The Aberdeen Christmas Classic held in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association will return to Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November.  

Attracting quality pedigree and commercial cattle and sheep from the length and breadth of the country, this annual two-day premier show and sale is one of the highlights in the north-east farming calendar.  

This year’s event will once again be kindly sponsored by leading independent steel, fabrication and construction company, Rapid Project Development (RPD), owned by the Duxbury family who farm near Rothienorman.  

“The Aberdeen Christmas Classic is one of Scotland’s leading agricultural events and we are extremely grateful to have the continued sponsorship and support from the Duxbury family of Rapid Project Development,” said Tim McDonald, prime and cull cattle manager for Aberdeen and Northern Marts.  

“Over the two days, exhibitors will compete for an impressive cash prize fund and an array of silverware, giving spectators and prospective buyers the chance to view and source top-quality stock. 

“We encourage those who have not yet entered primestock to get their entries in as soon as possible.” 

Last year, a Limousin cross heifer named She’s A Belter from Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, ruled supreme and sold for the top price of £6200 to The Station Hotel, Rothes, Aberlour. 

The overall champion award in the prime lambs section went to the winners of the open section, a pair of 51kg Beltex lambs from William and David Moir, Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh. 

They sold for the top price of £420 per life to IJ McIntosh Butchers, Fraserburgh. 

A strong line-up of judges has been chosen for the event including Scott Watson from Muirdrum, Carnousite, and Harry Woods of Bowland Foods Ltd, Preston, who will judge the open haltered beef cattle and butchers’ cattle.  

The unhaltered beef cattle will be judged by Nigel Cumming of Scotbeef, Inverurie, while Bill MacKinnon from the same firm will be tasked with heading up the open prime sheep and Young Farmers’ prime sheep.  

Jim Smith from Wester Campfield, Glassel, Banchory, will judge the Young Farmers’ haltered and unhaltered beef cattle, as well as the best presented and paraded class.  

In the pedigree sheep section, Jenna Ballantyne from East Cauldcoats Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire will judge the Texels; Helen Goldie of Harpercroft, Dundonald, Kilmarnock, for the Suffolks; and Simon Stephen, Meikle Geddes, Nairn, for the Beltex.  

Meanwhile, Derek Nelson from Mains of Lundie, Edzell, will judge this year’s Rising Stars exhibition calf show held on the Monday evening.  

Entries for primestock close Monday, November 7.