Landward episode 13 2024 – Royal Highland Show
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00:00Hundreds of thousands of people travel here for the biggest outdoor events in Scotland.
00:08Welcome to Landward from the Royal Highlands Show.
00:31Hello and a very warm welcome to a very special programme bringing you highlights of the 2024
00:36Royal Highlands Show from Ingleston. This incredible event showcases the very best in
00:42Scottish rural life. We've been out and about filming the best bits and here's what's coming
00:47up.
00:50Cammies all over the show sheep.
00:52All in a day's work eh? Made that look easy.
00:56We meet an equine talent spotter.
01:00And Ann's beefing things up in the show ring.
01:03I'm really drawn to the calf I have to say but only because it looks cute.
01:14But first this is the gathering for the best livestock in the land and this year for the
01:19first time ever these panda face sheep, the Kerry Hills, make their appearance at the
01:24show. And a couple of weeks ago I went to Dumfriesshire to meet a family hoping to pick
01:29up some rosettes. Come on!
01:36The Burgess family have been rearing Kerry Hills at Maryfield Farm since 2016. Their
01:44flock name, Top Spot.
01:47So will their name be a hostage to fortune or can they take the top spot at the show?
01:56They've done well in previous shows so they must be in the running. But why did Stuart
02:02Burgess want to invest in this Welsh breed?
02:06They're so smart, so flashy, they're eye catching. When there's a whole flock of Kerrys there
02:12they just really catch your eye. And they're survivors as well, they're easy. And then
02:17when you make a bit of money selling them, that helps as well. You like them even more.
02:23So are these actually going to be in the show?
02:25No, our potential show team's already in the shed so we've got a bit of work still
02:28to do with them when they run up to the Highlands.
02:30Shall we go and see them?
02:31Go for it.
02:32Let's do it, come on.
02:36The whole family are involved in showing. Stuart's wife Angie and his children Georgie
02:42and Angus are brushing up their top top.
02:46So what do you think the judges will be looking for?
02:49It's personal preference, every judge is different. But they'll all want structural correctness,
02:53they'll want a foot in each corner and they'll just want a nice good square sheep with all
02:59the breed characteristics. Black eyes, black nose, black ears. Good ears, you want prick
03:04ears, you want them upright, you don't want them out of the way.
03:08When it comes to the top's outline, Angie is leaving nothing to chance.
03:15Is that a lot of preparation for the show then?
03:17It is, yeah. It normally starts a few weeks before.
03:21Angie's quite feisty, she's working her back and her feet and all that. So how much training
03:26do you have to do before you get into the show ring?
03:28They have to be halt or trained, but normally we tend to do a lot of that when they're lambs
03:33obviously. This tup we bought as a stock tup at a sale, but you have to halt or train them
03:40because to be led in the ring in front of the judge.
03:42Because you've got young Angus doing that too, haven't you?
03:45Yes, Angus has been really good. He's showed a lot of interest in them and he's not scared
03:52to get stuck in.
03:56And all the family's work has been paying off. At a recent Breed Society show they won
04:02male champion and reserve overall champion. But competition at the Highland is expected
04:10to be tougher.
04:11How big a deal would it be to pick up the sheep?
04:15It would be amazing. Especially because it's the first year at the Highland, the show everyone
04:20wants to win. And it's the 125th anniversary of the Keddie Society as well.
04:25Listen, I'm going to let you go on because I don't want you leaving lopsided. But we
04:28wish you all the best and we'll see you at the show.
04:30Thanks very much.
04:31All the best. Cheers.
04:37Well, the big day has arrived for the Burgess family and our own sheep farmer Cammy is on
04:42hand to see how they get on.
04:46Angie and Stuart are in the ring just now. Intense moment there. Let's see how they do.
04:52They're competing in the ram-lam class.
04:55Good result. Angie's taking first prize and Stuart's managed to get second as well.
05:01And the prizes keep on coming. First place for their new lam and best group of three.
05:08All in a day's work, eh? Made that look easy.
05:11And it doesn't end there. They win best male and reserve champion overall.
05:17Stuart, how was that? Reserve overall champion?
