Saturday at The Royal Highland Show. A 60 minute show from RHS TV
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AnimalsTranscript
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00:00:37Hello and welcome back to day three of the Royal Highland Show.
00:00:41There isn't a spare ticket to be had anywhere.
00:00:44To preview, today we're here with Head of Advancement of RAAS,
00:00:47Mr Ali Caulfield, and I guess Head of the Alpakastans, Annie.
00:00:52Ali, it's a sellout at the show today here on a Saturday.
00:00:56What does that mean for rural Scotland?
00:00:58What it means is it's a wonderful showcase about everything that's on offer in rural Scotland.
00:01:03Best of Scottish land, agriculture, food and drink.
00:01:07And having so many people from across the world attend the show is just huge.
00:01:11Absolutely, and we're in our 240th year, which you seem to be very much involved in those celebrations.
00:01:18How has RAAS's relationship with rural Scotland over that 240 year period shifted?
00:01:24So for the last 240 years, RAAS has been a mainstay in Scottish agriculture.
00:01:28We were set up 240 years ago in the Taunton Tavern in Edinburgh,
00:01:32and the issues that brought everybody together back then are even more prevalent today.
00:01:37Absolutely, and you're, as I said, at the heart of those celebrations.
00:01:41Is there any events that are coming with RAAS 240?
00:01:44So we've just finished our Hide and Sheep campaign, where we've hidden over 2,000 cuddly sheep around Scotland,
00:01:50which saw families up and down the country just go around.
00:01:53Go a wee spin.
00:01:54Yep, a wee spin.
00:01:56Go around to try and find small cuddly sheep, which was absolutely fantastic.
00:02:02And it's all about engaging young people in what farming is all about and the importance of the sector.
00:02:09We've got our Harvest Celebrations, which takes the countryside into the heart of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
00:02:15Last year, we had a full combine harvester outside St Giles Cathedral.
00:02:20It's all about reconnecting.
00:02:22In Scotland, at the minute, there is that disconnect between food and farming.
00:02:25People don't know where their food comes from.
00:02:27So what we're trying to do is have a family-friendly approach, start them young and let them understand.
00:02:32I think it's an amazing opportunity here at Highland Show to engage with our consumer.
00:02:37Absolutely. So for you, what's your highlight of the Saturday of the show?
00:02:42Well, apart from playing with Annie today, I love everything about the show.
00:02:46Obviously, we've got the Interbreed Championships, we've got the goats, we've got the chickens.
00:02:50I'm just on my way to do a prize giving with a nursery from the Isle of Bute, giving out the ribbons for the donkeys.
00:02:57And that's a beautiful story.
00:02:58They set up their own agricultural society.
00:03:0130 kids, four and five, that are here now to celebrate everything that is wonderful about Scottish agriculture.
00:03:09Young farmers are doing some great things lately, and that's from an islander myself.
00:03:14But thank you very much for your time, Ali.
00:03:16Thank you.
00:03:17We're now shifting on to the heavy horse turnout fours, which was filmed yesterday.
00:03:29This has surely got to be one of the most spectacular sights at the show.
00:03:33Watching these heavy horse turnouts come from one end of the show field to the other into the main ring here to be judged.
00:03:38Behind us, the heavy horse turnout teams of four are being judged in the main ring.
00:03:42It's slightly damp, but they're certainly keeping the spirits up this afternoon.
00:03:58I wonder if you can maybe give us a sense of what you're looking for when you're judging the heavy horse turnouts and how you come to the decision that you do.
00:04:12I look for the whole package, which is a turnout of horses, men, vehicle, harness, which is in tip-top condition.
00:04:21And when they come into this arena, they pull that vehicle as if there's no effort whatsoever.
00:04:26A team of four should be able to go around this ring with no effort whatsoever.
00:04:31What you're telling us is that you're looking for the way that they move is just as important as the way they're turned out. It is.
00:04:37Oh, yes. It should be easy.
00:04:40So when a horse is showing problems, then I think to myself, everything isn't just right.
00:04:48So I'm looking for a turnout that goes sweetly and effortlessly.
00:04:56Music
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00:05:55Ron, you were driving the heavy horse turnout team of four that won today from Golgar Services. Where are you from?
00:06:02I'm based in Perth. Golgar is down just on the edge of Stirling.
