Highland Ladies

A Brief Account of the Achievements of Women in the Development of the Highland Breed

Over the centuries pedigree livestock breeding has been considered by many to be strictly a masculine domain. All the so called, great improvers were men and most of them bachelors. Names such as, Robert & Charles Colling, Amos & Anthony Cruikshank were pioneers in the Shorthorn world, while the Aberdeen Angus breed owes much to Hugh Watson and William McCombie, Benjamin Tomkins is credited with the early establishment of the Hereford breed, while the Ruby Red Devons have to thank Francis Quartly for their early development - not a female breeder amongst them.

In the latter part of the eighteenth and the early decades of the nineteenth centuries when most of the afore-mentioned men were pondering breeding lines and pedigrees, traveling the length and breadth of the land searching for their ideal, whatever that was, the women were hard at work. Most of the everyday tasks: milking, butter and cheese making, rearing of young stock and in the summertime tending to all of the livestock on the shieling grounds, was the work of the women and children. When you go through today’s agricultural press you might get the impression that women’s involvement in agriculture is a relatively new concept; nothing could be further from the truth. Women of the working classes formed the backbone of agriculture, while those with greater means and leisure time pursued and popularized the interest in pedigree breeding.

When it comes to our own Highland breed it was several decades after the formation of the Highland Cattle Society in 1884 before any female breeder, to whom I would like to give the honorific “Highland Lady”, made her presence felt. The new society was totally controlled by twenty gentlemen headed by His Grace the Duke of Athole K. T.

The credit of first mention of a Highland Lady is to be found in the records of The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the report of the International Paris show held in 1856.

The Hon Lady Menzies Rannoch Lodge gained 4th prize with her Highland cow and 5th prize with her Highland bull. Lady Menzies enjoyed further honours at the Highland and Agricultural Society’s show held in Kelso in 1872 gaining 1st and 2nd with her young Highland bulls, Rannoch and Peter. The same records go on to show that at the same event held in Aberdeen in 1858 Lady Pigot, of Chipppenham Park Cambridge gained 2nd prize with her young Highland bull, while at the Stirling show of 1864 Mrs Ewing of Strathleven House, Dumbarton was awarded 2nd prize for her young Highland bull Leven.

Miss Rosemary Dalglish being presented with the Braes of Greenock Challenge Bowl for the best yearling heifer at the October sale in Oban 1975 by Mrs Betty Walker wife of the president Mr Bill Walker Leys Castle. The heifer, Lady Ruadh 6th of Leachy sold for 600gs to Mrs A Gibson Cullerne House Findhorn.

It would be quite easy to assume from those early records that the involvement of Highland Ladies was solely in the hands of the aristocracy. Volume 3 of the herd book dispels this too, and we find Miss Jane McDonald of Scolpaig North Uist registering 14 females of Duntulm and Sutherland breeding. Some of the very best cross Highland cows I ever worked with over fifty years ago came from that very farm, and I wonder if they were the descendants of those cattle registered in 1888. In the same Volume we also find Mrs Wood of the Isle of Rassay with 21 females registered. In Volume 6 published in 1893 we find Mrs M. M. Cheape of Tiroran on the Isle of Mull laying the foundations of her fold with 4 females and two bulls.

In Vol 16 of the herd book we find Lady Currie of Garth near Fortingall in Perthshire establishing what was to become one of the foremost folds of that era. The foundation stock came from some of the best breeding lines, Bochastle, Seafield and Kinlochmoidart.

This strong foundation was soon to produce results for the Garth fold not only in the sale ring, where in 1918 Lady Currie’s yearling bull, Gaisgeach of Garth took first prize at the Oban bull sale selling for £180 to Archibald Turner, Kilchamaig, a very good price in those far of times. It is somewhat unfortunate to record according to press reports this promising youngster died the following summer. Further Oban bull sale success the following year saw their unplaced, Ridhire of Garth selling for £175.

Lady Curry along with two other Highland Ladies were to make their presence felt in no small way at the Edinburgh Highland Show of 1919. The senior bull class saw Raounull Buidhe of Atholl belonging to the Garth

fold placed second, while in the two-year-old bull class Miss Grace M. Hall, Tangy, Kintyre lifted second prize with her Garth bred, Ridhire of Garth.

