‘Lilly’ claims Over-Wintering cattle competition crown

April 9, 2018 at 12:12 pm

The champion of this year’s Over-wintering competition was a two-year-old Limousin-cross heifer, bought in October by Gary Stanger, from Sandwick. Pictured with the heifer are, from the left: Gary Stanger, competition judge Harry Emslie, Livestock Supervisor with competition sponsor Northlink Alan Cumming and freight manager with Northlink Kris Bevan. (photo: Kenny Pirie)

Sunday evening saw a packed ringside at Orkney Auction Mart for this year’s Young Farmers Over-Wintering Scheme Competition.

The annual competition saw a Limousin-cross heifer shown by Gary Stanger, from South Seatter, Sandwick take the top spot, with another Limousin-cross heifer shown by Inga Kemp, from Hatston Park, Kirkwall taking the reserve spot.

The competition sees some of the members from Orkney’s three Young Farmers clubs buy a steer or heifer between August and November, and compete to raise the best beast before the competition, in spring.

The event is hosted by the mart, sponsored by Northlink and this year’s judge was Harry Emslie, of Emslie Livestock Ltd, Kinnochie Farm, Mintlaw, Peterhead. The competition saw a high number of spectators turn out, with 29 cattle on show.

The overall reserve at the Over-wintering competition was this Limousin-cross heifer, bought on September last year and shown by Inga Kemp, from Kirkwall. Pictured with Ms Kemp are Livestock Supervisor with competition sponsor Northlink Alan Cumming (middle) and freight manager with Northlink Kris Bevan. (photo: Kenny Pirie)

The overall champion, named Lilly, was just over two years old, having been born on April 3, 2016, and was bought from Housebay Farms, Stonsay, on October 9 last year for £1090.

Following the competition, Mr Stanger was obviously very happy with the result, saying he had been hoping for a win since coming second the first time the competition was held in 2016.

The overall reserve animal was bought on September 18 last year, from G. T. & S. Coghill, Muce, Birsay for £970. The animal was born on May 13, 2016.

It was a successful day for Ms Kemp, as aside from her heifer taking the prize for overall, took the prize for best handler. In 2017, a British Blue cross heifer shown by Ms Kemp took the overall top prize in the Over-Wintering competition.

The competition’s prize for best steer went to a Limousin-cross bought, over-wintered and shown by Kelsey Harvey, from Lyra, Dounby. The steer was born on October 30 last year and was bought from A. & L. Cromarty, Hools, South Ronaldsay for £970.

A sale of the cattle featured in the competition is due to take place today, Monday, alongside a special sale of cattle at Orkney Auction Mart. For sale prices see this Thursday’s edition of The Orcadian.