The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), organisers of the Royal Highland Show, has announced the judges for next year’s event which will be held on the 21-24 June 2018.
The task of placing around 6000 head of the country’s top cattle, sheep, horses and goats will be in the hands of 41 judges from Scotland, 47 from England, 11 from Wales, 9 from Northern Ireland and one from the Republic of 
Ireland.
The sheep rings will yet again attract some intense competition, following on from 2017 which saw the highest ever entries for sheep with over 2000 animals. High calibre and experienced judges are always of utmost importance and this year is no exception. The Overall Sheep Inter Breed Championship will be in the very capable hands of James Sinclair from Crookston in Midlothian, and the Overall Sheep Pairs Inter-Breed Championship & Young Handlers Classes will be judged by James MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow. Beltex will be judged by Jonathan Aiken from Dromora, Co. Down, and the Texel class will be the responsibility of Steve Richardson from Mount Pleasant Farm, Great Houghton, in South Yorkshire. The increasingly popular Zwartbles, will be under the watchful eye of Rachel Meggarell from Co. Londonderry.
In the dairy rings, the job of judging the Overall Dairy will be carried out by William Whiteford from the highly respected Middle Ayrshire herd at Middle Farm, Ruleholme, Carlisle. The Ayrshire & British Red and White classes will be judged by Robin Barr from Calderglen, near Campbelltown, who is a great addition to the line-up and a huge supporter of the Royal Highland Show. All the way from Ballinhassock, Co. Cork will be Richard Barratt who will judge the highly contested Holstein class, and Peter Prior, Nortons, Radley Green, Nr Ingateston, Essex will place the Jersey class. The Dairy Shorthorn will be judged by Graham Bell from Chesterton Farm in Tarporley, Cheshire. Willie Fleming from Hillhead Farm, Kirkpatrick Fleming in Dumfriesshire will be in charge of the Dairy Calf and Showmanship.
The enviable task of selecting the Overall Beef Native Inter Breed Team Champion 2018 will be in the very capable hands of Orkney farmer Liam Muir of Upper Onston Farm in Stenness, and Tom Arnott from Kelso, past Chief Steward of Beef Cattle for the Royal Highland Show, will decide the Beef Inter Breed Team Competition and Overall Beef Inter-Breed Championship. Other beef judges include Libby Clarke, the hugely respected Chief Steward of Beef Cattle and Commentator at the Royal Ulster, who will judge Beef Shorthorn. We also have one of our youngest ever judges in Laura Green from the ‘Corskie’ Simmental herd, who will judge Young Handler. Laura, who has been involved in the Aberdeen Angus Youth Development Programme and graduated from agricultural college, now works alongside her father Iain. The much-loved Highland Cattle will be ranked by Dochie Ormiston who runs the Balmoral cattle for our Patron, Her Majesty the Queen, and the Simmental cattle will be the responsibility of the very competent RHASS Past Chairman, John Dykes. The Charolais and Salers will be looked over by the father and daughter combo Peter and Sophie Donger from Towcester in Northamptonshire.
There will be 35 horse sections in 2018 and, from within these, 40 HOYS Championship Qualification classes. All classes will be judged by some of the most experienced and able individuals in the equine industry including Jill Cousens, known to all in the Scottish horse world as ‘Granny Jill’ and incredibly respected in the industry, who will oversee the St Johns Wells. And synonymous with quality Highland Ponies, Gillian McMurray from the ‘Trailtrow’ prefix, will be in attendance to judge the Waxwing Trophy for overall Mountain and Moorland in hand.
In the heavy horses, the Clydesdale Male judge is George Skinner, well known for his involvement with the breed across the spectrum including driving and riding, bringing his expert eye to the ring. Our second youngest judge this year is Amanda Stewart who has come up through the ranks as a young handler showing her family’s Clydesdales, and will this year judge the HOYS Ridden Clydesdale (Conformation), Clydesdale Young Handlers, and Young Stockmen. The Highland Ponies in Hand Females Class will be in the exceptional care of Charles McQuattie from Strathmore in Angus. And the recipient of the Sanderson Trophy will be the decision of Ronnie Black, the face of our 2017 campaign, who has bred and shown winning Clydesdales for generations.
