Tonley is the pinnacle in Turriff

The three-year-old Tonley Heard multi-prize Aberdeen Angus cow added to her growing list of titles after claiming the Champion of Champions title at the Turriff Show.

Blelack Evermore’s three-year-old Tonley Lady Heather, Blelack’s Lady Heather, started the day with a string of breed category wins including overall breed champion, champion female and champion homebred.

In addition to the wins for father and son duo Neil and Mark Wattie, they also claimed the reserve Angus title with their Tonley bull King Paka, sired by Wall Kind Pride’s Tonley Jester Eric.

Commenting on the wins, Mark said: “We’re delighted to pick Breed Champion here again and follow him up with a margin too, so we have a clean sweep.

“We’ve never done this at Turriff before, so today is a good day.

“She’s had a great little career already, this is her fourth win on the trot and she hasn’t won in four shows.

“Her calf, also by Tonley Lady Heather, has also been first at every show she has been to.

“So together they are a real unit.

“She was Stirling Show Champion, Highland Reserve Champion, National Angus Champion, Yorkshire Show Champion, Echt Champion where she claimed the breed, overall cattle and champion titles and now she’s champion here too.

“She still has a career.”

At the National Championships in Norwich a few weeks ago, they were presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, who said she was “amazed” that they had traveled all the way from Aberdeenshire to compete, and there was a smile of recognition when Princess Anne was called upon to present the Sleigh trophies Family for overall champion of champions at this year’s show.

The line-up pitted the overall cattle champions against the overall sheep, riding horse, overall horse and overall Clydesdale champions.

Commenting on the title win, Mark said: “To win a champion of a champion is just amazing, we had such success with her today.”

Reception of the reserve in the Champion of Champions was Sunday Equestrian Champion winner of the Highland Ponies section three-year-old colt West Lodge McNair by owner Robin Stewart of Durris.

Speaking about her selection, judge Helen Goldie said: “I looked at their character and their size and things like that.

“I found the champion to be eye-catching, that’s what really set them apart.

“They are beautiful animals.”

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