00:06:07How many hours does it take of preparation at home before coming here to get things ready?
00:06:12We start getting ready for the show at the end of the show.
00:06:15You're always hoping to get a new horse in. Just keep your team fresh. So with that side, we start straight away.
00:06:20But for harness cleaning, it's about four or five hours a set of harness.
00:06:25And, you know, the dray takes two or three hours to clean. So it all adds up.
00:06:29And, you know, we started this morning at six o'clock and feeding and mucking and getting them ready. So it's a long day.
00:06:35Training's an all year round thing. And, you know, how does it feel to see all that work come to fruition and win here today?
00:06:42This is the pinnacle to our showing calendar. So to get a win here is always amazing. So that's what we do. You know, that's the buzz.
00:07:12I think there will be some nervous beef farmers here this morning. Today really is like the cup final.
00:07:27Later on, we'll be crowning our overall beef champion. But first, it's time for the beef team's final.
00:07:43We're here at the beef team interbreed judging where we're about to see a spectacle of all the beef breeds on display.
00:07:52We've got the Charlies, the Limousines, Aberdeen Angus, Highland cattle about to enter in teams of four to be judged for the prestigious United Auctions trophy.
00:08:02It's a judging of the United Auctions Beef Cattle Interbreed Award.
00:08:17The beef interbreed at the Highland show is very prestigious. It's representations from each of the breeds, four animals from each of the breeds competing for the United Auctions trophy.
00:08:29It's been in place for a few years. You need the best animals from each class representing their breed to try and attract the judges.
00:08:38The breed societies usually have an input into what animals come forward for the team of four.
00:08:46Ideally, you need a bull, you need a cow, ideally with a calf and two heifers.
00:08:53The people who are picking it would probably look at champions, reserve champions in the different classes.
00:08:59He'll be looking for confirmation, a line of big bull, cow, a bit smaller. Females are meant to be a wee bit smaller.
00:09:07But walking on four good legs, good locomotion, able to carry the magnificent weights that they have going round the ring.
00:09:18But a bit of style, attractive, all these things he's looking for.
00:09:23But they are primarily beef animals, so he's looking for a good representation of a beef cattle.
00:09:31You should be a wee bit worked up, it's a big job.
00:09:35So yeah, absolutely pressured, but self-inflicted in a job you wouldn't want to turn down.
00:09:40So, fine placed him here.
00:09:42As in any team, be it a team of horses or a tug-of-war team, every element of the team has to contribute to the job,
00:09:50or else it's difficult to get any traction.
00:09:53You know, if you've got three good and one bad, well, you've got to look for an even team.
00:09:57And sometimes that means putting out someone good, because the other animals don't match it up.
00:10:02So, yeah, it's a balance you're looking for.
00:10:05I mean, every animal in here deserves a prize.
00:10:08This is the creme de la creme, so you're just looking for picking out small points now.
00:10:13Well, you've always a bias, it doesn't matter what you're looking at.
00:10:16It can be ten cars or ten women or whatever.
00:10:18Everybody has their own personal preference.
00:10:21So, there is that, but you've got to try and put that to one side.
00:10:24You absolutely disappoint more people than you please, but that's the name of the game.
00:10:28You know, you just have to take that on the chin.
00:10:30And down the line I might hear how well or how badly I did, but we'll see how it goes.
00:10:39And now you know that.
00:10:59Yeah, it means a lot.
00:11:00You know, we put a lot of effort in, a lot of work goes into it.
00:11:03And, yeah, it's great to win it.
00:11:05We actually won it last year, and it's nice to come back.
00:11:08The limousine breed, well, they come in from France.
00:11:11They're the dominant beef breed in this country, and they're a terminal sire breed.
00:11:16So, we're looking for size, shape, muscle.
00:11:19They've still got to be functionally sound as well, and just, you know, the complete package.
00:11:23Looking throughout the day, throughout the judging, you're kind of getting ideas of what's going to fit.
00:11:29There is certain selection criteria in the rules, so we've obviously got to fit in with that.
00:11:35And then it really depends what's here.
00:11:37You're looking for cattle that match, similar types, the right kind of size.
00:11:42And, you know, everybody has a different idea of what makes up a good team.
00:11:46You know, we had our idea, and we went with it, and obviously in this instance we were right.