Having returned earlier this year from Australia where he judged the New South Wales Spring Spectacular, Chris Nye, from Holly Oaks near Ely, Cambridgeshire, will join our impressive line-up of judges for the goat classes.
“Yet again the Royal Highland Show has attracted the biggest names in the livestock industry, illustrating the standing this event holds in the sector,” says David Jackson, Royal Highland Show Manager. “We have an incredible line-up and I looking forward to welcoming them to what promises to be the biggest Show in our history.”
Supported by RBS, the 178th Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 21-24 June 2018.
Notes to Editors
The main lists for sheep, beef and dairy cattle, goats, light and heavy horses, turnouts and grooming are below.
LIST OF JUDGES
BEEF CATTLE
Beef Native Breeds Inter Breed Team Championship
Mr Liam Muir, Upper Onston, Stenness, Orkney
Beef Breeder Competition and Junior Beef Inter Breed Championship
Mr Andrew Stott, Longrow Cottage, Canonbie, Dumfries-shire
Beef Inter Breed Team Competition and Overall Beef Inter-Breed Championship
Mr Tom Arnott, Haymount, Kelso, Roxburghshire.
Beef Inter-Breed Pairs Competition
Mr Neil Barclay, Harestone Farm, Crathes, Banchory, Aberdeenshire.
Young Handlers
Miss Laura Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers, Moray.
Beef Shorthorn
Ms Libby Clarke, Springfield, Lurgan, Co Armagh, N Ireland.
Aberdeen Angus
Mr Hamish W Sclater, Denhead Farms, Dunlugas, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.
Galloway
Mr Alan McMillan, Over Barkseoch, Dalry, Castle Douglas.
Belted Galloway
Mr R Ross, Muil Farm, Shawhead, Dumfries.
Highland
Mr C Dochie Ormiston, Gelderside, Balmoral Estate, Ballater.
Hereford
Mr William McMordie, Solitude, Ballygowan, Co. Down, N Ireland.
British Charolais
Mr Peter Donger, Seawell Grounds, Foxley, Towcester, Northamptonshire
British Simmental
Mr John Dykes, Mendick Lea, West Linton, Peeblesshire.
British Limousin
Mr Robert Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Glamis, Forfar, Angus.
British Blonde
Mr David Tomlinson, c/o Harrison & Hetherington Auctioneers.
British Blue
Mr John Quick, Birch Farm, Coldridge, Crediton, Devon.
Salers
Miss Sophie Donger, Seawell Grounds, Blakesley, Towcester, Northants.
Commercial Cattle
Mr Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Lossiemouth.
DAIRY CATTLE
Overall Dairy
Mr W Whiteford, Middle Farm, Ruleholme, Carlisle.
Ayrshire & British Red and White
Mr Robin Barr, Calderglen, Kilkenzie, Campbelltown
Holstein
Mr Richard Barratt, Ballinhassock, Co Cork.
Jersey
Mr Peter Prior, Nortons, Radley Green, Nr Ingateston, Essex
Dairy Shorthorn
Mr G Bell, Chesterton Farm, Tarporley, Cheshire.
Dairy Calf and Showmanship
Mr Willie Fleming, Hillhead Farm, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Dumfries.
SHEEP
Overall Sheep Inter Breed Championship
Mr James Sinclair, Crookston, Heriot, Midlothian
Overall Sheep Pairs Inter-Breed Championship & Young Handlers Classes
Mr James MacGregor, Dyke Farm, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow.
Suffolk
Mr Rob Holmes, Home Farm, Dunchideock, Exeter, Devon.
North Country Cheviot
Mr Tommy McKean, 96 Lower Ballyarton Road, Killaloo, Co. Londonderry.
Blackface
Mr Andrew Kay, Gass, Straiton, Maybole, Ayrshire.
Lleyn
Mr David Knowles, Craggs Farm, New Hutton, Kendal, Cumbria.
Ryeland
Mr D Robinson, Lowfield House, Wigton, Cumbria.
Commercial Sheep
Mr Robert Osborne, Castlehill, Durrisdeer, Thornhill, Dumfries-shire.
Border Leicester
Mr Keith Hourston, Skelbister, Orkney.
British Berrichon
Mr A Richards, Yew Tree, Pontrobert, Meifod, Powys.
Jacob
Mr Ron King, Prospect House, 23 Cambrian Drive, Prestatyn Clywd.
North Country Cheviot Hill
Mr Jock Sutherland, Keoldale Farm, Kyle of Durness, Lairg.
Cheviot
Mr Jim Roberston, Becks Farm, Langholm.
Texel
Mr Steve Richardson, Mount Pleasant Farm, Great Houghton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
Hampshire Down
Mr Martin Sivill, Glanrafon, Waen, St Asaph, Denbighshire.
Swaledale
Mr Peter Walton, Swarthmyre, Mickleton, Barnard Castle.
Bluefaced Leicester – Traditional Type
Mr Aled Jones, Meddiant Isaf, Tal-Y-Cafn, Conwy.
Bluefaced Leicester – Coloured Type
Mr Michael James, Neuadd-Blaenduhonw, Maesmynis, Builth Wells, Powys.
Charollais
Mr David Sloan, Rigghead, Colin, Dumfriesshire.
Hebridean
Mr David Newborn, Swale Farmhouse, Gunnerside, Richmond, North Yorkshire
North of England Mules
Mr Geoffrey Gass, Nunscleugh, Roweltown, Carlisle, Cumbria
British Rouge
Mrs Susan Wilkinson, Langlands Farm, Barringham, Richmond, North Yorkshire.
Beltex
Mr Jonathan Aiken, Corbally Road, Dromora, Co Down.
Zwartbles
Mrs Rachel Meggarell, 33 Killymallaght Rod, Cullion, Co. Londonderry.
Scotch Mule
Mr Neil Donnan, Knockiebae, New Luce
Bleu Du Maine
Mr Alan Mounsey, Wardhall Guards, Arkleby, Apsatria, Cumbria.
Shetland
Mr Maurice Wakeling, Pretty Oak Farm, Pretty Oak, Chard, Somerset.
Blue Texel
Mr Huw Jones, Gello Crugiau, Llangammarch, Wells, Powys.
DAIRY GOATS
Dairy Goats, Kids, Milking & Boer Goats
Mr Chris Nye, Holly Oaks, The Hythe, Little Downham, Ely, Cambridgeshire.
LIGHT HORSE
Hunter in Hand & HOYS Hunters Under Saddle – Weights and Small (Conformation)
Miss Ruth Brown, The Hill, 48 Lisnastream Road, Lisburn, Co.Antrim.
HOYS Hunters Under Saddle – Weights and Small (Ride)
Mr Jack Cochrane, Firbeck House Farm, The Bungalow, Steetley, Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
HOYS Hunters Under Saddle – Working Hunters (Conformation) and Side Saddle (Conformation)
Mr Simon Somers Attleton Farm, Attleton Green, Wickhambrook, Suffolk.
HOYS Hunters Under Saddle – Working Hunters (Ride)
Mrs K Barley Southlands, Langthorpe, Boroughbridge, Yorkshire.
HOYS Hunters Under Saddle – Side Saddle (Ride)
To be confirmed.
Hunters Under Saddle – Novice Hunters (Conformation)
Lady Clare Howick, West Wing, Howick Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland.
Hunters Under Saddle – Novice Hunters (Ride)
Mr Jack Cochrane, Firbeck House Farm, The Bungalow, Steetley, Worksop.
