NSA Scotsheep events - Image & Video Gallery

A record-breaking crowd flocked to Over Finlarg for the long-awaited NSA Scotsheep 2022, where thousands of farmers, industry enthusiasts and school children gathered for a well-deserved day out in the Angus countryside.

After being postponed on three previous occasions due to COVID-19, host farmers Robert and Hazel McNee, were delighted to finally open their farm gates to visitors who travelled the length and breadth of the UK, and indeed from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The event, with Virgin Money as major sponsors, featured 40 breed societies and individual breeders, 160 trade stands and various competitions and seminars which were held throughout the course of the day, with the farm tour proving extremely popular.

It was former United Auctions executive chairman David Leggat MBE, who officially opened the event and congratulated the McNee family on how well the farm was looking and the high-quality pedigree and commercial livestock that they produce each year.

He also praised Scottish agriculture, in particular Scottish beef and lamb, but urgently called for more government support to help develop the farming industry beyond 2024.

“The main responsibilities of government include food security, food supply and food safety so we cannot ignore farmers’ roles as providers of food for the nation,” he said.

“Significant support must be given to production and infrastructure as it’s essential to maintain the critical mass of both Scottish beef and lamb.”

With focus on carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, a full farm carbon audit on Over Finlarg was conducted by main sponsors Virgin Money, in a bid to encourage more farmers to make use of new technology to improve efficiency.

Simon Haley, director of Carbon Metrics, said that Over Finlarg was very efficient and that total emissions for both the beef and sheep enterprises were well below agrecalc averages.

The sale of ewe hoggs at the closing of the event attracted its usual crowd of spectators which saw a new Scotsheep record of £2000 apiece paid for a pair of Badgerface Texels from Stuart and Wendy Hunter of the Hunters from West Cairnhill, Insch.

Sired by Cleenagh Biggy, and bred from their foundation ewe, they were purchased by Lancashire breeders, Caroline Brown and Sheila Mason.

The couple also topped the Blue Texels, selling a pair for £1500 to Ayrshire breeder David Alexander, from Millside, Galston. One is by Lyles Eagle, with the other being sired by Hunters Deerstalker.

Robbie Wilson’s Milnbank flock from North Dorlaithers, Turriff, produced the overall champion pair with two Texels by Castlecairn Doodlebro, which sold to David Pickford, Cheshire.

Kate McNee’s black North Country Cheviots made £1300 each to Dean Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Elgin, with all proceeds being donated to Prostate Scotland.

The family also sold Texel cross hoggs with Beltex lambs at foot to a top of £250 per head twice.

A shepherd’s crook made by John Fotheringham from Ardler, Meigle, was sold prior to the sale of ewe hoggs, raising £400 for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

Jennifer Craig, chairperson of NSA Scotland, was awarded the NSA Scotland silver salver for outstanding contribution to the sheep industry.

Ms Craig farms at Normangill, Crawford, Biggar, and is currently in her fourth year as chairperson of the organisation.

NSA Scotsheep 2022 – Competition Results

NSA Next Generation of the Year Competition

Sponsored by the Texel Sheep Society

1^st          Ewan Runciman, Huntington Farm Cottages, Lauder, Berwickshire.

2^nd         Freddy Fulford, Erracht Lodge, Banavie, Fort William.

3^rd          Billy Gray, Sornbeg Farm, Galston, Ayrshire.

4^th          Ruaridh Lawrie, Westerton Farm, Balintore, By Kirriemuir .

5^th          Harry Gemmill, Ifferdale Farm, Saddell, By Campbeltown.

6^th          Catherine Pringle, Saughland Farm, Pathhead.

7^th Joint               Ian Armstrong, Brae Farm, Kintore, Inverurie.

7^th Joint               Thomas Smith, Dairy House Kells, Southwick, Dumfries & Galloway.

Highest placed under 21

Freddy Fulford.

Sheep dog element of competition

Sponsored by the International Sheep Dog Society

1^st          Freddy Fulford.

2^nd         Catherine Pringle.

3^rd          Thomas Smith.

4^th          Ewan Runciman.

5^th          Rebecca Clarke, West Whitecastle Farm, Biggar, South Lanarkshire.

6^th          William Fotheringham, Bankhead Farm, Forteviot, Perth.

7^th          Rebecca Duncan, Lands of Drumhead, Balfron Station, Glasgow.

Fencing Competition

Sponsored by Tornado & James Jones & Sons.

1^st          HVB Fencing, Waterhouses, Stoke-on- Trent (Simon Gibbs & John Morgan).

2^nd         Knoxfield Estate Services, Milton of Collace, Burrelton, Perthshire (Mark Stewart & Matthew Gray)

3^rd          Samson Fencing, Parkgate, Dumfries (Rory Samson & Duncan Samson).

Invitational Sheep Dog Trial Competition

Sponsored by McCaskie Agriculture

1^st          Elinore Nilsson, Ardormie, Alyth, Perthshire, with Kid.

2^nd         Neil Campbell, Quarry Cottage, Fossoway.                        

3^rd          Michael Gallagher, Ardormie, Alyth, Perthshire.

4^th          Stephen Alexander, Easter Auquhollie, Rickarton, Stonehaven.   

5^th          A Cameron, 17 Monteith Crescent, Callander, Perthshire.            

6^th          Stewart McFarlane, Ashmore Estate, Bridge of Cally, Perthshire.

7^th          Ian Rimmer, Ashmore Estate, Bridge of Cally, Perthshire.

8^th          Scott MacCauley, Connachan Farm, Crieff, Perthshire.    