00:11:59♪
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00:15:00♪
00:15:05Welcome back to RHS TV.
00:15:08It's not just Cup Final Day here for the beef breeders,
00:15:11we also have the best of the best of sheep breeders going up for the Sheep Interbreed Championship.
00:15:18♪
00:15:24The crowds are starting to assemble round the sheep rings
00:15:27as the competition is about to begin to find the best of the best,
00:15:30the Sheep Interbreed Champion.
00:15:33Will it be one of our featured breeds this week?
00:15:35The Dutch Spotted, the Blue Texel, maybe the Hebridean or the Shetland?
00:15:40Or it has been a big week for the Texels as they have celebrated their 50th anniversary.
00:15:45So maybe they'll top off a week of celebrations by taking their big title home.
00:15:50♪
00:16:09The pressure on a judge is always pressure there when you judge any class,
00:16:13but people like the interbreed judge today, Jimmy Warnock,
00:16:16Jimmy will have judged a lot of sheep in his life, a lot of different breeds.
00:16:19If I told you all the experience I've had over the years, you'd think I was 150 years old.
00:16:23But as a national fighter, I've had a lot of experience in judging from the length and breadth of Scotland,
00:16:28right down to the south of England.
00:16:30I've been across in France, in Sweden, in Switzerland, all judging,
00:16:34and I've been doing demonstrations.
00:16:36♪
00:16:50Interbreed judges tend to be very experienced in a lot of breeds,
00:16:53and he'll know different breeds will have finer points.
00:16:55So it's not just about the sheep, it's the finer points within each breed.
00:16:58It's very, very difficult because every breed has a particular attribute,
00:17:03and you've got to try and take that attribute,
00:17:06but also you've got to look at the sheep itself.
00:17:10It's got to look at me and say, I'm the one.
00:17:13And as I go down the line with the sheep, both in the front and behind,
00:17:17I want the breeder and the holder of the animal to show off the animal to its best ability.
00:17:22And this is a combined effort. It's not just the sheep.
00:17:25The individual holding it has got to be on par with the sheep.
00:17:29So I'll be watching them all the way, and I just want to warn them all,
00:17:32you've got to be on the ball all the time,
00:17:34because I'll be looking back, looking forward, looking sideways.
00:17:37All the breed champions should be good animals in their own right,
00:17:40because they've been champions.
00:17:41But you'll be looking very much for character.
00:17:43If you look at an animal in the field, it's the one with the ears up,
00:17:46that's looking at you and smiling almost.
00:17:48That's the one that stands there and says, it's me, I want to have this.
00:17:51And that's where Jimmy will be looking.
00:17:53It's a top accolade. It's almost like winning the Euros in Germany.
00:17:58And you know, to come here and go away with the top accolade
00:18:03as the top sheep interbreed champion,
00:18:06that means an awful lot to you for the rest of your life.
00:18:09And you'll never forget that.
00:18:58Once again, the judge is going to let them go, so he can have one look at them.
00:19:10They always look a lot better on the move.
00:19:11When they're on the run, you see the animals much more naturally than you do,
00:19:14especially things like blackies, where they're used to running a hill.
00:19:19So I think we're down to the final few now.
00:19:21Jimmy's having a word with the steward.
00:19:22So they're just talking about how they're going to present these now.
00:19:25He's not asking their opinion.
00:19:26He's just talking about how they're going to put them forward.
00:19:28What's the format?
00:19:29I think we know where he's going.
00:19:31He's going to the taxles.
00:19:32Oh, no, no, no.
00:19:33It's not.
00:19:34No.
00:19:35Supreme champion is the blue-faced Leicester.
00:19:37Congratulations.
00:19:38I will admit, if you'd asked me this morning for my pick,
00:19:40that was the one I would have gone for.
00:19:51Congratulations, Jimmy, on winning the sheep interbreed today.
00:19:53Can you tell us what this means for you?
00:19:55It means the absolute world.
00:19:57You always dream about doing it when you're a wee boy growing up.
00:19:59You always wanted to get to the top, and you've done it now.
00:20:03So it's something you'll never forget the rest of your life.
00:20:06It's always something you'll talk about.
00:20:07And what will this mean for your stock and your farming business going forward?
