Bower young farmers take top place in Highland Rally at Quoybrae as InverRoss and Ross-Sutherland also put through paces
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Five clubs from across the region met up at Caithness Livestock Centre for the return of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs' annual Highland Rally.
The Nairn, InverRoss, Ross-Sutherland, Forss and Bower clubs took part in a day of competitions including handicrafts, baking, sports, stockjudging and practical competitions.
Bower young farmers were crowned as rally winners.
North regional chairperson Sarah Mowat said: “It was great to see members return to Caithness for the Highland Rally. With participants from all three districts of the Highland area and a record number of entries, it has started the young farmers' calendar with a bang.
"A massive thank-you must go to the rally committee for organising the event, to the sponsors and also to the members for their time and effort.”
The Hamilton Auction Marts Trophy is awarded annually to the overall top-placed club. Bower's winning total was 95 points, with Forss and Ross-Sutherland second equal on 55.
The day started with an impressive array of baking, handicrafts and team entries in the industrial section. Bower won the Nan Howie Silver Salver for most points in baking with 97 points, ahead of InverRoss (37) and Ross-Sutherland (28).
The P&J Rose Bowl for the club with the most points in the industrial section was also won by Bower, with 64 points. Second place went to InverRoss (39), with Ross-Sutherland (32) third.
The stockjudging took place in the morning with 125 taking part – representing all the competing clubs along with members from Orkney district.
The first-placed team, winning the Farming News Trophy, were Nairn "A" ( Bruce Forbes, Sophie Forbes and Eilish Johnston) with 889 points. Second place went to Bower "A" (Douglas Webster, James Gunn and Fiona Sinclair) on 885 points and in third with 847 points were the Ross-Sutherland "C" trio of Rory Scott, Jamie Mackay and Isla Pryde.
The best individual, winning the Day Challenge Cup, was Nairn member Sophie Forbes, who was also the top-placed female with a score of 311. Second-placed individual and second-placed female was Bower's Fiona Sinclair with 310 points, and third place overall was shared by Isla Pryde (Ross-Sutherland), Greg Robertson (Bower) and Sarah Mowat (Ross-Sutherland), all with 307 points.
Isla Pryde and Sarah Mowat were also joint third in the female section.
In the junior section, first place went to Isla Pryde (Ross-Sutherland) with 307 points, Bower's Lauren Oag (304) was second and Will Oag of Forss (296) took third.
The practical competitions included making a 4ft gate, with materials supplied by Rembrand Timber; water trough assembly, with support from Allan’s of Gillock; an ATV course; joining Rylock wire; roping a load of bales; and weed and disease identification.
Overall winners of the practical section were Bower (54 points), followed by Ross-Sutherland (44) and Forss (38 points).
The sports took place in the afternoon. Members competed in boys' and girls' five-a-side football, mixed teams netball, an obstacle race, tossing the sheaf and tug of war.
Overall winners in the sports section were Bower (39 points), with Forss second on 35 points and Inver-Ross third (34).
Rally convenor Willie Budge said: "Well done to all the young farmers who came along and participated at the rally. It was great to see so many members enjoying the competitions once again.
"Thanks must go to everyone who put in a power of work to make the rally happen. Congratulations to all prize-winners and to Bower Young Farmers Club for winning the 2022 Highland Rally."
The event was hosted by the Caithness district and held at Quoybrae by permission of Aberdeen and Northern Marts, with NFU Mutual as main sponsor again.
The day of competitions was followed by a night of dancing, with local DJ Andy Crawford supplying music.
Results:
Industrial – Baking section: 1 (Nan Howie Silver Salver) Bower; 2 InverRoss; 3 Ross-Sutherland.
Industrial – Overall most points: 1 (P&J Rose Bowl) Bower; 2 InverRoss; 3 Ross-Sutherland.
Team stockjudging: 1 Nairn "A" (Bruce Forbes, Sophie Forbes and Eilish Johnston), 889 points; 2 Bower "A" (Douglas Webster, James Gunn and Fiona Sinclair), 885 points; 3 Ross-Sutherland "C" (Rory Scott, Jamie Mackay and Isla Pryde), 847 points.
Individual stockjudging: 1 Sophie Forbes, Nairn; 2 Fiona Sinclair, Bower; 3eq Isla Pryde, Ross-Sutherland, Sarah Mowat, Ross-Sutherland, and Greg Robertson, Bower.
Junior stockjudging: 1 Isla Pryde, Ross Sutherland; 2 Lauren Oag, Bower; 3 Will Oag, Forss.
Female stockjudging: 1 Sophie Forbes, Nairn; 2 Fiona Sinclair, Bower; 3 eq Sarah Mowat and Isla Pryde, Ross-Sutherland.
Practical section: 1 Bower; 2 Ross-Sutherland; 3 Forss.
Sports: 1 Bower; 2 Forss; 3 InverRoss.
Overall points: Bower.