05:19Delighted. Fair chuffed. We didn't really expect it either. Such a strong group of ram-lams
05:24as well. And to come to the top of that, I was classed. So, buzzing.
05:28Angie, you won number one and two in the ram-lam class, was that right?
05:32Yeah, yeah. Delighted with that. Really good win in a strong class, yeah.
05:35But there is room for improvement.
05:37Yeah, we'll keep trying. We'll hopefully get the top spot next time.
05:42Name drop class. Well done guys. Fantastic day. Great work.
05:46After all that excitement, I'm heading inside to have a look at some of the 29 different breeds here.
05:54I'm just taking a wee walk down the lines to see if anything catches my eye.
05:58There are plenty of pedigree prize winners on show.
06:01But I'm a commercial sheep farmer, so I get excited by outfits like this.
06:05This girl here, fantastic length and body honour. And of course, two incredible lambs.
06:11Look at the shape on those guys.
06:14That's my take on things, but the real experts get asked to judge here.
06:18It's a huge honour and a man I know very well, John Murray from Chris Flatt Farm,
06:22was chosen to do the blackface classes.
06:24He picked this sheep, a young female from W Ramsey and Sons, as his champion.
06:30And has had a day to reflect on the experience.
06:34Hi John, good to see you.
06:35Good to see you.
06:36How big a deal is it to be asked to judge here?
06:38It's massive. I mean, it's been the thrill of a lifetime.
06:42I've been coming here since I was a wee boy, getting days off school.
06:45And every year I've watched the blackies getting judged.
06:48And to be fair, it's been quite a challenge.
06:52Blackies getting judged and to be finally the man in the centre of the ring.
06:56It's an unforgettable day actually.
06:58And what was the quality of the sheep like?
07:00Quality was really strong. It was a strong show, especially among the females.
07:03And do you think you've made the right decision?
07:06I'm confident, Cameron. I'm confident.
07:08I escaped last night. I was down meeting a lot of the breeders last night
07:11and I had my tin hat on, but I managed to escape without too much damage.
07:15You've not made any enemies?
07:16No enemies.
07:17No new ones anyway?
07:18No new ones.
07:19Well done to John and all the exhibitors too.
07:22The show has been incredible.
07:25What an impressive display of sheep here at the Royal Highland.
07:29It makes me very proud to be a Scottish farmer.
07:33Now, there are plenty of beautifully turned out animals on display here
07:37and some of the humans that come put in a real effort as well.
07:40So we sent our very own fashionista, Rosie,
07:43to tell us what you should wear at the Royal Highland Show.
07:49Every day, 50,000 people stream in through the gates of the show.
07:54So that makes it the perfect place to come and do some people watching
07:58and see some excellent outfits.
08:02Here at the Highland Pony and Hand competition,
08:05the suggested attire for women is
08:08well cut skirt, tartan or otherwise,
08:11or trousers with showing cane.
08:15Well, I used to farm sheep.
08:17So I always kind of go natural fibres.
08:19So I like tweed and I like wool.
08:21And the natural colours to go with the pony.
08:25Coming to the show, you've got to wear like a traditional outfit.
08:28So I've got some clots on.
08:30And the feather as well.
08:31Feather in the hat, yeah.
08:32It just finishes the outfit.
08:36For livestock exhibitors, there are dress codes,
08:39like the show coat.
08:42Tell me about the white coat.
08:44Why do you wear them?
08:45Just to look smart.
08:47Make us more official, I suppose.
08:50Keeps everyone looking the same.
08:51But it does seem a little bit impractical
08:53working with white when you're with these guys.
08:55Yeah, we've said that before, haven't we?
08:57At the end of the day, you're not white anymore.
09:00Well, good luck and hope you don't get too mucky.
09:05In amongst the day visitors,
09:07there's an array of country style on display.
09:11I've just got a nice tweed suit on, leather boots.
09:13It suits an agricultural show.
09:16I really like tweed.
09:17It's kind of my favourite sort of accessory.
09:19So yeah, I do wear quite a lot of tweed.
09:21Just what everyone else wears and stick in for everyone else.
09:24It's the farming look, isn't it?