00:20:12It's always a good selling point when you go to sell stock offers.
00:20:16So it's always something you can say.
00:20:18And people have seen her and know what she's like.
00:20:20So a lot of people go on the mother's side if they've got a good mother.
00:20:23That's what we go on as well.
00:20:43Last year, I came in and said this was heaven in a tent.
00:20:47My God, nothing has changed.
00:20:54If you're asking me what to do with your life, maybe this is my calling.
00:21:05Maybe we should actually be serious for a second and head off and speak to Agnes Aitken,
00:21:10who's going to tell us a wee bit about the top picks here today.
00:21:13Hi there, Agnes.
00:21:14Hello.
00:21:15Nice to meet you.
00:21:16Thank you.
00:21:17Agnes, we're here at the goat section of the Royal Highland Show.
00:21:20Are we happy with entries?
00:21:22This year, the goat section has had the most entries we've had for some time.
00:21:27I think it's actually in the region of 140 altogether.
00:21:32And of course, they're split into dairy goats, boar goats and pygmy goats.
00:21:37But the majority of the entries are in the dairy goat section.
00:21:40So we've done really, really well.
00:21:43Is the standard of entry we're seeing here today at a high level?
00:21:46The quality is exceedingly high.
00:21:48The judge yesterday was making mention of how impressed he was with the general condition,
00:21:55the quality of the animal and how well they were presented by the exhibitors.
00:22:00Do you think you could maybe take some time to show us around some of the top picks?
00:22:04Certainly can.
00:22:06This goat here is the best in show yesterday.
00:22:10And the goat's name is Gilden Elma.
00:22:13She is a crossbreed goat.
00:22:15She did exceedingly well.
00:22:17The conformation is superb.
00:22:19The condition of her is outstanding.
00:22:23She had an excellent yield of milk.
00:22:25And she just has that je ne sais quoi that just draws the judge's eye to her.
00:22:32She's just basically perfection.
00:22:36This is Balmedie Ilex.
00:22:39And she won the best boar goat.
00:22:41She displays all the good characteristics of a meat animal.
00:22:46She's got good, strong legs and limbs to carry her.
00:22:50She's a lovely head and nice ears.
00:22:53And when she walks, she's got a nice, smooth, easy gait.
00:22:58The one at the back is the mother goat.
00:23:01And her name is Broccoli Harmony.
00:23:04And she won the best pygmy.
00:23:07So she was born in 2016.
00:23:09So she's not a young goat.
00:23:11But she's keeping her shape and condition exceedingly well.
00:23:15She's a very attractive, pretty face when you look at her.
00:23:18And she's just generally a very well-balanced little goat.
00:23:35I truly don't want to have to leave here today.
00:23:38As I said earlier, it really is heaven in a tent.
00:23:42You should head down to the goat section of the Highland Show.
00:23:45See you later.
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00:27:07Earlier on in the show, we saw the sheep interbreed champion crowned.
00:27:11It's now time for all of the beef breeds, including your Highland,
00:27:14Hereford and Angus, to go head to head in the Beef Interbreed Championship.
00:27:23Moo!
00:27:33Here in the cattle rings, two and a half days of judging has come down to the next 30 minutes,
00:27:37when one of these magnificent champions will be crowned
00:27:40overall interbreed champion of the Royal Highland Show.
00:27:43Galloway, Galloway, Galloway, a Highlander,
00:27:47and it might be the Royal Champion.
00:27:54Norman, can you give us a sense of how important this competition is for beef farmers?
00:27:58Very important. This is the pinnacle of the farmers' years of preparation
00:28:04to get their animals here to be awarded this prestigious trophy
00:28:09that they were competing for this morning.
00:28:11Go to sell progeny at the bull sales or cows at a later date
00:28:16and an association of winning the beef overall puts thousands onto the animal.
00:28:30There are so many breeds, what will the judge be taking into consideration in reaching a verdict?
00:28:34He'll look for specific individual traits that each breed has,
00:28:40character, walking, locomotion, and a good representation of beef.
00:29:05Well, the best of every breed, so it's difficult.
00:29:08You're looking at small points, you're looking at what makes a difference
00:29:12between the best of one breed and the best of another.
00:29:17And how much of an honour is it for you to have judged the beef interbreed here today?
