Caithness sheep farmer's Royal Highland Showcase success after 25-year break
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A Caithness farmer took top prizes at the online Royal Highland Showcase with his North Country Cheviot sheep after returning to farming from a 25-year break.
Andrew Polson grew up on the family croft at Smerlie, Lybster, but was encouraged to go into another trade by his father.
He has spent 25 years as an engineer. However, the draw of sheep-rearing became too much to resist so in 2013 he returned to also do that job.
In 2015, he and his father started his flock of Park-type pedigree North Country Cheviot sheep which now stands at around 200 ewes.
This year, his hard work paid off as he scooped many of the top prizes at the prestigious showcase of farming and rural life.
Andrew placed first and second in the shearling tup class, second in the two-shear class with a tup, third in the ewe lamb and ewe with lambs afoot classes, and fourth in the tup lamb and shearling ewe or gimmer classes.
He said he was "very happy" with his achievements.
“I had a successful career as an engineer and, although I still work in that industry, I always wanted to get back into farming,” Andrew explained.
“It’s in my blood. I couldn’t resist the joy that farming brings and that gave me the drive to start again.
“I saw the Northie as a way forward. They’re a tremendous sheep, very versatile both as pedigrees and as commercial crosses, bringing a range of qualities such a vigour, ease of lambing, fantastic mothering abilities being great, milky ewes, and delivering a great carcass that attracts a premium price.
“They’re a fantastic breed to work with and I’m very happy with our success at the Royal Highland Showcase.”
The Northie ram offers the extra advantage of having two distinct types – the Park type and the Hill type – making it the most versatile choice for sheep breeders across the UK.
The Hill type was developed for its thriftiness and health, meaning it thrives in the poorest upland conditions. Although undoubtedly still a hill breed, the Park type is larger, heavier and perhaps more suited to grassy hills.
Both types make excellent crossing sires, producing sheep to meet most needs.
Melfyn Williams, president of the North Country Cheviot Sheep Society, said it had been fantastic to see so many fine examples of the breed being exhibited.
Mr Williams said: “It has been a challenging time for agricultural shows over the last 18 month or so with many having to cancel due to the pandemic. However, it was great to be able to watch the Highland showcase online and see fine examples of our breed on display.
“Topping off what was a fantastic event was seeing the North Country Cheviot being awarded the reserve interbreed single and the champion pairs title. Hopefully, it gave people the opportunity to see the great carcass shown by the Northie, and the character this versatile breed offers.
“Congratulations to Andrew, who won some well deserved prizes for his top-notch stock.”
The traditional sheep sales will kick off in August with North Country Cheviot lambs, followed by the main September and October ram sales across the UK.