09:27And if you want to bag yourself a stylish new outfit,
09:31there are tons of retailers about here.
09:34It's the destination for the most style conscious.
09:39Do you come to the Highland Show for shopping?
09:41I do.
09:44And so it seems, do some others.
09:47Excuse me, sir.
09:48Hi.
09:49You're not meant to be shopping, you're meant to be working.
09:52Can you buy that for me, please?
09:53It's not your birthday.
09:55Whilst Jiggy does some actual work,
09:58I think it's time for some retail therapy.
10:01I might find myself a nice pair of wellies.
10:08There is no shortage of amazing produce here at the show.
10:12And later this year, the BBC Food and Farming Awards come to Scotland.
10:16So Lambert, along with our colleagues on radio on Out Of Doors,
10:20have launched the BBC Scotland Local Food Hero Award.
10:24You still have time to make a nomination in this category
10:27or indeed any of the categories in the Food and Farming Awards.
10:31Go to bbc.co.uk slash food awards
10:35where you'll find terms and a privacy notice.
10:38Nominations close just before midnight on the 30th of June, 2024.
10:45Now, where's the beef?
10:47Anne's here to find out.
10:49And she's joined by an old friend
10:52who's something of an expert when it comes to beef cattle.
10:57Fiona Sutherland is a long-time Simmental breeder
11:01I first met at Stirling Bull Sales back in 2022.
11:06There's a lot of work that goes into them,
11:08so it's nice to get the reward at the end of the day.
11:10She's a prize winner, so who better to show me the ropes
11:14when it comes to beef at the Royal Highland.
11:17So Anne, now that you've seen them all, have you got a favourite?
11:20Pressure, pressure, pressure.
11:22I'm really drawn to the calf, I have to say,
11:25but only because it looks cute.
11:28Every animal in the ring is a winner already,
11:31having been named best of their breed.
11:34They're now going head-to-head
11:36to be crowned overall beef champion.
11:40Any hot tips for today?
11:42There is the Simmental cow and calf,
11:44who is just a tremendous example of the Simmental breed,
11:47and also there is a limousine heifer
11:49that just oozes style and class,
11:51and she looks very good in the ring,
11:53so we'll just have to wait and see if the judge picks any.
11:57Does gender make a difference here?
11:59Because there are more cows than bulls, aren't there?
12:02There is in this competition.
12:04I think it's just the way it's landed
12:06in all the different breed sections.
12:08It's the females that have stood out.
12:10It's a good advert for the British beef industry
12:12that the females are winning,
12:14because the females are your foundation in your herd,
12:16and they are what breed everything that you keep.
12:19A lot of bulls are busy just now.
12:21And the bulls are busy, yeah. Big bulls are busy.
12:23That'll work.
12:28She's nice.
12:30Yeah. Those look good, the Charlies.
12:35So he's taking a closer look at the Simmental.
12:38Yeah, she's looking tremendous.
12:40She's big and wide, she's solid on the plates,
12:42and she's got a really nice udder,
12:44so it'll be interesting to see what the judge thinks.
12:46I like her. Yeah.
12:48There we go. He's made his first choice there.
12:51So that's the Angus picked forward.
12:53No particular order.
12:55Into the short wheat.
12:57That's the Charlie.
13:01I think she might be my winner.
13:03I don't know. I just think she's maybe not enough forward.
13:05The Simmental. Oh, the Simmental's forward.
13:07On the limousine. On the limousine.
13:09So it'll be out of these four.
13:11So that's four, not too shortly.
13:15Let's have another good look at the Simmental.
13:17Yes.
13:19I think it's between these two.
13:21Yeah.
13:23Ladies and gentlemen,
13:25the cow with her calf is the overall champion.
13:29And the limousine,
13:31pepper,
13:33reserve champion,
13:35overall beef cattle championship.
13:37Brilliant.
13:41Everyone was turned out to perfection.
13:43It's a credit to all the breeders
13:45and stockpersons that have taken part.
13:47And yeah, I think a worthy winner on the day.
13:49Chuffed. Yeah.
13:55For many farmers,
13:57booking an appointment for a health check
13:59falls way down the list of priorities.
14:01But thankfully here at the show,
14:03a rural charity is providing that service.