00:29:20It's a great honour. I would never have expected to be here, to be perfectly honest.
00:29:25I've been involved in the industry all my life,
00:29:27and I keep telling my friends I'll put it in my bid jury when I won't hear it,
00:29:31but I judged at the Highland Show.
00:29:33No, it's a big thing for me, yeah, absolutely.
00:29:36Pure breed, this is the British Blue.
00:30:06The Highland Show
00:30:36The Highland Show
00:31:07The Highland Show
00:31:12The cow I chose is a really maternal beast.
00:31:15I thought she was a super example of the breed.
00:31:18If you wanted a cemental cow, I think that's the one you would be after.
00:31:22The limousine reserve was equally good,
00:31:25but more of a carcass animal maybe than a maternal beast,
00:31:29so that was my reasoning behind it.
00:31:32I'm slightly biased.
00:31:34I liked the Chardonnay, but the limousine in my mind was a very, very good animal.
00:31:39But the cemental cow and calf couldn't go by her.
00:31:43It was a working unit, and she's doing the calf very well.
00:31:53Congratulations on your win in the interbreed championship here today.
00:31:56Can you give us a few words on what this means to yourselves?
00:31:59It's not quite sunk in yet,
00:32:02because it's the quality of cattle here you don't expect to win,
00:32:06so we're over the moon.
00:32:08And how do you plan on celebrating your win?
00:32:10We might have a few drinks tonight.
00:32:12We'll find some energy to celebrate, and then we'll head up the road.
00:32:16And what's the future hold for your cow and calf here?
00:32:19She'll probably be out at the Scottish National in Turriff at the end of the summer,
00:32:25and then she's just going to get some time off and be a cow again.
00:32:36I think we can all expect some pretty big celebrations in the Highland Hall later on tonight after the interbreed.
00:32:42And as an SAYFC member, I'm no stranger to a good celebration.
00:32:47This is a time for everyone to come together,
00:32:49however, friendships will be put on hold for the much-coveted Tug of War competition later today.
00:33:01Now that the major cattle competitions have been judged,
00:33:04the judging ring has been taken over by the Scottish Young Farmers Association.
00:33:08They have taken part in our annual Tug of War competition.
00:33:11This competition is taken very seriously.
00:33:20The Tug of War is a competition that has been running at the Highland Show for years through SAYFC.
00:33:26There are two categories. We've got the male and the female.
00:33:30The male category started in 1981, and the female's was in 1998.
00:33:36We've got two leagues in each half, and then the top two from each league will go through into a semi-final and then a final.
00:33:43The top qualifiers from each of the regions are here today.
00:33:46So we've got teams from the length and breadth of the country, even as far north as Caithness.
00:33:52Our technique's a huge part of it.
00:33:54You'll notice today that when we're weighing them in, they're all different weights,
00:33:57but it's not always the heaviest team and the strongest team that win.
00:34:00Specifically last year, the winner of the Gents competition,
00:34:04they were 20 kilos lighter than their opposition in the final,
00:34:07but their technique and their fitness got them to the trophy.
00:34:17You can see here today that the Tug of War competition brings in a massive crowd.
00:34:21It's one of the highlights of the Young Farmers calendar, especially here at the Highland Show.
00:34:25The atmosphere around the ring here is fantastic, and it gets down to those final pools,
00:34:31the semi-final and the final.
00:34:33All that training comes down to this point, and the crowd really get behind them,
00:34:36and the atmosphere in here is just amazing.
00:34:38So the winner of this competition today obviously gets to take home the trophy,
00:34:42but they also get bragging rights over the rest of the competitors for the rest of the year.
00:34:47Everyone really wants to get their hands on that trophy.
00:34:53I have participated in Tug of War, but I've never been good enough to get to the Highland Show.
00:35:09We're now ready for the finals of the men's and women's teams.
00:35:12It's the best of three pools, wins.
00:35:27We are the first PMF Highland Show champions!
00:35:39Tug of War
00:35:49We are Vega, and we are the Tug of War champions 2024!
00:36:09Tug of War
00:36:31Do you know a farmer, worker or business who is driving the agricultural industry forward?
00:36:37From Sheep Farm of the Year to Contractor of the Year,
00:36:40these awards are open to everyone championing our Scottish agriculture.
