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Tonley is top at Turriff


By Kirsty Brown

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A multi-prize winning three year old Aberdeen Angus cow from the Tonley heard, Alford has added to her growing list of titles after taking the Champion of Champion titles at Turriff Show.

Three year old Tonley Lady Heather from Blelack Evermore, out of Blelack Lady Heather started the day with a string of wins in the breed categories including overall breed champion, female champion and home-bred champion.

Adding to the wins for father and son duo Neil and Mark Wattie, they also took the Reserve Angus title with their bull Tonley King Paco, a one year-old by Tonley Jester Eric out of Wall Kind Pride.

Commenting on those wins Mark said: "We are absolutely delighted to pick Breed Champion up again here and to follow it on with reserve as well, so we have a clean sweep.

"We have never done that at Turriff before so it is a good day.

"She has already has a great little career, this is her fourth win on the trot and she hasn't been beaten in four shows.

"Her calf, also Tonley Lady Heather, has also been first at every show she has been at.

"So they are a real unit together.

"She was champion at the Stirling Show, Reserve Champion at the Highland, Angus National Champion, Champion at the Yorkshire Show, Champion at Echt where she claimed breed, overall cattle and champion of champion titles and now she is champion here too.

"She has had some career so far."

HRH Princess Anne made the presentation of the Sleigh Family trophy. Picture: David Porter
HRH Princess Anne made the presentation of the Sleigh Family trophy. Picture: David Porter

Several weeks ago at the National Championship at Norwich they were presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Anne who said she was "amazed" they had travelled all the way down from Aberdeenshire to compete and there was a smile of recognition as Princess Anne was called to present the Sleigh Family trophy for the overall Champion of Champions at this year's show.

The line up pitted the overall cattle champion against the overall sheep, overall ridden horse, overall in hand horse and overall Clydesdale champions.

Commenting on the title win Mark said: "To take the champion of champion's is just amazing, we've had a such a success with her here today."

Taking reserve in the Champion of Champions was Sunday's in-hand horse champion the Highland Ponies section winner three-year-old colt West Lodge McNair from owner Robin Stewart from Durris.

He said of the result: "It is unbelievable. You are up against the best stock in Scotland at Turriff Show.

"It is wonderful to win and our focus now turns to the Blair Castle International Horse Trials."

The horse's success keeps his family's good run going with his great-grandfather winning at Turriff Show in the 1980s and his grandfather also won at the event in the 1990s.

This year the horse was champion at the Royal Northern Spring Show and reserve champion at Banchory.

Speaking on her choices, judge Helen Goldie said: "I was looking at their character, as well as their size and things like that.

"I found the champion to be eye catching, that was what really made them stand out.

"These are beautiful animals."


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