The annual Young Farmers Overwintering Competition hosted by Aberdeen & Northern Marts, sponsored by A H Mackay, West Greenland and took place at the Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae on Monday 3^rd April alongside the Show and Sale of Store Cattle including Aberdeen Angus and other Native Breeds sponsored by the North of Scotland Newspaper.

The annual competition encourages young farmers to take part in the buying and selling of cattle through the live auction system and, in particular to practice the art of stockmanship in the tasks of selection, feeding, presenting and parading animals for Show and Sale. 

Bill Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, Grange, Keith judged the proceedings and his overall Champion was a 506kg Limousin Bullock from Lyndsey Dunnet, Linkmoor, Warse which was tapped out by the judge for £1,800. The Reserve Champion was a 488kg Limousin Bullock from Abbie Dunnet, Linkmoor, Warse which sold to £1,780 to James Gunn, Whitefield, Reiss. Both Bullocks were bred by G W Begg, Vauldale. 

The winner of the W & A Geddes Perpetual Trophy for the best Daily Live Weight Gain of 1.118kg per Day was for a 488kg Limousin Bullock from Abbie Dunnet. The Highest Gross Margin Bullock prize was awarded to Lyndsey Dunnet for a 506kg Limousin Cross Bullock.

The Best Daily Liveweight Gain and the Best Gross Margin Heifer Section went to Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick for a 442kg Charolais Heifer bred by I D Stewart, Reisgill, Lybster which gained 1.063kg per day. The awards for best paraded and presented animal as well as the Special Prize for highest placed Charolais Cross Sired by a Registered Charolais Bull presented by the Scottish and Northern Charolais Club also went to Sophie Tucker.

The Show and Sale of Store Cattle including Aberdeen Angus and Native breeds, sponsored by the North of Scotland Newspaper, sold 920 store cattle.

The judges champion was a 685kg Charolais Bullock from D A Budge, Brae Edge, Castletown which was tapped out by the judge for a top price £2,140 to W & J Cameron, Burnside of Edingight, Grange.

The reserve champion was awarded to a 517kg Limousin cross Heifer from J & R Allan, Gillock Mains, Gillock and wend onto achieve £1,760 to the judge.

Scott Chapman, Auctioneer at Aberdeen & Northern Marts said: “A Fantastic Show of Cattle were sold through Caithness Livestock Centre today with a buzzing ringside of buyers present for all classes which reflected in the trade.

A huge thank you to our exhibitors and to A H Mackay, West Greenland and the North of Scotland Newspaper for kindly sponsoring the event.”

Sale averages: Bullocks (471) averaged 309p and sold to 353.3p per kg and £2140 gross. Aberdeen-Angus Bullocks (93) averaged 301.7p and sold to 325.1p per kg and £1580 gross. Heifers (301) averaged 289p and sold to 340.4p per kg and £1840 gross. Aberdeen-Angus Heifers (55) averaged 263.9p and sold to 335.5p per kg and £1680 gross.

Haltered Bullock:

1^st – Lot 32 Lyndsey Dunnet, Linkmoor, Canisbay

2^nd – Lot 31 Abbie Dunnet, Linkmoor, Canisbay

3^rd – Lot 33 Murray Mackenzie, Westfield House, Bridge of Westfield

4^th – Lot 30 Isla Mackay, Strath Farm, Watten

Haltered Heifer:

1^st – Lot 28 Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

2^nd – Lot 28 William Campbell,  Heather View, Watten

3^rd – Lot 26 William Campbell, Heather View, Watten

4^th – Lot 27 William Campbell, Heather View, Watten

Unhaltered Bullock:

1^st – Lot 25 Calvin Forbes,  19 Mowet Place, Lybster

Unhaltered Heifer:

1^st – Lot 24 Erin Mackenzie, Achelone, Halkirk

2^nd – Lot 23 Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

Daily Liveweight Gain Bullock:

1^st – Abbie Dunnet – 1.118, Linkmoor, Canisbay

2^nd – Lynsey Dunnet – 1.006, Linkmoor, Canisbay

3^rd – Murray Mackenzie – 0.902, Westfield House, Bridge of Westfield

Daily Liveweight Gain Heifer:

1^st  – Lot 28 Sophie Tucker – 1.063, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

2^nd – Lot 28 William Campbell – 1.023, Heather View, Watten

3^rd – Lot 26 William Campbell 0.891, Heather View, Watten

Gross Margin Bullock:

1^st – Lot 32 Lyndsay Dunnet, Linkmoor, Canisbay

2^nd – Lot 31 Abbie Dunnet, Linkmoor, Canisbay

3^rd – Lot 33 Murray Mackenzie, Westfield House, Bridge of Westfield

Gross Margin Heifer:

1^st – Lot 28 Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

2^nd – Lot 28 William Campbell, Heather View, Watten

3^rd – Lot 26 William Campbell, Heather View, Watten

Overall Champion:

Lot 32 – Lyndsay Dunnet, Linkmoor, Canisbay

Reserve Champion:

Lot 31 – Abbie Dunnet, Linkmoor, Canisbay

Special Prize for the highest placed Charolais Cross Calf sired by a Registered Charolais Bull presented by the Scottish & Northern Charolais Club – Lot 28 – Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

Best Paraded Animal:

Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

Best Presented Animal:

Sophie Tucker, 21 Smith Terrace, Wick

Junior First Time Exhibitor:

Lyndsey Dunnet, Linkmoor, Canisbay

Senior First Time Exhibitor:

Murray Mackenzie and Erin Mackenzie,

Club Award:

Bower