00:36:47Brought to you by AgriScot, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland,
00:36:52and The Scottish Farmer, entries are open for the Scottish Agricultural Awards 2024.
00:36:58Culminating in an awards gala night, bringing together over 500 guests,
00:37:03this is a night not to be missed.
00:37:06For information on how to put forward entries into the awards,
00:37:09visit newsquestscotlandevents.com forward slash events forward slash agri awards.
00:37:16We need you to stand up and champion the amazing work and people in Scottish agriculture,
00:37:21and enter today.
00:37:35Click Extra
00:37:37Click Extra
00:38:00Click Extra is valuable to our enterprise
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00:38:15By the sheep having the protection of Click Extra,
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00:38:24then they're a lot healthier and happier.
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00:38:56Renewables are our DNA.
00:39:18I'm Caroline Morton.
00:39:20Previously, Orr Farm here at Hallbeath Farm in Dunfermline with my mother and father,
00:39:25Robin and Nancy Orr,
00:39:27and we have pedigree Aberdeen Anguses and pedigree Texel sheep.
00:39:32At the Highland Show this year, I'm lucky enough,
00:39:35my father and I have been asked to judge the overall young handlers on the Sunday of the show,
00:39:41so we're delighted to participate in the judging.
00:39:44And on top of that, this year, we're actually also entering some Texel sheep
00:39:49and an Aberdeen Angus heifer.
00:39:56I do like getting heavily involved with the preparation of the animals
00:39:59and really having that sense of achievement when you produce an animal
00:40:05that you think is good enough to take to a competition,
00:40:08because the competition these days is very, very strong.
00:40:11So the preparation work and being there on the day,
00:40:14and being in the ring with your fellow competitors,
00:40:16there's always that competitive edge,
00:40:18but you do always encourage each other to do well and get behind each other
00:40:22and are really happy for whoever wins, really, at the end of the day.
00:40:26On the Sunday of the Highland Show, we've got the tough job of comparing beef,
00:40:31sheep, heavy horse and the dairy,
00:40:34and it will be really tough to pick in between the young handlers on the day.
00:40:39Each of them will have different attributes that they're wanting to show off
00:40:41for the animal in front of them, or in front of us, sorry.
00:40:45So it really is very fine details that we'll be looking at to try and pick them apart.
00:40:50They're coming in as a team.
00:40:52As I said, the young handler has to have that connection with the animal
00:40:57to make them really shine in the ring.
00:41:00So it's definitely a combination of both of them together.
00:41:03What's your and your family's connection to the Royal Highland Society?
00:41:08So I think it probably started with my late grandfather,
00:41:12who showed Clydesdales in the past at the Highland Show and has many medals in her drawer.
00:41:16We need to get them on display right enough.
00:41:18But my father, previously, has been very successful with the Friesians
00:41:23before showing the Holsteins as well.
00:41:26And I have loved being involved from the very beginning, doing the young handlers,
00:41:30skiving school to do the calve competition at the Highland Show as well.
00:41:34I also have been involved in the office as well.
00:41:37So after university, I went and helped in the livestock office and absolutely loved it to pieces.
00:41:41Just the team that was in the office was fantastic
00:41:44and you really got a sense of enjoyment meeting all the competitors
00:41:48and getting to know all the different animals.
00:41:51So, yeah, lots of previous experience with the show
00:41:54and now, again, getting the opportunity to show the animals and judge is great.
00:42:00What are some of the advantages of the Royal Highland Society?
00:42:03So it's a really good opportunity for us to advertise what we have at our farm,
00:42:07especially when it's the livestock and the sheep.
00:42:10So there's lots of visitors from overseas,
00:42:13but there's also a lot of people from around the world who come and see.
00:42:17So there's lots of visitors from overseas,
00:42:20but there's also lots of visitors from within Scotland or the wider area of the UK
00:42:25that come to the show that are similar livestock breeders to ourselves
00:42:29and it's a real opportunity to let them see what stock we've got available.
00:42:33So how does the work overall of RAS support and develop and grow the agricultural industry?
00:42:40I think it's that one-off spectacle for the whole year
00:42:44that everyone can come together and you'll get something from the show.
00:42:47So whether that's people that are producing food to take to the food hall,
00:42:52whether that's people with industry that have machinery to sell or new innovations,
00:43:00it's really there for a variety of people.
00:43:04And how important is the charitable work that RAS does?
00:43:08So I've seen some of the charity work done in the past.
00:43:13For example, local shows being awarded some funding to help them really get a boost
00:43:18and bring more public into them because if they don't have the footfall at the show
00:43:23then it's difficult for them to run it and get real small communities understanding what farming means.
00:43:29So I think it's really good that they are out supporting the local farming communities
00:43:36to help them advertise what we can do and that farmers are the good guys.
00:43:43Thank you very much for inviting us to judge the 2024 overall Young Handlers
00:43:49and I would just like to say I wish the Royal Highland Society a fantastic show for their 240th year.
00:44:05One of the major highlights of the Saturday here at the Royal Highland Show
00:44:10is taking a seat in the grandstand and watching the prize-winning horses and cattle in the main ring.
00:44:17I am here in the grand parade in the middle of the main ring at the Highland Show
00:44:22where we're currently parading round all of the best of the best animals from the weekend.
00:44:40This is a harness grooming decoration class and we won all three classes to become champions.
00:44:53Congratulations!
00:45:11My name is Sophie Robertson and I've got Drysdale Martina today.
00:45:16Six year old mare bred in Walker Bay by Mr and Mrs Carlisle and I've had a phenomenal week.
00:45:26Massive congratulations and you've clearly got the rosettes to show for it.
00:45:40My name is Mark Hartley and this is Pendle Sarsaparilla, a two year old heifer.
00:45:53She's the champion of the breed, the British Blues.
00:45:58Tell us how that felt when you were announced as champion.
00:46:01Super, it's the first time we've won the Highland so it's a really special day for us.
00:46:05We've come a long way, we've come out to Lancashire.
00:46:10Katie Jackson bought my jersey, webcam Daisy.
00:46:31You've clearly done pretty well, tell us how that felt.
00:46:34Really good, it's our first show out so it's really good to come home with a sash anyway.
00:47:05I'm Malcolm Pye from Red Knock, we're Solaire breeders.
00:47:11This little fellow is a two month old calf and his mother there, Oriana, was the champion of Solaire.
00:47:20Tell us how today's felt with that experience then.
00:47:23Very exciting, great experience, it's a great honour to represent your breed at the Highland Show.
00:48:05From fisheries to forestry, agriculture to rewilding, Scotland's rural sector impacts us all.
00:48:11Our coverage will enlighten your understanding of this vital sector.
00:48:15Having grown up in the countryside, writing about this topic, it's not just a job, it's a passion.
00:48:22Our team of specialists cover all aspects of Scottish life.
00:48:25Find your Scottish enlightenment, join us in digital and in print today.
00:48:35Find your Scottish enlightenment at www.scotlandscout.co.uk
00:48:39Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:48:42Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:48:45Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:48:48Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:48:51Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:48:54Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:48:57Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:49:04Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:49:07Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:49:34We're gonna take on the world!
00:50:04Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:07Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:10Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:13Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:16Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:19Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:22Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:25Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:28Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:31Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:34Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:37Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:40Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:43Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:46Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:49Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:52Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:55Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:50:58Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:51:01Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:51:04Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:51:07Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:51:10Scotland's Royal Society of Scots
00:51:13My name's Graham Hodgson, I manage and promote the Forestry Events Arena at the Royal Highland Show.
00:51:20I'm involved in forestry, been involved in forestry since I was a young boy.
00:51:26Growing up with it, my family history, we've got over 200 and something years between us all in forestry and woodland management.
00:51:35We've moved around a lot, to where the work is, the timber, we're now based in South West Scotland.
00:51:43RAS has been involved in trying to promote forestry and the forest industry since the 1990s
00:51:51and we've got a long history of trying to promote woodland and woodland creation
00:51:58and obviously the harvest inside, timber production
00:52:02and the RAS has supported the industry with this arena
00:52:08and hopefully in the future we'll continue to grow.
00:52:12The key message is this year, we're looking at, obviously we're moving forward with climate change
00:52:18and how to manage the woodland, it's one of the priority measures.
00:52:24We're also looking at renewable technology, we've got electric wood chippers here, we've got electric firewood processors
00:52:33so we're trying to be environmentally sensitive, I think most foresters are.
00:52:41We've recycled the old poles, we've turned them into picnic benches,
00:52:47we're going to have a little area here for the children to come and have the lunch and things like that.
