The annual Young Farmers Overwintering Competition hosted by Aberdeen & Northern Marts, sponsored by A H Mackay, West Greenland took place at Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae on Monday 1^st April alongside the Show and Sale of Store Cattle including Aberdeen Angus and other Native Breeds sponsored by the North of Scotland Newspaper.

Angus Greenlaw, Sheep Park Farm, Bridge of Marnoch judged the proceedings with ten young farmers, from across the Caithness region participating in the event, with 17 head of cattle forward.

The Overall Champion was a 505kg Limousin cross heifer from Halkirk club member Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Mains, Dunbeath which was tapped out by the Judge for the top price of £3,600. The Reserve Champion was also awarded to Hannah, this time for a 501kg Limousin cross heifer which sold for the second top price of £3,000 to W Robertson & Sons, Fodderletter, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch. Both heifers were bred by U MacDonald, Lower Cairnglass. 

The winner of the W & A Geddes Perpetual Trophy for the best Daily Live Weight Gain of 1.247kg per Day was for a 512kg Limousin cross heifer from Sophie Gunn, The Shein, Hill of Forss.  The Best Gross Margin Heifer Section went to Katie Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder, Halkirk for her 501kg Limousin Heifer.

The Best Daily Liveweight Gain and the Best Gross Margin Bullock prize was awarded to Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick for a 532kg British Blue bullock with a daily live weight gain of 1.213kg.

The awards for best paraded and presented animal was awarded to Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick and the Special Prize for highest placed Charolais Cross Sired by a Registered Charolais Bull presented by the Scottish and Northern Charolais Club was awarded to Sophie Gunn, The Shein, Hill of Forss.   

A 501kg Limousin cross heifer from Katie Gunn, Shop Farm, Scotscalder, Halkirk achieved £2,050, and was H M Sutherland, Drummuie Farmhouse, Golspie, Sutherland. 

The next top price of £1,900 was achieved for a Limousin cross heifer scaling 494kgs from William Campbell, Heatherview, Gersa, Watten, sold to A M M Polson, Westerloch Farm, Wick.

A British Blue bullock scaling 532kgs from Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick, realised £1,700 selling to W & J Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, Grange, Keith.

The Show and Sale of Store Cattle including Aberdeen Angus and Native breeds, sponsored by the North of Scotland Newspaper, sold 872 store cattle.

The judges champion was a 426kg Limousin cross heifer from Dunbeath Farms, Dunbeath, which went onto achieve £1,710 and the reserve champion was awarded to a 641kgs British Blue cross heifer from J & R Allan, Gillock Mains, Gillock selling for £1,850.

Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “A Fantastic Show of Cattle were sold through Caithness Livestock Centre, with a buzzing ringside of buyers present for all classes.

Thanks to our sponsors A H Mackay, West Greenland and the North of Scotland Newspaper for their continued support of the event.”

Prize List:

Class 1 – Unhaltered Bullock:

1^st Lot 76 – Abbie Dunnet, Linkmoor

Class 2 – Unhaltered Heifer:

1^st Lot 78 – Katie Gunn, Shop Farm

2^nd Lot 77 – Wiliam Campbell, Heatherview

Class 3 – Haltered Bullock

1^st Lot 80 – Craig Gunn, Murza Farm  

2^nd Lot 79 – Alec Cormack, The Ha Durran

Class 3A – Haltered Bullock

1^st Lot 82 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace

2^nd Lot 81 – Isla Mackay Strath Farm

Class 4 – Haltered Heifer

1^st Lot 85 – William Campbell, Heatherview

2^nd Lot 84 – Sophie Gunn, Hill of Forss

3^rd Lot 83 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace

Class 5 – Haltered Heifer

1^st Lot 88 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Mains

2^nd Lot 86 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Mains

3^rd Lot 87 – Katie Gunn, Shop Farm

4^th Lot 89 – Sophie Gunn, The Shein

Class 6 – Haltered Homebred Bullock

1^st Lot 91 – Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Mains

Class 7- Haltered Homebred Heifer

1^st Lot 92 – Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Mains

2^nd Lot 93 – Hannah Levack Dunbeath Mains

Daily Liveweight Gain Bullock:

1^st Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

Daily Liveweight Gain Heifer:

1^st  Sophie Gunn, The Shein, Hill of Forss

Gross Margin Bullock:

1^st Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

Gross Margin Heifer:

1^st Sophie Gunn, The Shein, Hill of Forss

Overall Champion:

Lot 88 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Mains

Reserve Champion:

Lot 86 – Hannah Levack, Dunbeath Mains

Homebred Champion:

Lot 92 – Kris Sutherland, Dunbeath Mains

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

Sophie Gunn, The Shein, Hill of Forss.  

Best Paraded and Presented Animal:

Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick