Royal Northern Spring Show

But this did not deter showgoers attending the Royal Northern Agricultural Society spring show at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, who turned up in large numbers to boost the attendance to close on last year's record figure of more than 7,000.

"We are delighted with the attendance, given the adverse weather, and just hope everyone gets home safely," said Raymond Smith, the society president. "We have been used to snow over the years, and farmers always turnout irrespective of the weather."

Exhibitors reported good business as livestock farmers invested increased profits and their Single Farm Payment to upgrade machinery. One dealer sold 20 tractors this month. The show proved a triumph for Perthshire exhibitor John Robertson, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, who swept the boards in the beef cattle section, taking the supreme championship and reserve, the heifer championship and reserve and the steer championship.

His supreme and heifer champion was an 18-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Thriller, bred in Northern Ireland by Dermott Small and purchased privately at the Royal Highland winter fair last November. The heifer, sired by Ronick Hawk, is being retained for breeding in Robertson's suckler herd.

Robertson claimed the top price when he sold his reserve champion, an eight-month-old home-bred Limousin cross heifer by Craigatoke Butch, at 3,800 to Wilson Peters, Cuilt, Monzie, Crieff, Perthshire. His steer champion, a nine-month-old calf by the same sire, realised the second highest price when sold at 3,000 to Bert Paton, Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir, Angus.

The Robertson stranglehold was only broken by the furthest-travelled exhibitor, Drew Hislop, Balluskie, Barrhill, Girvan, Ayrshire, who took the reserve steer champion with a 13-month-old Limousin steer by Shatton Pedro.

The overall average was 1,244.84 (2.89/kg) for 31 head, with 15 heifers averaging 1,310 (3.22/kg) and 16 steers 1,183.75 (2.60)

Aberdeen and Northern Marts' annual show and sale of pedigree bulls, held as part of the show, saw a record price of 10,000gns paid for the overall champion, a 20-month-old Charolais bull, Kinclune Director, by Moyness Vichy, from JA Wilson and Sons, Kinclune, Glenkindie, Aberdeenshire. Buyer was G McBain, Ardlewie, Cabrach, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

Wilson sold another by the same sire at 8,000gns to John Mackie, Milton of Noth, Rhynie, Huntly.

The reserve Charolais champion, Blelack Dazzler, a two-year-old son of Solitude Amazing, from NF Massie and Sons, Blelack, Dinnet, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, sold for the second-highest price of 9,000gns to John Gordon, Wellheads, Huntly.

Limousin sold to a top of 6,800gns – a centre record for the breed – for a third prize bull, Buchaam Dazzler, a 22-month-old by Burnbank Astar, from Charles and Keith Ogg, Buchaam, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, to J&J Young, East Sinnahard, Glenkindie, Alford, Aberdeenshire.

The horse and pony champion was a three-year-old pony exhibited by Rose Kelbie, c/o Eskside Stud, Justinhaugh, Forfar, Angus, who has won her section for the past 12 years.