A Limousin Cross heifer from Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie stood overall champion at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic, held at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Tuesday 26^th of November.   

The annual event, held in conjunction with Aberdeen Fatstock Association and kindly sponsored by Rapid Project Development (RPD), attracted a fantastic line-up of quality prime and butchers’ animals from well-known consigners throughout Scotland.   

Taking the Overall Christmas Classic Open Championship, when tapped out by judge Hugh Black, Hugh Black & Sons, 74 High Street, Lanark was a September 2022 heifer scaling 792kgs. The heifer sired by Carmon Lionbar, out of a British Blue cross dam, sold for the top price of £4,300 to Telinco Farms, Netherplace Farm, Main Street, Lockerbie.

The second top price of the day was reached by the Young Farmers Overall Champion, from Anna Fettes, Braes of Enzie. Her March 2023-born Limousin cross heifer Espresso, scaling 646kgs achieved £4,000 selling to Forbes Raeburn Butcher, 7 Bogie Street, Huntly.

The Overall Butchers Champion was awarded to Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud for a December 2022 born Limousin cross heifer scaling 620kgs. The homebred heifer went onto sell to B T Kitson Butchers, Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire for £3,800.

The Overall Reserve Champion also went to the Brown Family, for a homebred Aberdeen Angus cross heifer, which also took home the Native Heifer award. The 664kgs heifer went onto sell for £3,400 to the judge Hugh Black, 74 High Street, Lanark.

A 688kgs British Shorthorn cross heifer from W Robertson & Sons, Fodderletter, Tomintoul, Ballindalloch which took the 2^nd prize native heifer, was purchased by B T Kitson Butchers, Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire.

Taking the reserve champion in the Young Farmers’ section was Cally Harper, Westholme, 7 Deveron Road, Turriff, for a July 2021-born Limousin cross heifer scaling 696kgs, which realised £3,000 to W T S Forsyth, 21-25 Eastgate, Peebles, Tweddale.

The next top price of £2,900 or 500p per kg was paid for the Young Farmers un-haltered champion from Cally Harper, Westholme, 7 Deveron Road, Turriff, for a British Blue cross heifer scaling 584kgs, selling to Bruce of the Broch, 22 Broad Street, Fraserburgh.

The Reserve Butchers Champion went to Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly, for a May 2023-born Limousin cross heifer selling to John Scott Meat, Sandyfold Road, Paisley for £2,400.

Top gross for Bullocks was £2,793 (380p per kg) for a 1^st prize Limousin steer scaling 738kg in the Young Farmers section from Rachael Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith, which sold to Chapman Butchers, Wishaw.

The champion Open Unhaltered judged Ewen Mcdonald, Munros of Dingwall was awarded to a Limousin Heifer from Emma Smith, Drumnahive, Kildrummy scaling 704kgs sold to 380p per kg (£2,660) selling to G W Begg, Vauldale, Nybster, Caithness.

The Reserve Open Un-Haltered, was awarded to a Limousin cross heifer scalling 660kgs by J & J Watt, Stoneyhill, Keithhall, which sold for 400p per kg (£2,640) to Hugh Black.

The Young Farms Un-Haltered Reserve went to Robert Anderson, The Bungalow, Brucewells, Netherley, for a Limousin cross heifer scalling 662kgs which made 400p per kgs (£2,640) to Hugh Black.

Tim McDonald, Cull and Prime Cattle Manager at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “With Christmas cheer in plentiful supply, another Christmas Classic was supported by our weekly local and national buyers which saw a total of 64 head of cattle consisting of 41 heifers selling to average 405.1ppkg and 23 bullocks averaging 357.6ppkg.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this year’s event, and we are delighted that main sponsor RPD have confirmed that  they will continue their sponsorship at the 2025 show.”