14:05So we sent Cammy for an MOT.
14:11While I'm busy on the farm with things like lambing
14:13and shearing, my priority
14:15is getting the work done.
14:17And my health takes a bit of a back seat.
14:19And that mentality is true of most farmers.
14:21Here at the health hut though,
14:23I can get a quick once over.
14:25And Irene here is about to take my blood pressure.
14:27But I cannae speak while she's doing it.
14:29Which isn't easy for me.
14:31So you'll just feel this tight cuff getting tight.
14:33Just relax and concentrate
14:35on your breathing.
14:41Cammy, that's a really good blood pressure.
14:43My mum would be delighted to hear that.
14:45She will be happy.
14:47And why is a health hut like this so important?
14:49It's for people involved in agriculture
14:51and general practice.
14:53So our SABI have decided to go to where the farmers are.
14:55We have done just under 700 blood pressures.
14:57Quite a lot.
14:59And we've found that one in three
15:01are raised.
15:03So that's one in three people
15:05that could have a heart attack or a stroke.
15:07And if you're the sole farmer
15:09on your farm, it could have a huge effect.
15:11Great work.
15:13Keep it up.
15:15And I'll try to keep my blood pressure down for the rest of the show.
15:17Yes.
15:21Doug Bell is one farmer who benefited
15:23from visiting the hub last year.
15:25Doug, tell us what happened.
15:27I was encouraged to go to the stand where I got my blood pressure taken.
15:29And ultimately
15:31it was a wee bit high.
15:33The nurse recommended that I go and visit my GP.
15:35And I'm now on medication
15:37to control my blood pressure.
15:39Another big benefit was I got a full MOT at the GP
15:41who I'd never seen before.
15:43I'd never been to the doctor in my life.
15:45You're quite a stereotypical farmer.
15:47Yes, I think there's quite a few of us in this show, I would imagine.
15:49Yes, absolutely.
15:51So you would recommend it to others to go and get this done?
15:53Without a doubt. It's been a real catalyst
15:55and a wake-up call just to start looking after myself a wee bit better.
15:57Good man, and good on you for speaking about it.
16:01The Health Hut is a potentially life-saving service.
16:03And I'd encourage all my fellow farmers
16:05to look after yourselves
16:07and don't be waiting until next year's show to get a check-up.
16:09For most competitors here in the equestrian area,
16:11showing their horses is a hobby.
16:13For some, though, it's their livelihood.
16:15So Arlene went to Dumfries a couple of weeks ago
16:17to meet a woman whose job it is to train prize winners.
16:33This is Kirsteen Douglas.
16:35For 30 years, she's been a professional show producer.
16:37That means she's paid to train, prepare and compete horses
16:39at shows like the Royal Highland,
16:41much like an owner would pay for a racehorse in training.
16:43She's riding Robbie,
16:45also known as Rich Man, Poor Man,
16:47last year's Highland Supreme Champion Hunter.
16:49He is looking fantastic.
16:51How's he feeling, Kirsteen?
16:53He's feeling good now.
16:55He's starting to loosen up.
16:57Kirsteen's won just about every championship
16:59in the UK,
17:01including the Royal Highland.
17:03Kirsteen's won just about every championship
17:05in the country,
17:07and she's planning to take eight horses
17:09to the Highland show this year.
17:13He is just beautiful.
17:15Making sure they're ready for the spotlight
17:17takes hours and hours of practice.
17:21They work completely different at a show
17:23from what they do at home,
17:25especially big shows because you've got the atmosphere,
17:27the Highland, the Great Yorkshire,
17:29the big rings,
17:31there's so much going on round about.
17:33So the horses, obviously,
17:35the adrenaline they pick up.
17:37So you have to give, put in more work
17:39before the class
17:41so that you've got them,
17:43that you can put them anywhere in that ring that you want them to go.
17:45And they trust you.
17:47Yes. So he's with me the whole way.
17:49You're impressive, aren't you?
17:51Yes, he's a big boy.
17:53The work isn't just confined to the arena.
17:55Creating a highly
17:57polished prize winner
17:59takes a lot of grooming.