Sports Horse in Hand
Mrs Denise Richardson-Rowell, Dumfries House Estate, Cumnock, Ayrshire.
Retraining of Racehorse Final
Mr James and Miss Catherine Walton, Flotterton Hall, Thropton, Morpeth, Northumberland.
Highland Ponies Under Saddle (Conformation)
Mr Bruce Haliburton, Darroch Cottage, Muirton, Blairgowrie, Perthshire.
Highland Ponies Under Saddle (Ride)
Miss Virginia Osborne – Antolovi, Kinclune, Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir, Angus.
Welsh Mountain Ponies (Section A)
Mr John Gwen Berry (Betws), Can-Y-r Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed, Gwynedd
Welsh Ponies (Section B)
Mr Kevin Walker (Brynoffa), Brynoffa Farm, New Brighton, Mold, Flintshire.
Welsh Ponies Cob Type (Section C) & Welsh Cobs (Section D)
Mr Martin Grist (Riverbank), 40 Canning Street, Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Gwent.
Mountain & Moorland Ponies in Hand
Ms Sarah Prior, Emneth House, Fendyke Road, Outwell, Norfolk.
Connemara
Mrs Penelope Hodge, Albe Stud Farm, Waterbeck, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.
Eriskay Ponies
Ms Pat Gray, Bents Farm, Harburn, West Calder, West Lothian.
Riding Pony & Hunter Pony Breeding
Mr Kevin Walker, Brynoffa Farm, New Brighton, Mold, Flintshire.
HOYS Riding Horses & Novice Riding Horses (Conformation)
Mr Nigel Peel, Kineton Hill, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham, Gloustershire.
HOYS Riding Horses & Novice Riding Horses (Ride)
Mr Andrew Spalding, Hedgeholme, Winston, Darlington, Co. Durham.
Arabs Anglo Arabs & Part Bred in Hand
Mr Alfred Hallworth, Gravel Bank Farm, Gravel Bank Road, Woodley, Stockport, Cheshire.
Arabs Anglo Arabs & Part Bred Arabs Under Saddle
Mrs Lynne Lidbury, Upper Cullyhal Farm, Ryedown Lane, Bitton, Bristol, Avon.
St Johns Wells Trophy
Mrs Jill Cousens, Cromlix Stables, Dunblane, Perthshire.
Mountain & Moorland in Hand Overall (Waxwing Trophy)
Mrs Gillian McMurray, Bellstown, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, Dumfries.
HOYS Cuddy Breeder Supreme in Hand Championship Qualifier
Miss K Barley, Southlands Langthorpe, Broughbridge, Yorkshire.
HOYS Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Ponies (Conformation)
Mr Anthony Bell, 31 Ballywillan Road, Beltoy, Gleno, Larne, Co. Antrim, N Ireland.
HOYS Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Ponies (Jumping)
Mrs Madge Taylor, Gale House Farm, Bishopdyke Road, Selby, Yorkshire.
Side Saddle
Ms Viv Hogg, Ridge Barns, Whitridge, Longwitton, Northumberland.
HOYS Show Hunter Ponies and Show Hunter Pony Lead Rein & First Ridden (Conformation)
Mrs Morean Hamilton, The Stables, Liffnock Yard, Hurlford, Kilmarock.
HOYS Show Hunter Ponies and Show Hunter Pony Lead Rein & First Ridden (Ride)
Mr Tim Wiggett, 15 Wye Close, Wellingborough, Northants.
Show Ponies and Show Pony Lead Rein & First Ridden
Mrs Kath Wilson, Rose Cottage, Boldron, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham.
HOYS Mountain & Moorland Lead Rein & First Ridden (Conformation)
Mr Ann Nicholls, Hillside Cottage, Old London Road, Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire.
HOYS Mountain & Moorland Lead Rein & First Ridden (Ride)
Mrs Barbara McGrath, 6 Dunsany Terrace, Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street Co. Durham.
