – Bower YFC

Haltered Heifer – Heavy

1^st. Lot 25 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC

2^nd. Lot 26 – William Campbell, Heatherview, Gersa – Bower YFC

3^rd. Lot 24 – Sophie Gunn, The Shien, Hill of Forss- Bower YFC

Haltered Heifer – Light

1^st. Lot 22 – Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Halkirk YFC

2^nd. Lot 23 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath – Hakirk YFC

3^rd. Lot 30 – Sophie Gunn, The Shien, Hill of Forss – Bower YFC

Champion

Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Farms – Halkirk YFC

Reserve Champion

Hannah Levak, Dunbeath Farms – Halkirk YFC