18:03But you also have to have an eye
18:05for a champion to begin with.
18:09It's always been a passion, finding them, bringing them on.
18:11And yes, we can't keep them all
18:13and we have to sell on.
18:15And hopefully we find owners and keep them in the yard.
18:19If she can do that,
18:21Kirsteen will enter the horse into competitions
18:23on the owner's behalf,
18:25almost always riding them herself.
18:27But because this is your job,
18:29there's a lot of pressure
18:31involved there.
18:33You can't say it's a job.
18:35It's a passion.
18:37And we're very, very lucky
18:39that none of the clients put pressure on us,
18:41but you put pressure on yourself
18:43because you obviously want to do well for your clients.
18:47We've had some fabulous years at the Highland
18:49and at the end of the day,
18:51as long as the horses go, they perform well,
18:53the rest is up to the judges
18:55It's on that day,
18:57it's those two judges in the ring,
18:59it's their opinion.
19:01And you've always got to think,
19:03win or lose, the horse that you're on
19:05is the one that you want to bring home.
19:09And I'm catching up with Kirsteen
19:11back at the show,
19:13where she's already competing
19:15in the small hunter class,
19:17riding a relative newbie,
19:19Anachmore Huntress.
19:21It's really fascinating
19:23being in the middle of the ring here
19:25because the horses have to go through their paces,
19:27the judges are looking to see what they're going to do
19:29and all the work they put in,
19:31it's really, really tense.
19:33But after a jittery wait,
19:35they make their decision.
19:41We have a winner!
19:43Unbelievable!
19:45They've just called it out,
19:47but that is amazing!
19:49She's beaten
19:5120 other horses to take the title.
19:55Delighted, delighted.
19:57She's done so well, hasn't she?
19:59She has. Being a novice,
20:01she's had a fantastic start to this year,
20:03so she has. It's her third win this season,
20:05so absolutely delighted.
20:07Congratulations, all that hard work pays off.
20:09Yes, thank you.
20:11Well played.
20:13Red Rosette, look at that!
20:19Followed up
20:21with a well-earned lap of honour.
20:27Now from prize-winning horses
20:29to hopefully prize-winning dairy cattle.
20:31They're feminine animals
20:33and you want them to show off
20:35as much femininity as they can.
20:37Last time, Rosie joined
20:39the Lorry Brothers from Kinross
20:41as they prepared their Ayrshires for the show.
20:43The udder can attract
20:45the most attention.
20:47It's all correctly veined,
20:49like this one is, which makes it look like
20:51it's producing as much milk as it can.
20:53Now, Rosie's catching up with James
20:55and David at Ingleson,
20:57ahead of the competition.
20:59All around me,
21:01competitors are using every
21:03available second to get their
21:05prized dairy cattle show ring ready.
21:11Hello James, how are you doing?
21:13Hector Ray is looking absolutely pristine.
21:15Cleaner and a bit less hair than the last time you saw her.
21:17She's been washed about five or six times.
21:19Washed every day at the show.
21:21And then she got clipped at home
21:23and she's been clipped again since she's been here.
21:25The udders are looking fantastic.
21:27How do you get them to that point?
21:29So she was milked
21:31yesterday at around about two o'clock
21:33to get her really looking
21:35as milky and full as we possibly can.
21:39While James gets to work
21:41on one of their other entries,
21:43Buster Barbara,
21:45David takes over preparations on Hector Ray.
21:47Hector Ray is looking
21:49magnificent and very placid.
21:51Yeah, she's nice and quiet so hopefully she's the same
21:53when she gets up to the ring.
21:55The brothers will be facing off against each other
21:57in this cows and milk
21:59second calf class.
22:01David will be leading in Hector Ray
22:03while James will be showing off
22:05Buster Barbara.
22:07But it's not a two horse race.
22:09There are four other Ayrshires
22:11to contend with.
22:13The judge is having a really
22:15good look at the udders.
22:17Seeing everything, the veinage.
22:19So I don't know what he's thinking but we'll see soon.
22:23The judge has taken aside
22:25James and one other cow
22:27so I'm not sure
22:29about Hector Ray at the moment.
22:31It's not looking quite so good.