00:52:54We are trying to obviously use the timber, it's very valuable timber, it's very useful timber.
00:53:00I think if we had to invent, if we didn't have trees we'd have to invent something similar
00:53:08and we're trying to use the wood as a forester, we always try and use it the best way we can.
00:53:18I'd like this year to wish the Royal Highland Society a happy birthday on their 240th anniversary
00:53:25and long may it continue.
00:53:27The biggest prize at the Royal Highland Show in monetary terms is the Show Jumping Grand Prix
00:53:41which attracts competitors from all over the UK and Ireland.
00:53:45This year we've got a surprise competitor.
00:53:49Are you sure they won't know it's not a real horse?
00:53:58The grandstand's packed here today as everyone wants to see some of the best Show Jumpers from Britain and Ireland
00:54:03competing for the £8,000 prize on offer at the Highland Show Grand Prix.
00:54:28So Eamon, tell us a little bit about the competition today.
00:54:31I mean it's going to be big, it's 1.55m so it's certainly going to be a test of skill and ability.
00:54:37That means there's going to be a lot of trust needed between the partnerships that's coming forward.
00:54:41There's 20 of them and it's a real, real stellar talent on the field.
00:54:46So who are the favourite riders for today?
00:54:48I mean you look down the list, you've got I think 6 young riders, there's 3 of those from Scotland.
00:54:53One of them, Fergal Houlihan, 17 years old and he's really making his footprint in international Show Jumping.
00:54:59You go on down, we have a back-to-back national champion from Lincolnshire, Milfield Baloney and Adrian Speight.
00:55:05He took the title in 2022-2023 and he's won loads here before in the past.
00:55:10You could go on to Annabelle Shields behind closed doors in 2021.
00:55:14She won the Grand Prix then. I think we had 2 former winners on the course coming up today.
00:55:19So it's going to be really interesting to see the dynamics of how that plays out.
00:55:22We've got Paul Barker with Greengrass, who is a personal favourite of mine, the horse that is.
00:55:28Well, Paul's nice too but I like the horse.
00:55:30We've got a lot of good, good young riders here.
00:55:33We've got Fraser Reid, Rachel Proudly, they're very young.
00:55:37Fergal Houlihan as well, he's a Scottish rider.
00:55:40Very, very good young riders coming up.
00:56:23After the first round, there are 10 riders that go through to the jump-off against the clock.
00:56:27It's going to be fast and furious.
00:56:29Now to the national champion, will you turn our attention.
00:56:32First of those up, final two, with Judith Withers, Milfield Baloney.
00:56:36It is Adrian Speight.
00:56:42Well, I haven't shown.
00:56:43He is the national champion of Greengrass.
00:56:47Well, I haven't shown.
00:56:49He is the national champion of Great Britain.
00:56:52You can give a better welcome than that.
00:56:54Milfield Baloney, Adrian Speight.
00:57:16He's in touch.
00:57:46He's in touch.
00:57:51Can he? Can he? Yes he can!
00:58:17Well, congratulations Adrian, how are you feeling?
00:58:20Oh great, fantastic.
00:58:22We've won it three times now, the last three years.
00:58:26To win it once is great, fantastic second, but bloody amazing three times.
00:58:30So how long have you been riding this handsome chap?
00:58:32Five years now.
00:58:33He's 18, I got him when he was 13.
00:58:37And what does it mean to you to ride in front of this brilliant crowd here at the Highland Show?
00:58:41One of the best crowds out, we've said it for years now.
00:58:44It's almost like a football match, isn't it?
00:58:46The crowd are fantastic, they get into it.
00:58:48It is a real good competition to win, a great one.
00:58:51Well, I was about to ask, it's a good prize here.
00:58:53Does that mean a lot in such an expensive sport?
00:58:56It definitely does, yeah.
00:58:58We're lucky to have the sponsors for this competition.
00:59:00And it certainly helps, it goes a long way.
00:59:02Helps us keep the horses on the road and the wagons moving, yeah.
00:59:15And on that high-jumping highlight, it's time to bring the curtain down
00:59:20in another day of coverage here at Ingleston.
00:59:23Join us again tomorrow for the final day of the Royal Highland Show.
00:59:28Bye for now.
00:59:44.