Organisers of Scotland’s largest two-day agricultural event have confirmed high numbers of livestock entries for the Turriff Show’s 1,554 classes which range from best cattle, sheep, and horses, through to dogs, rabbits and cavies.
Turriff Show, which will take place on 30th and 31st July 2023, will host not one but two National Shows this year. The Aberdeen Angus Summer National Show and The Scottish National Ryeland Show.
Robert Gilchrist, Chief Executive Officer of The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society says, “The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society is delighted to hold once again our Summer National at the Turriff Show, we always get a great welcome at the Haughs. We are looking forward to a great entry from some of the top herds in both the area and indeed the country.”
The Aberdeen-Angus Show has 73 entries and will be judged by Angus Stovold of the Rosemary Herd in Surrey and the Scottish National Ryeland Show has 86 entries and will be judged by Tom Redmayne from near Carlisle.
“Exhibiting the Ryeland’s at Turriff Show is always a pleasure. It is such a well organised show with brilliant facilities for exhibitors and their livestock. This year’s national show will be a great chance to showcase the Ryeland breed in the Northeast,” says North east representative for the Ryeland’s Society Raymond Aitken.
Other cattle classes at the show which are an equally compelling draw include Limousin (23) Beef Shorthorn (40), Highland (39), British Charolais (13), Simmental (12), British Blue (12) and cross bred beef cattle (48).
Following on from the individual breed judging, exhibitors will have the chance to compete in the groups, pairs and young bull interbreed, which will be judged by Sarah-Jane Jessop from Stirling.
Overall winner and pairs will be judged on the Monday by Mr Dougie McBeath from Stirling.
On Sunday 30th, the carcase cattle and butchery lamb classes will take place at the Woodhead Brothers stand. As always it has proven to be very popular with 30 carcase cattle and 23 lambs entered from commercial breeders and finishers from across the north east.
Sheep class entries sit at 706. Following closely behind with 47 entries is the Texels with other popular categories including Beltex (35), Suffolk (20) and Charollais (35).
The illustrious role of judging the champion of champions in the main ring on Monday 31st July sits in the competent hands of Mrs Mary McCall-Smith from Crieff. This will include the champions from the beef, sheep, ridden pony, in-hand pony and Clydesdale sections.
As well as the traditional livestock classes, Turriff Show is a popular event for exhibitors in some more unique categories, including pigeons, rabbits and cavies; however, due to the ongoing issue with Avian Bird flu, organisers have cancelled the poultry section again for this year.
Commenting on this year’s entries, Show President, Kevin Gray said: “It’s brilliant to see yet again, such a strong entry of livestock. A lot of time and effort comes from the exhibitors to prepare for showing their stock. We are very thankful for the support from exhibitors and to our generous sponsors and donators who allow us to offer great prizes and trophies across all sections.”
A full list of this year’s judges can be found on the Turriff Show website; www.turriffshow.org.