Black Beauty Bonanza prize goes to Logie Politician
One of the most promising young bulls in the Aberdeen-Angus breed capped a successful showring career on Saturday by winning the yearling bull championship at the Black Beauty Bonanza show of Aberdeen-Angus calves and yearlings at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie,
The 19 month old bull, Logie Politician L137, exhibited by Scotia Homes chairman, Bill Bruce, from his Logie herd at Ellon and paraded by stockman, Andrew Reid, was bull calf champion at the show last year and took the junior bull, reserve junior and reserve male championships at the Royal Highland Show in June.
He is one of the first crop of calves by Blelack Lord Hildago H972, supreme champion at the Stirling bull sale in February, 2010, when purchased for the Logie herd for 25,000gns, and is destined for next February’s Stirling sale.
The judge, Ian Campbell, Thrunton, Alnwick, Northumberland, described the bull as a “great prospect” and praised the overall standard of the show which is organised by the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club and attracted an entry of 105 calves and yearlings from Shetland and Orkney to Angus.
“The tops in all sections were impressive and the standard of presentation exceptional,” he said. “The whole show was a credit to the breed and the exhibitors.”
The Logie herd was earlier named North East Aberdeen-Angus herd of the Year, based on points gained at the summer shows, and also won the trophy for the home-bred animal with the most points.
The breeder of the Blelack sire, Graeme Massie, from Dinnet also had a successful day, winning the bull calf championship with the seven month old, Blelack Jubilant Eric M908, while his nephew, 15 years old George Massie, stood reserve with the seven month old Morven Kilo Master M896. Both were sired by Blelack Equity J127. George, who has two cows of his own, also won the award for the best animal from a herd of 10 cows and under.
Blelack was placed reserve for the heifer calf championship with the seven month old, Blelack Bluebird M875, by this year’s Highland Show champion, Blelack Egotist K531, and their two winners went on to win the coveted McCombie Trophy for the best pair of calves.
Neil Wattie, managing director of Sellars Agriculture, Oldmeldrum, and his father, Neil, and son, Mark, enjoyed a double success with Tonley Annie L772, by Hurdcott Elixier E215, and Tonley Fiona L781, by a former Blelack stock bull, Netherallan Peter Pershore E052, winning the yearling heifer championship and reserve and going on to win the award for the best pair of yearlings.
Two daughters of the Netherallan bull from Logie stood reserve for the award for the best pair of calves.
With a strong offering of heifer calves, Charles McCombie and his son, Ben, from Auchincreive, Rothiemay, won the championship in this section, with Auchincreive Etna M526, an eight month old daughter of the home-bred Auchincrieve Ethanol J148, while the old-established Ballindalloch herd owned by Banffshire Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Clare Russell, and her husband, Oliver, was placed reserve for the yearling bull championship with the nine month old Ballindalloch Prince L351, by Carlhurlie Great Start C353.