The cow class produced a first prize for Lady Curry and the female championship award with her home bred cow Proiseag Sgiathach of Garth. She was far from alone in the cow class line up which saw the relatively new breeder, Lady Ogilvy-Dalgleish placed 3rd with Flora of Errol, while Almira 2nd of Errol and Flora 3rd of Errol were being placed 4th and 5th in the three- year-old heifer class. Topping off what had been an outstanding day for the Highland Ladies, Fuinary Queen of Errol lifted the top award in the two-year-old section for Lady Ogilvy Dalgleish.

Miss Mary MacLean, Balure, with her second prize, Dochas of Iolaire. Oban October sale 1976.

It was not until 1922 that the powers that be within the Highland Cattle Society’s council saw fit to have a lady within their ranks. That honour went to Miss Lili Turner of Kilchamaig, whose father was Mr Archibald Turner, whom I have been told went by the name of “The Kintyre Cattle King” having first registered his cattle in the third volume of the herd book in 1888. The Kilchamaig fold had for over thirty years acquired a reputation for the high quality of their cattle and Miss Turner was determined not only to maintain but to further enhance it. Highland breeders quickly realised that Miss Turner was going to be a force to be reckoned with, not only as a council member but also in the sale ring, securing first and third prize with yearling bulls, Fraoch 3rd and Iain Riabhach at the Oban sale of 1922. The sale of 1924 saw her yearling bull Laochan 2nd placed 1st; at the 1925 sale her twoyear-old bull, Gille Buidhe stood third in his class; in 1926 her yearling bull Gaidheal stood second; the following year her two-year-old bull Gaidheal stood second while her yearling Seumas Ruadh 2nd secured the second prize. All of this success convinced the members of the Highland Cattle Society that Miss Lile Turner was more than worthy of the honour to be elected the first lady president of the Highland Cattle Society in 1927.

In 1929 another prominent lady member was elected to the council of the Highland Cattle Society becoming vice president in 1932. Mrs D Less Milne who laid the foundations of her highly regarded fold at Knock on the Isle of Mull, subsequently moving to Killundine, Drimnin. At the Oban bull sale of 1931, she had the distinction of securing the first prize award in each of the bull classes. Her champion was the senior yearling, An Gille Beuasch of Knock selling for 40gs to Miss Dunlop of Shieldhill Biggar, while her reserve champion, Prionnsa Buidhe of Kilchamaig, which had been bought the previous year from Miss Lily Turner, sold for 50 gs. to Mr A. K. McDouall, Logan, Stranraer. Miss Turner’s bulls took second place in both the two-year-old and senior yearling classes. History should record this particular Oban event as well and truly a Lady’s Day. Not content with her bull sale awards Mrs Less Milne’s heifers secured the October sale championship award for four consecutive years 1935-36-37-38.

Breeders had to wait thirty years until 1959 before another highly regarded Highland Lady, Mrs Judy Bowser, Benmore, took on the presidential role. By pure coincidence this was the same year that the Galloway cattle society elected its first lady vice president, Mrs Mary Swan Howie M B E, Spittal Farm, Carlops. It was to take the Aberdeen Angus breed another twenty-five years to place Mrs Mary Walker Newark Castle Ayr in the presidential chair. Mrs Bowser laid the foundations of her Benmore fold in 1948 buying from such noted folds as Scammadale, Balole paying on average £44 which she considered excellent value. One of her proudest boasts was the purchase of her first stock bull, Domnull Ruadh of Glenfalloch for 90gs, which she considered more than a fair price. After having used him for a number of years she took him back to Oban making a profit of 50gs, she recalled the breeder of the bull, Mr Lowes coming up to her and asking for a share of the profit, for those of us who knew Mrs Bowser you can imagine her reply. Although regarded as being a “Canny Scott” Mrs Bowser knew what she regarded as being a good Highlander in both man and beast, when she saw an animal she liked she would buy it, such was the case at the Oban October sale in 1958 when she bought the reserve champion, Ban Righ 3rd of Cladich for 300gs which she always considered to be her very best purchase. Perhaps there is a lesson for us all here. All too often we as breeders of, whether it be commercial or pedigree livestock, fail to look past our own and are perhaps reluctant to keep an eye open for new genetics. Anyone who has been involved with the Highland breed over the past fifty years will be more than a little aware of how successful the Benmore fold has been in both sale and show-ring winning all the premier awards. To say that Mrs Bowser left her mark on the Highland breed would be an understatement.

