Ellon and Deer: prizewinning stock

The Competition for the Premiums given by the Aberdeenshire Agricultural Association, to the Districts of Ellon and Deer, took place upon Monday last the 19th current, when they were adjudged as follows, viz:-

To Mr Davidson, Cairnbrogie, Tarves, for the best Bull, from 2 to 7 years old,  7l. 7s.
To Mr Milne Milne, Mains of Esslemont, Ellon, for the second best do. do.  5l 5s.
To Mr Smith, Upper Mill, Tarves, for the third best do. do.  3l 3s.
To Mr Davidson, Cairnbrogie, Tarves, for the best Cow,  5l. 5s.
To Mr Marr, Cairnbrogie, Tarves, for the second best do. 4l. 4s.
To Mr Marr, for the third best do.  3l. 3s.
To Mr Ferguson of Pitfour, M.P. for the best 2 year-old Quey,  4l. 4s.
To Mr Davidson of Cairnbrogie, Tarves, for the second best do.  3l 3s.
To Mr Davidson do. for the third best do.  2l 2s.
To Mr Hay, Shethin, Tarves, for the best brood Mare,  7l 7s.
To Mr Hay, Craigie, Tarves, for the second best do.  5l 5s.
To Mr Garland, Ardlethen, Ellon, for the third best do.  3l. 3s.
To Mr Garland, Ardlethen, Ellon, for the best 3 year-old Filly,  5l. 5s.
The Premium for the second best Filly, not awarded.
To Mr Mackie, Old-town of Coynock, Old Deer, for the best 2 year-old Filly,  4l. 4s.
To Mr Davidson, Cairnbrogie, for the second best do. do.  2l. 2s.
To Mr Ferguson of Pitfour, M.P. for the best 3 year-old Colt,  4l. 4s.
To Mr Scott, Yokieshill, Longside, for the second best do.  2l. 2s.

The Shew of Stock, and in particular the Cows and Queys, was uncommonly fine; and the Judges mentioned, that they had much pleasure in acknowledging the extreme difficulty they had felt, in ascertaining their comparative merits, where all the animals were of a superior description, and the shades of difference in many cases so slight.  Among the different prizes, one animal, viz. the first Quey, reared by Mr Ferguson of Pitfour, attracted universal attention - she is of the pure Aberdeenshire horned breed, and for size, symmetry, and condition, cannot be easily matched.

After the business of the day was over, a large party sat down to a comfortable dinner, provided by Mr Cowie, Ellon, - Lord Saltoun in the Chair, and Mr Gordon of Hallhead, Croupier; and, as might have been expected, the evening was spent with the greatest hilarity.  Several new Members were enrolled in the course of the day.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 21st July 1819.

Prizewinning ploughmen

A Ploughing Match was held on Saturday last, on an excellent field belonging to Mr Davidson, Mains of Cairnbrogie.  Five Pounds were given by the Garioch Farmer Club; and, by a subscription on the field, given by Mr Ramsay, Straloch, and others, five pounds nineteen and sixpence were added to it.  Twenty-eight Ploughs started, each ddrawn by one pair of horses, except one by a pair of oxen, which gained the seventh prize.  The judges were, Mr Milne, Mains of Esselmont; Mr Elmslie, Mains of Barra; Mr Wallace, Auchnacant; the work was in general so well performed, that the judges had difficulty in fixing the prizes; which were awarded as follows, viz.:-

1.	To David Reed, servant at Tillygreig,	£1-10-0
2.	To John Freeman, Fingask,	£1-7-6
3.	William Low, Ardlethen,	£1-2-6
4.	Alexr. Burnet, Quarry,	£1-0-6
5.	Alexr. Heary, Woodland,	£0-17-6
6.	David Falconer, Tillygreig,	£0-15-0
7.	Alexander Finlater, Straloch,	£0-12-0
8.	William Moir, Cairnbrogie,	£0-10-0
9.	William Allardes, Craigie,	£0-7-6

The state of the funds, enabled the Managers to give 3s. each, to the nineteen unsuccessful candidates; the spectators were numerous, and high gratified.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 13th January 1819.