Arresting time in Grantown Show's sheep pens!
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"This is the best show of them all," said a delighted pedigree sheep specialist Donald Henderson at Thursday's hugely successful Grantown Show.
"I enjoy so many but this one is the most enjoyable, meeting up with old friends in a terrific atmosphere – and such a beautiful location."
Donald had brought his prize Maranatha Hampshire Downs to Strathspey and had rightly caused a bit of a stir with the beautiful animals, picking up "some seconds and thirds".
The Strathy assumed he had been a sheep farmer all his life, turning eventually to specialise in his more senior years, but we were soon put right on that: "Nothing of the sort. My grandfather, now, he was a shepherd through and through, with a hirsel of over a thousand, but it wasn't my choice of profession when I was younger.
"I chose the police force!"
Indeed, Mr Henderson ended up as area commander based in Aviemore for some years before the call of the sheep pen attracted him and Anne away to their successful farm at Craggiemore by Daviot.
Sheep convener Scott Robertson, of Dufftown, was also delighted with the way the day panned out in the pens.
"There have been no issues and plenty of top quality entries. Things have gone very well in excellent conditions.
The show was privileged to have hosted this year's Scottish National Jacob Sheep Competition, which attracted a dozen top breeders from across the country.
They came from Selkirk in the borders, Fintry by Glasgow, Bridgend at Linlithgow and a range of north-east farms, who brought tups, ewes, gimmers, ewe lambs and tup lambs to be judged by Kay Carpenter, who had travelled up from Stourport-on-Severn in Worcester.
There was also a very healthy entry of Blackfaces, Texels and Blue Texels.
Supreme honours for 2023 went to the Duncan family of Achdregnie, Glenlivet.
Reserve honours went to Keith-based Michelle Hanson and Darren Irvine with their Texel tup lamb.
Results:
Jacob Scottish National – champion was G Connor, Linlithgow with gimmer Dunmore Isla. Reserve was Barbara Webster's tup lamb Carochy XBox.
Suffolk – The champion came from the strath, courtesy of a gimmer from Newtonmore's Lynne Mackay. Reserve was Finlay Hunter, Insch, with a ewe lamb.
Zwartbles – Champion from the Andersons' gimmer from Farr.
Cross – Scott Robertson, of Dufftown, claimed champion and reserve with his three-quarter Beltex lambs.