Lady MacRobert of Douneside and Cromer with her champion calf, Dossan Ruadh of Douneside. Champion Highlander at the Northern Counties Show Inverness 1953.

While Mrs Bowser was developing her fold in the early fifties other ladies were beginning to make their presence felt within the Highland ranks, the foremost of whom was Lady MacRobert of Douneside, Tarland. No stranger to pedigree cattle breeding, being the owner of one of the most successful Aberdeen Angus herds of that era, along with her highly regarded herd of British Friesians, one might have thought her pedigree aspirations would have been more than satisfied, but nothing could have been further from the truth.

Having long admired the Highland breed, she might have commenced the establishment of her Highland fold earlier had it not been for the tragic loss of her three sons during the Second World War. When the decision was made to lay down the foundation of a Highland Fold few went about it with more attention to pedigree and breeding lines, all of which had a to have a proven record stretching to the early Highland herd books. Foundation females from such folds as Foreland, Balliemore, Gartlea, Douglas, Kilchamaig and Achnacloich were the building blocks along with the 1951 Oban bull sale reserve champion, Victor of Gylen.

It is a great regret that Lady MacRobert, one of the breed’s greatest supporters did not live to enjoy the unprecedented heights which her Douneside fold enjoyed for over fifty years. Her sudden death in the autumn of 1954 brought about the formation of The Lady MacRobert Special Trust which ensured her great work was to continue.

During this period several other Highland Ladies were developing folds, many of which rose to prominence within the Highland breed.

Mrs M R Oakes, Skipness Castle, Tarbert, developed a fine fold focusing on Foreland and Gartlea breeding. Although seldom shown, whenever Skipness heifers or bulls, which were noted for an abundance of breed character, appeared at the Oban sales they met with a good demand and helped to lay the foundation of many new folds.

Mrs Douglas, Kililan, Kyle of Lochalsh, developed a large fold on the extensive grazings of Glen Eichaig, the descendants of which still graze the glen today. Mrs. R D Trotter, Brin House Flichity on the South side of Loch Ness, developed her fold on Glenfalloch, Braes of Greenock and Skipness breeding. South of the border Miss Anne Lumsden, kept the Highland breed to the fore developing her Forest Row Fold in Sussex, built on Shenavallie, Ile and Kildalloig breeding. Such was her commitment to the breed she was the first English Highland Lady to be elected to serve on the council of the society in 1960.

Miss Rosemary Dalglish with her somewhat reluctant champion, Siusan Ruadh 26th of Leachy, being persuaded to go back into the ring by a young Ewan Mackay. Perth sale February 1994.

Miss Rosemary Dalglish being presented with the Niall Jackson trophy by Mrs Fellowes for the best bull calf. October sale 1982.

It is all too often the case when a highly successful fold is dispersed for whatever reason some of the best bloodlines can so easily be entirely lost to the breed. This so easily could have been the case had it not been for Miss Rosemary Dalgleish establishing her own Leachy fold upon the passing of her father, Mr John Dalgleish, who had established his highly regarded Barbreck fold in the nineteen thirties. Rosemary selected some of the best breeding lines, An Uiseag, Ban Righ, Lady Ruadh and Siusan Ruadh all of which earned her the unrivalled reputation at the breed sales for the outstanding quality of her heifers, winning the Braes of Greenock Challenge Bowl on numerous occasions. Such was her commitment to the Highland breed she was elected to serve on council on three occasions. Her swan song took place at the annual Highland bull sale which on this occasion was held in Perth market on the 14th-15th of February 1994. Rosemary had entered her last two cows, mother and daughter, Siusan Ruadh 22nd by that good breeding bull, Brogach 2nd of Leys and Siusan Ruadh 26th sired by Oganach 3rd of Douneside. I remember very well the cow’s arrival at the mart by the fact that it was more than a little obvious they had just been taken out of the field and brought strait to Perth, and to say they were somewhat less than spotlessly groomed, would be an understatement. My sons Iain and Ewan had just sorted out our own two young bulls when Rosemary, looking somewhat harassed, asked if we could help. I sent boys off along with Rosemary to hopefully resolve the situation. Both of the cows had been used to the halter but not trained as it were, in other words both were more than accustomed to doing exactly what they liked; they were quiet, yes, but also very much spoiled. Two hours later the boys returned to our pen, job done.

