Black Beauty Bonanza showcases the best of the breed
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Exhibitors from across Scotland braved the weather and power-cuts to head to Thainstone for the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club’s Black Beauty Bonanza.
For the first time the annual show was held as part of the Aberdeen Christmas Classic event and saw exhibitors travelling from as far as Orkney and the Borders to showcase a strong turnout of almost 90 calves and yearlings.
Judge, Graeme Massie from Blelack, Dinnet had exhibited cattle from his famous Blelack herd at every Black Beauty since the show started in 1996 but took on the role of judge this year following the record-breaking dispersal of the herd at Stirling in October.
Father-and-son, Neil and Mark Wattie, Mains of Tonley, Alford carried off two of the four championship awards with their yearling heifer, Tonley Ester W712 – a 20-month-old daughter of the home-bred, Tonley Kasper U512.
They also took the bull calf championship with the nine-month old, Tonley King Paco X812, by Kasper’s sire, Tonley Jester Eric S318.
The reserve yearling heifer championship went to the 14-month-old Harestone Red Black Ruby W500, from June Barclay, Harestone, Banchory.
Managing director of Aberdeen-Angus beef processors, Scotbeef, Robbie Galloway took the reserve bull calf championship with the 17-month-old Cardona Jeweliot Eric X309, by Stouphill Mr Peroni, from his Cardona herd at Doune.
Charles McCombie, owner of the old established Auchincrieve herd at Rothiemay saw three first prize winners, included the heifer calf champion, Auchincrieve Lady Image X675, a January-born daughter of Tonley Jester Eric S318.
The herd also won the coveted Auchincrieve Trophy, presented by Charles’ mother, Elizabeth McCombie, in memory of her late husband, for the best pair of Aberdeen-Angus calves.
A March-born daughter of the home-bred Newton Muchalls Theo, Newton Jill Erica X090, from Ray Gardiner, Newton Smiddy, Skene, stood reserve for the heifer calf championship.
Show sponsors, Ballindalloch Highland Estate on Speyside were runners up for the Auchincrieve Trophy with their duo including the yearling bull champion, the 20-month-old Ballindalloch Gaffer W600, by Ardoyne Munro Prince K191.
This bull was just pipped for the yearling bull championship by the 15-month-old Retties Lord Edwin W150, by Duhncanziemere Edwin J311, from top show couple Richard and Carol Rettie, Methven, Perth.
The award for the best pair of yearlings went to AJR Farms, Milton of Collieston, Ellon, and the reserve to club chairman, Hugh Thomson, and his wife, Cara, of Tynet, Buckie.