22:33And it is
22:35all about those udders
22:37as James and Buster Barbara
22:39are the judge's favourite.
22:41Amazing James, well done!
22:43While David and Hector Ray
22:45also make the podium.
22:47In the battle of the brothers, James has come
22:49out on top. He has got first place
22:51and David has got third.
22:53So a really good result for them both
22:55I would say.
22:59And there's more success for the brothers.
23:01While Hector Ray
23:03gets some relief for those bulging udders
23:05in the milking parlour,
23:07James is still
23:09in the show ring with one of their other
23:11entries, Religious Bunty.
23:13That
23:15is the end of the Ayrshire class
23:17and the Lorry family have done so
23:19so well. They won two
23:21third place rosettes, three
23:23first place red rosettes
23:25and overall Ayrshire Dairy
23:27Champion which is absolutely amazing.
23:29They will be so chuffed with that.
23:31The Royal Highland
23:33and many agricultural shows
23:35around the country are great places for the
23:37rural community to catch up and reconnect.
23:39So I'm off for a wee blether
23:41with Perthshire farmer and comedian
23:43Jim Smith.
23:45In fact, Jim's here
23:47to encourage more to do that too
23:49in his role with the RSABI
23:51Farming Charity.
23:53So tell me about your
23:55ambassadorial role here at the show.
23:57They call me the
23:59ambassadorial role here at the show.
24:01The Keep Talking campaign that they've been running
24:03for a few years now, it's just a
24:05reminder to try and tell farmers
24:07to keep talking really.
24:09Now's the chance as the shows
24:11are going, there's more events in the summer
24:13and they've maybe got a bit more free time in the farm just to get out
24:15there and meet some
24:17old friends and have a catch up. And you probably
24:19don't realise you need it.
24:21But I certainly come away back from the show
24:23a bit more chipper
24:25and having caught up with some folk and heard a few
24:27stories.
24:29But I'm glad they're talking about mental health because
24:31up until about five, six years ago
24:33it was never really encouraged
24:35or talked about, certainly in my father's
24:37generation. So it's
24:39good now that we're tackling
24:41it head on. Jim, it's always a
24:43pleasure to speak to you. Nice to see all the best
24:45to you. You take care.
24:47And while Jim
24:49heads off to Keep Talking to more folk,
24:51Anne's on her way to the biggest
24:53draw in the entire show.
24:57Well, the rosette
24:59winners are gathered. The grandstand
25:01is full. That can only mean
25:03one thing. The Grand Parade!
25:15This is Mag Pandor.
25:17She won the Holstein section
25:19and she went on to win the Derry section
25:21and the Queen's Cup.
25:23Did you leave anything else for anyone to win?
25:27No.
25:31Here comes the winner of the Ayrshire
25:33Daily Cast Class. Who do we have
25:35here? This is called
25:37Yoga. Yoga?
25:39Yeah. Does she like doing yoga?
25:41No, she's just called
25:43Yoga. Oh, it's just her name.
25:53You're kissing? I know.
25:55Whether I want one or not, I'm going to get a kiss.
26:01Highland cows. Don't tell the others, but they're my favourite.
26:05We're moving on to
26:07the Horses and Ponies now
26:09and leading the pack, small
26:11but mighty, overall champion
26:13of the Shetlands.
26:21Next up is the Highland Ponies.
26:23Just look at that
26:25coat. The markings are absolutely gorgeous.
26:31This is one for the future then.
26:33Look at that! Four weeks old!
26:37Well, there you have it.
26:39The end of the Grand Parade.
26:41You really would be hard-pressed
26:43to find this standard anywhere else
26:45in the world.
26:49Congratulations to all
26:51our winners. And that brings us to the end
26:53of this programme, indeed this
26:55series. If you want to catch up with any of the
26:57previous episodes, go to the
26:59BBC iPlayer. We will
27:01be back with a brand new series in the autumn
27:03bringing you all the best
27:05from the Scottish countryside. In the meantime, from all
27:07the Lambo team here at the Royal Highland Show,
27:09thank you so much for your company.
27:11Bye for now.
27:21Yee-haw!
27:51Yee-haw!