Voe Show the best for many years

The crowds were out in force for the 33rd Voe & District Agricultural Annual Show on Saturday.

Gate numbers were the best for many years, the showfield was packed with attractions for all the family and the quality of entries was excellent. The sun made a welcome appearance and a slight breeze kept conditions good for the livestock.

The opening parade was led by show princess Hannah Laurenson with attendant Merran Thompson, and show prince Scott Moncrieff with attendant Nathan Charlton. All four youngsters were “very excited” about leading the Jarls’ Squads and being part of the show and looked extremely smart in their special outfits.

Members of three Jarls’ Squads from Northmavine, Delting and Nesting & Girlsta also took part in the parade and looked resplendent in their respective outfits.

There were queues for the barbeque and ice cream, impressive displays of knitwear and baking, a massive range of trade, information and sales stands and some delighted bairns on the bouncy castle and the Castle in the Sky.

The new tea tent was a huge success and the large tent coped well with the continual large numbers of hungry customers.

The traditional “Tug o’ War” took on a new cant this year. As well as the usual competition between stockmen and Jarls’ Squads, there was a competition between hen parties; human, not the feathered kind.

A sheep shearing competition was also keenly watched by a large audience. Young Adam Duncan from Ennisfirth, Sullom was the eventual winner. Adam is an extremely quick but careful, left-handed shearer.

The quality of the exhibits in all sections was exceptional, making the task of judging an extremely difficult one. Judge Douglas Halcrow found it almost impossible to choose the winner of the overall champion livestock trophy.

In the end, the worthy winner was Gems Black Adder, a beautifully conditioned horse owned by Ali Rennie of Stromfirth. The reserve title went to a magnificent young calf from Willie Doull of Muckle Roe.

Visitors to the show were in full agreement with the decision of Adaline and Peter Mullay, judges of the overall non-livestock champion. The title went to Lauren Anderson of Voe for a stunning bird’s eye lace scarf. Fifteen-year-old Lauren should be extremely proud of this beautiful piece of work.

The reserve title went to young Hannah Williamson of Ollaberry for a striking pressed flower picture. Seven-year-old Hannah must be one of the youngest winners of such a prestigious show title and she too should be especially proud of such a tremendous achievement.

Willie Doull and his family had an exasperating time trying to round up kye and calves in the trailer for the show. “Never again” was heard to be muttered by some. It was all worth it on show day though.

In addition to winning the reserve overall livestock title, Willie’s young calf took a skurt-foo of trophies and awards including best butcher animal, beef cattle champion and overall cattle champion.

A Shetland coo in calf from Sheena Anderson of Ollaberry took the reserve overall cattle champion title and she was also awarded the best registered Shetland.

A special mention must go to young Julie Williamson’s hand-reared Highland calf. The cuddly bundle took the top prize in the pets section for three year old Julie, from Voe. If prizes were awarded for “best behaved” the young calf would also have won this. The calf spent most of the day asleep, oblivious to the “oohs and aahs” of an admiring crowd.

After a two-year break from the show Fraser Anderson of Eshaness was back with pure-bred texel lambs. His young ram lamb beat off very stiff competition to take the supreme sheep champion title. The ram lamb was also awarded the overall sheep champion, other than Shetland and the texel champion.

R J Poleson, Swinister, Ollaberry, well-known for breeding quality Cheviot lambs, took the reserve overall sheep champion title with a Suffolk gimmer.

Native Shetland sheep also were also awarded plenty of titles, rosettes and trophies. A white two year old Shetland tup from Robbie Anderson of Ollaberry took the overall Shetland sheep award and the same tup was also awarded the reserve supreme champion title.

Poultry, pets, Shetland sheepdogs, working dogs and even a few goats were also represented. There were plenty of horse and ponies in the show too, who were all put through their paces in front of the judges.

In the Shetland pony class the junior champion title went to a three-year-old filly Koistie Christie Bell with Tracey-Anne Anderson. The reserve title went to Lunna Dolly, a filly foal from Pam Williamson of Lunna.

Wells Treble Chance, an entire male from Ingrid Sutherland, was named the senior champion with broodmare Koistie Midnight Magic with Tracey-Anne Anderson taking the reserve title.

Ingrid Sutherland with Wells Treble Chance was awarded the overall champion title and Tracey-Anne Anderson with Koistie Christie Bell took the reserve title.

In the horse and pony section the overall champion was Ali Rennie with Gems Black Adder and reserve place went to Charlotte Cree-Hay with Bella.

The produce hut containing the flowers and vegetables was full of sights, scents and colours. David Sutherland of Brae had the best collection of produce while Nancy Johnson of Eshaness had the best collection of garden produce grown outdoors.

Glenys Robertson of Muckle Roe took the prize for best in cut flowers and show vice-president Maureen Cumming was awarded the trophy for best in flower show. Young Hannah Williamson of Ollaberry won the best overall across all sections of produce in the show.

An exhausted but happy show president Alex Stout said: “The show has been splendid. I canna complain about anything. It’s been a brilliant day for everyone and the car park here is bursting at the seams.

“None of this would be possible without the folk that exhibit, the judges, the committee, the volunteers that pull the show together and the folk that come along to support the show. I would just like to thank everyone and hope that everyone involved had a good day too.”

Maree Hay

• For more photographs and all the results see Friday’s <i>Shetland Times</i>.