Prize List

Class 1A – Single Haltered Heifer

1^st – Lot 3 – G Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith

2^nd – Lot 2 – D W Work & Son, Dumbreck, Udny

3^rd – Lot 1 – Gordon Cameron, Newton Cottage, Acharcle

Class 1B – Single Haltered Heifer

1^st – Lot 6 – Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie

2^nd – Lot 4 – Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch

3^rd – Lot 5 Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly

Class 1.1 – Native Haltered Heifer

1^st – Lot 8 – H Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

2^nd – Lot 10 – W Robertson & Son, Fodderletter, Tomintoul

3^rd – Lot 9 – D Work & Son, Dumbreck, Udny

4^th – Lot 7 – Gordon Cameron, Newton Cottage, Acharcle

Class 2 – Single Haltered Bullock

1^st – Lot 12 – W Robertson & Son, Fodderletter, Tomintoul

2^nd – Lot 13 – Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly

3^rd – Lot 11 – D Work & Son, Dumbreck, Udny

4^th – Lot 14 – T Connell, Little Muddy Lumphart, Inverurie

Open Haltered Beef Cattle Champion

(Aberdeen Town Council Perpetual Silver Challenge Cup)

Lot 6 – W Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie

Reserve Open Haltered Beef Cattle Champion

(His Grace the Duke of Fife Perpetual Challenge Trophy)

Lot 8 – H Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

Best Overall Heifer

(Saphock Perpetual Rose Bowl)

Lot 6 – Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie

Reserve Overall Heifer

Lot 8 – H Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

Best Overall Bullock

(Turriff Agricultural Show Perpetual Tray)

Lot 12 – W Robertson & Son, Fodderletter, Tomintoul

Reserve Overall Bullock

Lot 13 – Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly

Best Animal of Opposite Sex to Champion

(BOCM Pauls Perpetual Challenge Trophy)

Lot 12 – W Robertson & Son, Fodderletter, Tomintoul

Class 5 – Single Butchers Heifer

1^st – Lot 29 – H Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

2^nd – Lot 28 – Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch

3^rd – Lot 26 – Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie

4^th – Lot 25 – Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly

Class 6 – Single Butchers Bullock

1^st – Lot 30 – H Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

2^nd – Lot 31 – D Work & Son, Mains Dumbreck, Udny

Butchers Champion

(Aberdeen Master Butchers’ Association Perpetual Silver Cup)

Lot 29 – H Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

Reserve Butchers Champion

(J Bibby and Sons Ltd Perpetual Silver Challenge Cup)

Lot 28 – Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch

Best Animal of Opposite Sex to Butchers Champion

(Perpetual Challenge Trophy)

Lot 30 – H Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

Class 3a – Single Haltered Heifer Junior Young Farmer

1^st – Lot 17 – Anna Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie

2^nd – Lot 15 – Abbie Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

3^rd – Lot 16 – Lewis Keir, Cairncoullie, Glenkindie

4^th – Lot 18 – Annie Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie

Class 3b – Single Haltered Heifer Senior Young Farmer

1^st – Lot 19 – Cally Harper, Westholme, 7 Deveron Road, Turriff

2^nd – Lot 20 – Thomas Hall, 6 Bruce Brae, Longside

Class 4a – Single Haltered Bullock Junior Young Farmer

1^st – Lot 21 – Megan Glass-Smith, Mill of Fowlis, Muir of Fowlis

Class 4b – Single Haltered Bullock Senior Young Farmer

1^st – Lot 23 – Rachael Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith

2^nd – Lot 24 – Lyndsay Nelson, Mains of Lundie Farm, Edzell

3^rd – Lot 22 – Faye Wilkie, Braigiewell, Echt

Champion Young Farmers Haltered Cattle

(RPD Perpetual Challenge Trophy)

Lot 17 – Anna Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie

Reserve Champion Young Farmers Haltered Cattle

(Tom Cruickshank Perpetual Trophy)

Cally Harper, Westholme, 7 Deveron Road, Turriff

Best Overall Haltered Heifer

Lot 17 – Anna Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie

Reserve Overall Haltered Heifer

Lot 19 – Cally Harper, Westholme, 7 Deveron Road, Turriff

Best Overall Haltered Bullock

Lot 23 – Rachael Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith

Reserve Overall Haltered Bullock

Lot 24 – Lyndsay Nelson, Mains of Lundie Farm, Edzell

Best Animal of Opposite Sex to Champion

(Frank Smart Perpetual Trophy)