9^th          Alistair McKenzie, Blairnairn Farm, Glen Fruin, Helensburgh.       

10^th        Rory Hood, Glenarm Farm, Glen Clova, Angus.

Best Outrun & Lift – Stewart McFarlane.

Best Pen & Shed – Neil Campbell.

Stockjudging Competitions                   

Sponsored by Galloway & MacLeod.

Open   

1^st          Kevin Laing.

2^nd         Anna Smith.

3^rd          Harry Gemmill.

YFC       

1^st          John Graham.

2^nd         Gavin Law.

3^rd          Muriel Forbes.

Sheep Shearing – Quickshear Competition

Sponsored by Blackface SBA, Luing Cattle Society, TagFaster – Datamars UK, Scottish Woodlands & Scruffy Dog Cider.

1^st          Hamish Mitchell, Glen Farg – 29.6 seconds to shear one hogg.

2^nd         Archie Paterson, Isle of Bute.

3^rd          Michael Dagg, Scottish Borders.

4^th          Brian Simpson, Blairgowrie.

Best Trade Stand Competition

Sheep Breed Society

1st         Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders’ Association.

2^nd         North Country Cheviot Sheep Society.

3^rd          Rough Fell Sheep Breeders’ Association.

Indoor Trade Stands

1^st          Logie Durno Sheep, Inverurie.

2^nd         Luing Cattle Society.

3^rd          Parkside Veterinary Group, Dundee.

Outdoor Trade Stands

1^st          GP Smart & Son, Alford.

2^nd`        ATV Services Scotland, Ayr.

3^rd          Ogilvy Spirits, Glamis.

Show & Sale of Pairs of Ewe Hoggs

Champion Pair Sponsored by Algo         

Robert Wilson, North Doralithers, Turriff with a pair of Texel hoggs by Castlecairn Doodlebro, £1,600 pph sold to David Pickford, Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Class 1 – Bluefaced Leicester Sponsored by Parkside Veterinary Group.

1^st          A & J Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar. £350 pph

Class 2- Scotch Mule Sponsored by Kidd Veterinary Centre

1^st          Moir Livestock, Newmill Rathen, Cairness, Aberdeenshire. £200 pph

2^nd         Moir Livestock. £200 pph

Class 3 – North Country Cheviot Sponsored by Harrison & Hetherington

1^st          RM Adam & Son, Auldallan, Kirriemuir. £450 pph

Class 4 – Scottish Blackface sponsored by Savills

1^st          W Brady, North Amulree, Dunkeld. £200 pph

Class 5 - Suffolk

1^st          Essie Suffolks, Adziel, Strichen. £700 pph

Class 6 - Texel   

1^st & Champion Robert Wilson £1,600 pph

2^nd         Richard Close, Nethermill, Langbank, Port Glasgow. £600pph

3^rd          Robert Wilson. £1,100 pph sold to H Hunter, Braehead, Huntly.

Class 8- Any Other Continental Breed Sponsored by Thornton Law LLP

1^st          W. J & M Hunter, West Cairnhill, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Blue Texel £1,500 pph sold to David Alexander, Millside, Galston, Ayrshire.

2^nd         W. J & M Hunter. Badgerface X Texel £2,000 pph (An NSA Scotsheep record price) sold to Caroline Brown and Sheila Mason, Clapham, Lancaster.

3^rd          Ian McConnell, Crawfordhall, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries. Rouge

Class 9 - Any Cross Bred

1^st          Moir Livestock. Texel X (Ex Scotch Mule) £200 pph

2^nd         Moir Livestock. Suffolk X Texel £200 pph

The sale conducted by mainline sponsors of the event, United Auctions started off with the sale of a shepherd’s crook made by John Fotheringham, Ardler, Meigle which made £400, with the proceeds donated to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, followed by two black North Country Cheviot ewe hoggs from the McNee family that made £1,300 per head to Dean Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Elgin, with the proceeds donated to Prostate Scotland. The McNee’s also sold thirty Texel hoggs with Beltex cross lambs at foot in seven lots, to a top price per head of £250 twice. Other leading prices included £1,100 per head for a pair of Badgerfaced x Texel hoggs from James Scott, Forfar which sold to Howells of Gelli Farm, Cymmer, Port Talbot, Wales.

Guess The Tag Competition

£50 Harbro voucher and bottle of Ogilvy Vodka

Winner: Sarah Martin, Tealing, By Dundee.

Online Ticket Sales Prize Draw

Class Axion 960 with front loader toy tractor sponsored and supplied by Sellars Agriculture

Winner: Rhona Sharp, Nether Logie Farm, Eassie, Forfar.

NSA Scotland Silver Salver

Jen Craig, Normangill, Crawford, Biggar, currently in her fourth year as NSA Scotland Chair, is this year’s recipient of the NSA Scotland silver salver and was presented at NSA Scotsheep 2022 by host farmer Hazel McNee. The silver salver is presented annually to an individual or organisation for outstanding contribution to the sheep industry. The award demonstrates the appreciation NSA Scotland has for its hard-working members and the exceptional people who make up our sheep farming sector.  It is a small step towards thanking those who have had lifetime commitments to further advance the Scottish sheep industry who may not have had the recognition they deserve.

In 2018 the event was held at Kings Arms farm, Ballantrae (Robert & Caroline Dalrymple), 2016 - Blythbank, West Linton (Glenrath Farms Ltd), 2014 - Quixwood, Berwickshire (Macfarlane Farms Ltd) and in 2012 at the Morrison Farm at Dumfries House.