They were of the opinion that they were two of the best cows they had ever seen and had agreed to show them the following day. With a catalogue entry of 223 bulls and females it was going to be a long day. Eventually after a splendid show of heifers the cows were paraded before the judge, Roy Cruikshank. My son Iain was showing the 12 year-old Siusan Ruadh 22nd and Ewan in charge of the 5 year-old Siusan Ruadh 26th. All was going according to plan until they were separated going into the ring this being the first time that had ever happened, the result being both cows went around the ring at somewhat less than walking pace trying to catch up with each other. In the end all was well and the younger Siusan stood first while her mother was placed forth. When it came to the championship award Roy had no hesitation in placing Siusan Ruadh 26th of Leachy as his champion. It was fortunate that the following day, much to Rosemary’s relief, the same buyer bought both mother and daughter, Mr. K W W Brown paying the top price of 5,500gs for the champion and 3,800gs for her mother. What a way to bow out! Still to this day my sons and I agree they were two of the finest highlanders we had ever seen exposed at a breed sale.

The Isle of Mull has had for over one hundred years a notable reputation for the high quality of its Highland cattle. Helping to maintain this in no short measure was the foundation of the Ulva fold in the mid nineteen-fifties by Edith Lady Congelton. The foundation females were to ensure its early success most of which came from the Ile fold on the Isle of Islay, the Lady White, Sidonia and Eild Ruadh families being the most prominent along with the outstanding stock bull, Seumas of Douglas. This stock helped to build a reputation for several outstanding stock bulls, Seumas of Ulva used in the Scone Palace fold, John 2nd of Ulva used in the Leys Castle fold, their Oban 1975 champion, Viking of Ulva, used in the Ormsary fold, and John of Ulva used at Benmore. Not to be outdone, Ulva heifers secured the Championship award at the October sale of 1970 with Anna 2nd and the reserve placing the following year with Sidonia the 3rd. It is worth noting that some of those great bloodlines still feature in many of our top folds today.

The Highland Cattle Society’s patron Her Majesty the Queen laid the foundations of her now highly regarded Balmoral fold in 1954, selecting heifers from the Ile fold, Strathallan fold and the long established Achnacloich fold. Through careful selection over the years the fold has produced several outstanding bulls, three of which won the coveted supreme award at the annual Oban bull sale. Pibroch of Balmoral was the first to bring distinction to her Majesty’s fold in 1988, selling for 7,700gs to Lady Hayward. The following year it was the yellow Gaoth a Tuath of Balmoral, selling for 4,200 to German breeder, Herr Adolf Dill, in 1990 it was the turn of Magnum of Balmoral to be awarded the premier prize selling for 5,600gs to the Leys Castle fold, all of those champions being sired by the outstanding bull Angus MacDomhnull of Easton as was the folds October sale champion of 1990, Connachat 28th of Balmoral selling for 6,500gs.

Two sisters, Mrs Connie Lawrie and Mrs Heather Corrigall, ensured that the MacNaughton’s involvement with the Highland breed was to continue to flourish. Their father Malcolm had established his Gylen fold on the island of Kerrera in the late nineteen forties, being a regular exhibitor at the Oban sales. He had

the distinction of winning the reserve championship at the bull sale of 1951, selling his Victor of Gylen to Lady MacRobert for her newly established Douneside fold.

Heather developed her Earn fold focusing on the Gylen bloodlines which had been developed by her father; this led to a having the distinction of selling the record price bull at the Oban sale of 1989. The unplaced Victor of Earn smashed the breed record selling for 14,000gs to breeders in the Netherlands. This was followed at the October sale of 2003 when Heather’s champion three -year -old heifer, Ashley of Earn sold for an outstanding 18,000gs to a new English breeder, Mr H Thacker. Heather Corrigall is still very much to the fore today; at the recent spring sale, her outstanding three-year-old bull, Tearloch 2nd of Earn, which some of the oldies thought was the best she ever bred, sold for 10,000gs.

Heather’s sister Connie Laurie was what could be termed one of the best-kent faces around the show and sale rings wherever you would find Highland cattle. Very few, if any had her power of recall in relation to breeding lines and how best they might be used. She could look at an animal whether it be bull or heifer and tell you with more than a little degree of accuracy who the forefathers were. I well recall in1995 at the first International Highland Gathering standing with Connie at an exhibition pen of four bullocks, all of which were bred at Ormsary, which were being used to promote Highland beef at the Royal Highland Show. She asked me which ones I thought might be related to the nice yellow, Jock 1st of Balure, an Oban champion which the Ormsary fold had bought in 1980. I’m sure we went over it for more than an hour, and eventually I made a note of the ear numbers and when at home checked them; sure enough Connie was right, two of them were and two were not. I informed her of this when I met her next, her reply was, what the hell did I tell you. With regards to the show-ring, Connie’s Conachair 8th of Lagg will be for what she is best remembered, without doubt one of the very best Highland cows of that era, being champion or reserve at every show she competed at which included the Royal Highland Show in 2006 and culminating with winning the biggest show of the year, Dalmally.

The afore-mentioned Jock 1st of Balure gave one of the breed’s hardest working Highland Ladies her first Oban bull sale win. Mary MacLean established her fold with the astute purchase of Mairi Ruadh 13th of Skipness for 325 gs at the October sale of 1974. This well-bred highly attractive heifer set Mary on a highly successful show and sale journey, winning Dalmally show in 1977, while her two-year-old heifer, Barracide 4th of Douneside stood reserve. Barracide 4th secured the overall win at the same show the following year. Mairi Ruadh secured championship wins at both Mid Argyll and Lorn Show in the summer of 1979.

Further honours followed at the Highland bull sale of 1980 when a son of Mairi Ruadh’s, Jock 1st of Balure secured the championship award selling for 2,000ge to the Ormsary fold. The spring sale in Oban saw Mary winning the female championship with Barracaid 1st of Balure selling for 750gs. Mary had the honour to judge the Oban bull sale of 1986 placing Donnach 6th of Leys champion. A further bull sale championship followed for Mary in 2004 when Russell of Balure, by Lachlan of Fyvie, the dam line going back to her old foundation cow Mairi Ruadh, sold for 10,000gs to the president of the Highland Cattle Society Mr Ken Brown.

Mary often spoke to me about her search for a replacement for her wonderful Mairi Ruadh and the fact that try as she might she never could quite find one. My answer to her was, count yourself very lucky, some breeders never find or breed one no matter how hard they try. I can say with certainty that my own fold, and a great measure of any success I have had, traces back to one extraordinary foundation cow Dossan Ruadh the 9th of Strathallan and her daughters.

Glen Lyon has for generations been regarded as the cradle of the Highland breed in the central Highlands. It was from the Long Glen as it was once known that the foundations of the once-renowned Breadalbane fold selected their stock. This tradition was to be continued by the Bullochough family at Meggernie eventually passing into the hands of the Wills family who upheld the tradition of breeding the best of Highlanders until 1976.

Mrs J W Searle with her champion, Ceat 2nd of Meggernie Perth Show 1990. Jack Ramsay, Judge and Andrew Buchanan manager at Meggernie..

In 1981 the Meggernie estate was bought by Mrs B J Searle who established her fold under the guidance of her farm manager Mr. Andy Buchannan. Foundation stock was obtained from some of the best west Highland folds, Glenforsa, Kennacraig, Achnacloich and Ormsary. The private purchase of the good red Iain Ruadh of Edentaggart from Mrs Bowser soon put the Meggernie fold on the map, siring the 2,000gs Iain Ruadh of Meggernie stock bull in the Corriemuckloch fold and Ceat 2nd of Meggernie, champion at Dalmally show in 1989. The following year this outstanding young cow was to secure seven championship awards including the Royal Highland Show and the Great Yorkshire show. Further championships were to follow. At the spring Oban sale of 1990 the yearling heifer, Annag Ruadh the 4th of Meggernie lifted the top award selling to the Moncreiff fold for 2,000gs. Bull sale success was to follow in 1997 when the championship award went to Hector Ruadh of Meggernie selling for 8,000gs to the Glen Nevis fold. The following year it was the turn of Hector Ruadh the 2nd to secure the top award selling for what was considered to be the bargain price of 900gs to Mrs Park for her Brucefield fold.

The Meggernie fold today is still to the fore under the ownership of Mrs Searle’s daughter Mrs B J Malim who will I’m sure keep up the long tradition of the best of Highland cattle in the Long Glen as well as the great Highland Ladies.

I have more than once asked myself this question: Would there be any Highland cattle today in the Outer Isles if it had not been for the efforts of the inimitable Enna MacNeill?

One of my first recollections of meeting Enna was at the Royal Highland Show of 1984. The Highland Cattle Society was celebrating its centenary and had put on a special breed promotion which attracted breeders, world-wide. I had just spent more than a little time in conversation with one Australian breeder, Alistair Stewart, who had spent several years grading up his herd of Jersey cows with the use of Highland semen. He was carrying with him a Highland bullock’s hide, convinced it was as yet an untapped opportunity for the breed. As he left the society’s stand who should approach but Enna who was also carrying something under her arm, I thought what next, it was a sheaf of organic oat straw which she had brought all the way from North Uist. Her mission that day was to highlight to all the simple fare on which the Highlander could be kept in the harsh environment of the Western Isles.

Mrs Ena McNeil with Pibroch Dubh of Ardbhan. Bull sale 1988.

Enna had for several years been building her Ardbhan fold selecting with great care only the cattle she knew would thrive in the harsh and exposed outer isles. By far her favourite and what one might describe as the rock on which her fold was founded was the Cannabred, Lasair-Chlach Chanaidh. This was the dam of her first bull, Pibroch Dubh of Ardbhan, sired by that great foundation bull Pibroch of Achnacloich. At the Oban sale of 1988 Pibroch Dubh, sold for 2,500gs to fellow island breeder, Angus MacDonald, Balivanich. And the seeds of the Ardbhan dynasty were sown and are now to be found world-wide.

It would be wrong to imagine that one of the few places where black Highlanders might be found was the West Highlands. In the early nineteen seventies Miss L Robertson established a fold on Balinoe Croft, Ardgay, Ross-shire. The foundations were stock were from, Achnacloich, Isle of Canna, and the Isle of Ulva. Although not her first stock bull, Hamish of Auchnacraig started his illustrious breeding career with Miss Robertson. Over the years she would register up to ten heifers every year some of which came to the attention of Mr. Bill Walker owner of the Leys Castle fold, who eventually persuaded her to part with Hamish in exchange for Jock the 19th of Leys. In 1979 the birth of Tearlach Dubh of Balinoe, sired by Beinn Cheathaich of Scone Palace and out of Proiseag Dubh 7th of Achnacloich laid the foundation of what was to become one of the finest folds of black Highlanders in the country. Although Tearlach Dubh did not leave many black offspring, most of his heifers were kept and when put to Black Prince of Commoncraig the result was black Highlanders of outstanding quality. Miss Robertson ensured she would maintain the the quality of her black Highlanders; Black Prince was followed by the Isle-of-Coll-bred Prionnsa Dubh of Breachacha, who in turn was followed by the home-bred Beinn Dubh

of Balinoe, who in turn was followed by Naoise of Sgeireadh Dubh, bred by Mrs Patricia Rodin, Sutherland.

It is unfortunate that more breeders did not take the opportunity to visit Miss Robertson’s outstanding fold of black Highlanders over the years, as the cattle to the best of my knowledge were never shown and seldom seen, never the less the devotees of black Highlanders owe Miss Robertson more than a little for her commitment in developing and maintaining black genetics within the Highland breed.

Now we come to a fold I have written extensively about: the Achnacloich fold, the oldest fold in the breed. Had it not been for Mrs Jane Nelson’s strong love of the Highland breed, there is every likelihood that on the death of her husband, Ernest, in the autumn of 1977, we would never have celebrated the fold’s centenary in the barn at Achnacloich on the 7th of September 2002. Although no one was counting I estimated there were almost 200 breeders from all over the world, which is testimony to the affection Highland breeders and a great many others had for this great Highland Lady. Jane made sure the Achnacloich fold featured at all the Oban spring and autumn events, securing the championship award at the one hundredth Oban bull sale in 1991 with the three-year-old Cailean Mhor of Achnacloich, sired by the highly regarded, Donald Ruadh 3rd of Glenogle. Cailean Mhor sold for 10,500gs to the Balmoral fold, a record price for an Achnacloich bull. Still today, on my way to Oban I never pass by those fields of stones, where Highlanders have grazed for well over one hundred and fifty years without a sense of curiosity as to what Highlanders might be grazing by the shore of Loch Etive.

Former president Mrs Judy Bowser with her champion and reserve champion heifers Bhanna Prionnsa 50th of Benmore and Bhanna Prionnsa 8th of Benmore. Oban February1970. Former president Mrs Hilary Barker being presented with the trophy for the best technical breed exhibit at Beef 1992 held at Stoneleigh.

Mrs Ena McNeil at the Festival of Food and Farming in Hyde Park May 1989.

I have often asked myself why the powers that be took so long to elect its third lady president. The year 1927 saw Miss Lili Turner elected as the first lady president, this was followed thirty-two years later by the election of Mrs Judy Bowser, we had to wait another thirtytwo-years to have Mrs Hilary Barker, Mid Torrie fold elected to the presidential position. Were they in any way intimidating. From all accounts, Miss Lili Turner although highly competitive was quite charming. As for Mrs Judy Bowser, having got to know her well over the years, intimidating could be a word used on occasion, especially when confronted by, to use her own words “damned fools” which possibly could have been the case at times during her presidential tenure. As for Mrs Hilary Barker, she was very fortunate to be president while the Highland breed was going through a resurgence world-wide. Having said that it placed an enormous work load on the office and in turn demanded much more not only of the president but also those on

council. With the second Festival of Food and Farming in Hyde Park in May 1991 and two very successful sales in York in October 1992 and May 1993 along with the first Highland breed work shop in Breman, North Germany and the first European Highland Breed Open Day staged at the Austie Fold in East Holland. All of this earned Hillary the reputation as one of the Highland breed’s hardest working Presidents. Hilary’s forte was in the layout and design of the society’s promotional demonstrations the first festival of Food and Farming and the first International Highland breeders gathering held during the Highland show in 1995. I along with the secretary, Hamish Wilson, Allan Prentice and Hilary were putting the finishing touches to the society’s breed stand prior to the opening the following day. We left Hilary painting the backdrop, a highland landscape of some considerable length where she used her artistic talents to wonderful effect. The following morning it was more than a little apparent that Hilary was not long finished, so we spent the morning keeping our visitors clear of this great work. To put it bluntly, we were all ready to go but as they say the paint was still wet.

Former president Mrs Judith Dawes with her champion bull, Scott of Craycombe. Champion at the R A S E 1991 & 1992.

The owner of the highly regarded Craycombe Fold, Mrs Judith Dawes took up the Presidential role in 1998. I had the honour to be asked to judge the Royal Show in 1986 and I well recall the outstanding class of fourteen cows paraded that day. Eventually I placed Mrs Dawes’s wonderful Fraoch of Dun-Na-Mara first. She had been bought for 770gs at the Oban sale of October 1982 where she had been placed reserve champion, I recall it well as I was the under bidder. Fraoch went on to be reserve champion that day at the Royal Show being pipped at the post by Philip of Strathallan, whom I had been the under-bidder on when Mrs Jean McPhail bought him for 1,000gs in Oban 1982. After presenting the championship award Mrs McPhail informed me that her champion, Philip was for sale I duly informed Mrs Dawes of this and as they say, the rest is history, Philip went on to gain three other Royal Show championship awards for the Craycombe Fold. The combination of Philip and Fraoch produced yet more honours for the fold when Scott of Craycombe lifted the supreme award in 1991.

Her Majesty The Queen with Mrs Jean McPhail, Mr David Fellowes, President of the Highland Cattle Society. Supreme Champion, Bhaltair 2nd of Hungerhill at the Highland Cattle Centenary Show 1984.

Judith Dawes was certainly not the only Highland Lady to make her mark with the Highland breed south of the border. Mrs Jean McPhail’s Hungerhill Fold has won most of the awards the Highland breed has to offer over the years, including the championship at the Royal Highland Show in 1984 when an entry of seventy saw the two- yearold, Bhaltair 2nd of Hungerhill lift the supreme award at what was the Highland Cattle Society’s Centenary Show, beating all the top Scottish Folds. Mrs Marianna Rosenburg developed her Devon-based Iddesleigh Fold on some of the very best Scottish breeding such as Achnacloich and Glenforsa. Her Iddesleigh fold played its part in what became one of the breed strongholds in the South. The late Andrew Morrow considered it to be one of the best folds in the country, the result of the careful selection of stock bulls such as Laoch 2nd of Douneside. This careful selection of foundation stock produced several quality bulls such as the black Maximillian of Iddesleigh, used with great success by Mr Ken Stewart on the isle of Coll, as well as Brogach of Iddesleigh used in the Craycombe fold and Viking of Iddesleigh as stock bull in Col Martin’s Brand Fold. The afore-mentioned certainly earn Judith, Jean and Marianna a worthy place in the ranks of Great Highland Ladies.

No account of the contribution the Ladies have made in the development of the Highland Breed would be complete without including Miss Ann Barugh, Easton Fold, Yorkshire, her afore-mentioned, Angus MacDomhnull of Easton, used with great success at Balmoral will ensure

her place as a Highland Lady. Ms Joy Griffiths has kept her Cim Fold to the fore in Shropshire. Lady Sarah Cluton’s Dover Fold did much to help popularise the breed in the South of England. Mrs Joyce Brotherton kept one of the largest folds in the country registering 33 heifer calves in 2002 under her Dalriada Fold name.

In the islands, Mrs Susan Campbell developed a fine fold in South Uist under the Cnoc Ard fold name. Keeping Highlanders to the fore on the Isle of Skye are the cattle belonging to Yvonne White, Romesdal Fold, while on the Isle of Mull, one of the breeds strongholds, we had Mrs Grace Headspeath’s Wellburn Fold producing not only quality cattle but doing great work promoting the merits of Highland Beef. Keeping the Highland flag flying on the Island today, Shirley Strachan’s Cailaich Fold is very much to the fore and if her recent Oban sale success is anything to go by, when her Robina Dhubh 17th of Cailaich sold for 6,000gs, Mull’s reputation as a Highland breed stronghold is in very good hands. Meanwhile on the mainland the Cnoc Fold founded by Mrs Janet Montgomery is still very much to the fore under the new owners, Glenure Estates Ltd.

In the Scottish border country, the Old Greenlaw fold belonging to The Hon. Mrs H Douglas Home, founded on the best of Douglas and Douneside breeding, brought much credit with bulls such as Lord Mosscastle of Old Greenlaw, used in the Ardbhan Fold, Lord Tara of Old Greenlaw used with success at Leys Castle, Lord Angus of Old Greenlaw used at the Rigg Fold and Lord Ben of Old Greenlaw, used in the Drenthe Fold, Netherlands.

Another Highland Lady, based in the borders, was Mrs Susan Younger, her Whitslaid Fold, was founded mainly on Achnacloich breeding. Although dispersed, many of the descendants are still coming to the fore in show-rings both at home and abroad. Although only in existence for a relatively short time the Auchtenny Fold founded in the hills south of Perth by Mrs Virginia Stacy Marks had many admirers based on the outstanding quality of the females, in particular, the Lili Ann’s, Huillin and Dorta lines which brought her fold Auchtenny Fold very much to the fore.

If recent show and sale ring awards is anything to go by, Highland Ladies are sure to be at the fore for years to come. The long established Cladich fold founded in 1878 and now in the ownership of Queenie Strickland are lifting top awards on a regular basis. Their two-year old bull K2 of Cladich lifting the overall championship award at the Febuary bull sale in 2020 selling for 6,500gs to the Hellifield fold, while the heifer calves annually sold at the October event attract much interest, Sonasag 2nd of Cladich selling to 4,000gs in 2018 was followed by Lady Jane White 2nd of Cladich selling for 3,200. Such is the reputation of this old fold.

Miss Emily Armstrong, Balemartine. Two Highland Lassies.

One of the great features at our biannual Oban events is the young handler competition. This gives young enthusiasts the opportunity to show cattle on their own and to gain the necessary experience of handling cattle in the show-ring. One young lady who has featured over recent years is Emily Armstrong who runs the now wellknown Balemartine fold on the Isle of Tiree. Having come up through the ranks as it were, she is now enjoying well deserved success. The Oban sale in March 2021 saw her black yearling heifer, Seonaig Dhubh of Balemartine take first prize and sell for 1,300gs. The October sale of 2021 saw her yearling heifer, Bonnie Ruadh 1st of Balemartine placed second in its class and eventual reserve champion selling for 3,500gs. This level of achievement from one so young gives Emily every right to join the ranks of Highland Ladies or perhaps in this instance Highland Lassies might be more appropriate.

Overseas, Highland Ladies have been and still are very much at the forefront of the development of the Highland breed and it would be somewhat foolish to omit them as I know only too well what the consequences might be. I very much hope that Part Two will be next on the mustdo list, and I beg the favour of colleagues from abroad in chronicling the achievements of the Highland Ladies in their respective nations.

Angus R Mackay 27th of June 2022