Contest day for the YFCs

THE north region of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers' Clubs (SAYFC) hosted a day of competitions in Caithness at the weekend.

Competitors from across the region congregated at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' Quoybrae centre on Saturday to take part in beef cattle dressing, prime lamb dressing and agri-skills challenges.

Ten teams competed in the beef cattle dressing competition, judged by James Manson and Louise Mackay of Upper Northfield, Wick. The cattle were supplied by Alan Polson of Westerloch, Keiss.

The winning team was James MacIver and Graeme Rhind from Lower Speyside YFC with 85 out of a possible 100. In second place were Tom Bruce and Scott Taylor from Udny JAC with 84 points, and third went to Stuart Pirie and Richard Davidson of Keith with 83 points.

Junior prizes were awarded to Alistair McCarthy and Beth Douglas of Bower YFC with a score of 77, and in second place were club-mates Beth Dunnett and Scott Rosie with 71 points. Latheron's Aimee Sinclair and Calvin Forbes were third with 64 points.

Other competing teams were from Orkney, Strathspey and Forss.

There were eight teams competing in the prime lamb dressing competition which was judged by Jonnie Campbell, Bardnaclavan Farm, Westfield. The second judge in the day was James Barnetson of Lynegar, Watten.

The winning team was made up of Angus Brims and John Forbes of Bower YFC with 86 out of a possible 100. Second place went to Orkney duo Marcus Scholes from East Mainland and Joanne Higgs from Harray with 77 points, while Amy Reid and Lewis Gallier of Udny JAC took third prize with 74.

Junior prizes were awarded to Orkney's Keith Isbister and Campbell Ridland with a score of 81. In second were fellow district members Gary Isbister and Alistair Johnston with 76 points, and third went to Bower members Alistair McCarthy and Beth Dunnett with 74.

Other competing teams were from Forss and Latheron.

The agri-skills competition saw seven teams take part in various tasks demonstrating their skill, knowledge and practice of agricultural jobs.

Teams took part in grading and weighing lambs, provided by David Sutherland from Harpsdale and judged by Liam Gunn, Caithness Livestock Breeders; digger driving skills (supplied by David Anderson from Wick and judged by SAYFC national chairman David Lawrie; crop diseases identification (supplied and judged by Ewan Mackenzie of W & A Geddes); fault-finding on a tractor, which was supplied and judged by HRN Tractors, Watten; and wiring a seven-pin plug (supplied by Messrs G S Donn, Harpsdale, and judged by Andrew Mackenzie of Mey.

The teams also had to complete a quiz.

Udny JAC took first place with Tom Bruce, Campbell Harvie and Peter Smith, while Orkney's Cameron Linklater, Paul Aim and Scott Sclater finished second place and joint third were Bower "A" (Alistair McCarthy, John Forbes and Angus Brims) and Latheron (Tamara Sinclair, Gareth Watt and Calvin Forbes).

Other competing teams were from Strathspey and Forss.

The day concluded with a "boilersuit" disco which was held in the hall at the mart.

North chairman Michael Gunn said: "A great day was had by all who attended and it was good to see so many teams take part across the competitions on the day. We saw an increase in the number of lamb and cattle dressing teams."

Full results are on www.sayfc.org/news