Garth calf clinches ‘Hope showyard title

Champion of the showyard at today’s ‘Hope Show went to a Limousin cross calf shown by J. & P. Thomson, of Garth, with the show’s horse champion coming in just one point behind it, to claim the show’s overall reserve title.

Today may have begun with a spot of rain, but the 2017 Hope Show proved to be a well attended event with sunshine and light breeze through the majority of the show.

The cattle competition saw Jack Thomson’s male, March-born, homebred, calf named ‘Wurbesteen’ selected by judge Magnus Baillie. Reserve in the section went to a 4-and-a-half-year-old homebred Limousin cow-in-calf, exhibited by A. & L. Cromarty, of Hools, South Ronaldsay.

The best horse at this year’s South Ronaldsay and Burray Agricultural Show was Midcalder Maggie May, a three-year-old Highland filly exhibited by H. & J. Taylor and S. Campbell of Tayberry.

The horse, shown by Sarah Campbell, was last year’s overall champion of the yard at the ‘Hope and this year took the reserve title to a steer calf from J. & P. Thomson of Garth.

Reserve in the horse section this year was a Kirrie, a 14-year-old Friesian cross Cobb owned by Helen Martini, of Cools, and show on the day by Alannah Norquay.

Champion sheep at this year’s show was a three-year-old Cheviot ewe, exhibited by H. & J. Taylor and S. Campbell, of Tayberry.

Meanwhile, Ian Laird, of Yeldabrek triumphed in the poultry section with his Old Dutch Cockerel.

Top dog at the Hope was 8-year-old Golden Labrador, Buddy, exhibited by Magnus Norquoy, of Greenacre.

Champion of the goat section was an 18-month-old British Saanen, called Robot, shown by Jacqueline Scott, from Grutha, in South Ronaldsay.

The pets competition saw a clean sweep for young exhibitor Eddie Corsie-Gunn, who took first, second and third place with his Guinea pigs.