HOYS Junior Mountain and Moorland Ridden Pony (Conformation)
Mr Anthony Bell, 31 Ballywillan Road, Beltoy, Gleno, Larne, Co. Antrim, N Ireland.
HOYS Junior Mountain and Moorland Ridden Pony (Ride)
Mrs Madge Taylor, Gale House Farm, Bishopdyke Road, Selby, Yorkshire.
Donkeys in Hand
TBC
HOYS Working Hunter Ponies (Conformation)
TBC
HOYS Working Hunter Ponies (Jumping)
Ms Paula McCarthy, Loughside Farm, 57 Ringdufferin Road, Toye, Downpatrick, Co Down.
HOYS Part-Bred Ridden (Performance)
Mrs Sue Phean, Brooksfield, Posbrook Lane, Titchfield, Hampshire.
HOYS Part-Bred Ridden (Ride)
Mrs Jane Upton, High Noon, Village Hall Lane, Three Legged Cross, Wimborne, Dorset.
HOYS Mountain and Moorland Ponies Under Saddle – Fell, Dales, Highland, Connemara, Welsh Section D (Conformation)
Mrs Cherry Frith, Field View, 9 Steppes Way, Market Drayton, Shropshire.
HOYS Mountain and Moorland Ponies Under Saddle – Fell, Dales, Highland, Connemara, Welsh Section D (Ride)
Mr Kevin Walker, Bryn Offa Farm, Bryn Offa Lane, New Brighton, Flintshire.
HOYS Mountain and Moorland Ponies Under Saddle – Welsh Section C, B & A, New Forest, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland (Conformation)
Mrs Jocelyn Price, Courtway, Clyro, Hereford, Herefordshire.
HOYS Mountain and Moorland Ponies Under Saddle – Welsh Section C, B & A, New Forest, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland (Ride)
Ms Sarah Prior, Emneth House, Fendyke Road, Outwell, Norfolk.
HOYS Coloured Horses & Ponies Under Saddle (Conformation)
Mrs Kathleen Wilson, Rose Cottage, Boldron, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham.
HOYS Coloured Horses & Ponies Under Saddle (Ride)
Mr John Cookson, Booth Cottage, 84 Town Lane, Knutsford.
Coloured Horses & Ponies in Hand
Mrs Maxine Bevan-Jones, The Stables, Spindlesone Farm, Belford, Northumberland.
HEAVY HORSES
Clydesdales In Hand Males
Mr George Skinner, Strathorn Farm, Pitcaple, Aberdeenshire.
Clydesdale In HandFemales
Mr Peter Tennant Jnr, Brookband, Rowhead Terrace, Biggar.
HOYS Ridden Clydesdale (Conformation), Clydesdale Young Handlers and Young Stockmen
Miss Amanda Stewart, Mollinhillhead Farm, Mollinsburn, Cumbernauld.
HOYS Ridden Clydesdales (Ride)
Mrs Morag Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Banffshire.
Highland Ponies In Hand Males
Mrs Susan Wardrop, North Drummilling, West Kilbride, Ayrshire.
Highland Ponies In Hand Females
Mr Charles McQuattie, Strathmore, 6 Kingston Place, Kingsmuir, Angus.
Shetland Ponies In Hand
Mrs Jill Jones, Broadlands Farm, Rickney, Pevensey.
The Sanderson Trophy
Mr Ronnie Black, Newton of Collessie, by Ladybank, Fife.
HARNESS, GROOMING, TURNOUTS.
Harness, Grooming & Decoration
Mr Dougie Copland, 9 Montgomery Place, Peebles, Peebles-shire.
Working Native Pony In Harness
Mrs Debbie McLaughlan, Atholl Estates, Blair Atholl, Perthshire.
Heavy Horse Turnouts
Mr Jim Steel, Jackton Farm, Jackton, Glasgow.
PRIVATE DRIVING
Shetland Pony, Highland Pony and HOYS Private Driving
Mr Gordon Marks, The Racehorse, 43 High Street, Carworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
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