A strong start to the Aberdeen Christmas Classic as the Pedigree Female Sheep Show & Sale kicked off the event, kindly sponsored by RPD.

Date: Monday 24 November 2025

Location: Aberdeen & Northern Marts

Kicking off the annual Aberdeen Christmas Classic, held in conjunction with the Aberdeen Fatstock Association, was the show and sale of Pedigree Female Sheep, kindly sponsored by RPD.

The Suffolks started off with a total clearance and a top of 5,000gns which was enhanced by strong online bidding. 139 sold averaging £1,142.90 per head.

The top price of 5,000gns was paid for the Reserve Champion Suffolk Gimmer, from James C Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly. She is sired by Rempstone Gambler and sold to Craig Coutts, Anfield, Mains of Tonley, Tough.

Suffolk Top Price from James C Innes (photograph by Melissa Irvine Photography)

In the pre-sale show, judged by John Barclay, Mid Brockloch, Maybole, Ayrshire, G L Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon was awarded the Suffolk Championship with a gimmer sired by Dunfell Dynamite, which sold for 4,500gns to R & P Machray, Bilboa, Daviot.

Birness also secured the next two top prices, first 4,000gns for a gimmer sired by Dunfell Dynamite which went onto sell to Angus Brimms, Thruster Mains, Bilbster, followed by the 3rd place gimmer, which sold for 3,800gns to D Delday, Quoy Belloch, Deerness.

A Suffolk Gimmer from Craig Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder achieved 3,000gns, sired by Lakeview Cobra, she went onto sell to Munro, Calcari, Dorrery.

Suffolk Ewe Lambs topped at 2,000gns for the 3rd prize lamb, from R & P Machray, Beech Lodge, Daviot, sold to Graeme Christie, Newton of Balquhain, Pitcaple. Followed by 1,800gns 3 times, first from R & P Machray, selling to H Goldie, Harpercroft Farm, Dundonald. Then the 1st prize ewe lamb from G L Stuart, Milltown of Birness sold to G Mather & Sons, Shandford, Fern, also from the Stuart family selling to Craig Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder.

The Suffolk Ewe trade topped at 2,000gns for the 3rd prize ewe from J G Douglas, Woodhead Cairness, selling to Cairness Ltd, Home Farm, Cairness, Fraserburgh. The 1st prize ewe also from Mr Douglas, sold for 1,000gns to G A Taylor, The Crook, Eastside, South Ronaldsay.

Averages: 38 Suffolk averaged £1,834.72;

48 Texel averaged £1,179.05;

5 Beltex averaged £778.74;

11 Blue Texel averaged £634.77;

29 Dutch Spotted averaged £561.20;

4 Badger Faces averaged £564.37;

3 Blue Faced Leicester averaged £787.50.

Prize List

Suffolk

Judge – John Barclay, Mid Brockloch, Maybole, Ayrshire

Class sponsor – Murray Duguid Seed Merchants Ltd

Ewe

1st Lot 2 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 1,000gns

2nd Lot 3 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 700gns

3rd Lot 1 – J G Douglas Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh – 2,000gns

Gimmer

1st Lot 10 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 4,500gns

2nd Lot 5 – James C Innes Dunscroft, Huntly – 5,000gns

3rd Lot 11 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 3,800gns

Ewe Lamb

1st Lot 31 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 1,800gns

2nd Lot 32 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 1,100gns

3rd Lot 41 – R & P Machray Beech Lodge, Daviot, Inverurie – 2,000gns

Suffolk Champion

Lot 10 – Melvin G L Stuart Milltown of Birness, Ellon – 4,500gns

Reserve Champion

Lot 5 – James C Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly – 5,000gns

Thanks to ANM Group for the report and Melissa Irvine Photography for the photograph.