Lot 23 – Rachael Davidson, Corsairtly, Keith

Best Home Bred Animal

(The Arthur T Alsop Beef Cattle Trophy)

Lot 15 – Abbie Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

Class 7A – Single Unhaltered Heifer

1^st Lot 33 – Cally Harper, Westholme, 7 Deveron Road, Turriff

2^nd Lot 34 – Anna Fettes, Braes of Enzie, Buckie

3^rd Lot 32 – Lewis Keir, Cairncoullie, Glenkindie

Class 7B – Single Unhaltered Heifer

1^st – Lot 38 – Robert Anderson, The Bungalow, Brucewells

2^nd – Lot 36 – Stuart Ross, Wardhead, Strichen

3^rd – Lot 35 – Jenna Ross, Wardhead, Strichen

4^th – Lot 37 – Emma Smith, Drumnahive, Kildrummy

Class 8 – Single Unhaltered Bullock

1^st – Lot 41 – Stuart Ross, Wardhead, Strichen

2^nd – Lot 39 – Jenna Ross, Wardhead, Strichen

3^rd – Lot 42 – Jack Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith

4^th – Lot 40 – Lewis Keir, Cairncoullie, Glenkindie

Champion Young Farmers Unhaltered Cattle

(The Clydesdale Bank PLC Perpetual Challenge Trophy)

Lot 33 – Cally Harper, Westholme, 7 Deveron Road, Turriff

Reserve Champion Young Farmers Unhaltered Cattle

(The Peter Glass Perpetual Trophy)

Lot 38 – Robert Anderson, The Bungalow, Brucewells

Class 9A – Single Open Unhaltered Heifer

1^st – Lot 45 – Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud

2^nd – Lot 46 – Sheep Park, Farms Bridge of Marnoch

3^rd – Lot 43 – Stuart Forman, Fridayhill, Maud

4^th – Lot 44 – Stuart Forman, Fridayhill, Maud

Class 9B – Single Open Unhaltered Heifer

1^st – Lot 52 – Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch

2^nd – Lot 51 – Ian Pirie & Co, Overton of Bruxie, Maud

3^rd – Lot 49 – Ross Bros, Wardhead, Strichen

4^th – Lot 48 – Tommy Connell, Little Muddy Lumphart, Inverurie

Class 9C – Single Open Unhaltered Heifer

1^st –  Lot 54 – J & J Watt, Stoneyhill, Keith-hall

2^nd – Lot 56 – Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch

3^rd – Lot 57 – G & D Anderson, Brucewells, Netherley

4^th – Lot 53 – C I C Farmers, Daleford, Rathen

Class 9C – Single Open Unhaltered Heifer

1^st –  Lot 59 – Emma Smith, Drumnahive, Kildrummy

2^nd – Lot 58 – A & E Cumming, Tillydesk, Ellon

3^rd – Lot 60 – Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch

4^th – Lot 62 – Ross Bros, Wardhead, Strichen

Class 10A – Single Open Unhaltered Bullock

1^st – Lot 63 – J L I Thomson, Middleton, Potterton

2^nd – Lot 67 – A & E Cumming, Tillydesk, Ellon

3^rd – Lot 66 – Lewis Keir, Cairncoullie, Glenkindie

4^th – Lot 64 – Tommy Connell, Little Muddy Lumphart, Inverurie

Class 10B – Single Open Unhaltered Bullock

1^st – Lot 73 – Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly

2^nd – Lot 68 – G Hendry, Heads of Auchinderran, Keith

3^rd – Lot 71 – Jennifer Hall, 6 Bruce Brae, Longside

4^th – Lot 72 – Fraser Family, Easter Clune, Lethen

Champion Open Unhaltered Cattle

(The Bert Bruce Perpetual Trophy)

Lot 59 – Emma Smith, Drumnahive, Kildrummy

Reserve Champion Open Unhaltered Cattle

(The Gordon Soutar Perpetual Cup)

Lot 54 – J & J Watt, Stoneyhill, Keith-hall

Best Animal of Opposite Sex to Open Unhaltered Champion 

(The Bank of Scotland Ice Bucket)

Lot 73 – Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly