Sutherland County Show

The horse entry at the Sutherland County Show held today, was huge.  The horse classes started at 10am and ended at 8pm! I left at 5.15pm when the ridden championship finished and the working hunters  were only on their 2nd class.

The ridden champion and supreme light legged horse champion was Diane Ross, Janetstown, on her 6 year old Irish Cob, Kingston (1st pic).  It is Diane's first championship.

2nd pic - In hand champion Hazel McIvor, Black Isle, with Larchspor General.

3rd pic - Driving champions Mary Edmundson, Mey & Jane Renshaw, Scotscalder, with Gypsy Rose Lee

4th pic - Miniature shetland champion and shetland stallion champion, W&K Campbell, Calder, with Rashiburn JR

5th pic - Clydesdale champion and overall heavy horse champion Eric Johnstone, Muir of Ord, with Ord Independent

6th pic - Overall shetland champion J & R Swan, Conon Bridge, with Stow Eliza Jane

7th pic - Highland Pony ridden champion Derry Argue/ A Holland, Tain, with Josephdene

8th pic - reserve highland champion Anne Mightens, Dingwall with Deerdyke Dawn Rose, ridden by Katie Common, Easter Kinkell. Highland in-hand champion and overall highland pony champion, Lianna Ballingall, Dingwall with Highfield Ben Cleuch.

last pic - Overall sheep champion Campbell, Bardnaclavan, with 2 year old texel Callerton Opel

Halkirk vs Pentland Utd

Halkirk beat Pentland Utd 3-1 tonight at the Recreation Park.  Garry MacLeod opened the scoring with a penalty (1st pic) for Utd.  Gavin Bremner scored two great free kicks (2nd pic shows his second goal) and Paul MacKay cooly rounded Michael Gray to score a late 3rd goal (3rd pic).

This rare win over the Stabs eases Halkirk's relegation worries and puts the pressure on Swifts.

Catch all the latest league results on the Caithness AFA website:

http://www.caithnessafa.co.uk/

Caithness Festival of Cycling

Caithness Cycling Club staged the annual Festival of Cycling weekend with a 25 mile time trial on Saturday, a 10 mile TT on Sunday morning and an 11 mile Hilly TT on Sunday afternoon. 

A large entry of around 30 riders from all over Scotland competed. Once again Peter Alexander from Moray Firth Cycling Club won everything (3rd pic).  Local riders Lorna Stanger (2nd pic) and Alasdair Washington (1st pic) did exteremely well to win their respective classes.  All the results are on the website;

http://www.caithnesscc.co.uk/Archives/2010/July%20Racing%20Weekend/july_race_weekend.htm

I took pics in the rain at the Sunday morning's 10 Mile TT - just after the half way turning point at Georgemas, hence the reason why most are out of the saddle.

Caithness Show

The weather held for the 2nd day of the Caithness County Show at Scrabster until the rain started at around 3.30pm.  Jojo Hunter won the overall champion horse (1st pic).  Emma Mackay was reserve light legged champion to Jojo (2nd pic). Ashley Miller was in-hand champion with Flossie (3rd pic)  The reserve in-hand champion is 4th pic.

Alasdair Matheson won the Highland Pony championship and Ashley was reserve with Ollie (5th pic).  Alasdair was overall horse reserve to Jojo. The champion Shetland is the black pony behind the coloured pony.

Caitlin Bissett won her ridden class on our pony Eddiston May-Bee (8th pic).

James Allan won the overall sheep championship and was reserve supreme champion to Andy Morris's white heifer.

Pentland Utd vs Kirkwall Thorfinn

The first semi-final of the Highland Amateur Cup was played at the Dammies in Thurso today.  Pentland Utd beat last year's champions Kirkwall Thorfinn 4-1 after extra time. 

I was at the County Show and caught the second half onwards.  Kirkwall were 1-0 up at half-time, but in the 2nd half it was all Pentland Utd with Kirkwall hardly getting near goalie Michael Gray.  The Kirwall right back was sent off for a tackle on substitute Ross Allan (2nd pic). After numerous missed chances, Tony Farquhar eqaulised with a powerful header - which I missd as I was wiping the rain off my lens! The 1st pic shows his celebrations.

The game moved into extra time in constant rain conditions.  Ross Allan missed a penalty (3rd pic), but made up for it with two goals in the 2nd half of extra time.  Garry Macleod got the 4th with the last kick of the ball.

The 2nd semi-final is next Saturday between Golspie Stafford and Lochs.  The final is on the 7th or 14th August.

Caithness County Show Working Hunter

Once again, constant rain marred the working hunter classes at the Caithness County Show today.  Entries were way down for the pony section with only one or two entrants per class.

Rachel Gunn took the pony championship with Flyer and the reserve champion with Henry (last pic).

Horse champion was Hayley Florence with Crackerjack and reserve was Alex Henderson with Primagh Dreamer (2nd bottom pic).

The ring was small and tight and quite a few did not make it round.

Wick vs Orkney Match Officials

I forgot to add this photo to the action pics of the Wick Academy vs Orkney game played last Saturday.  This photo was at the special request of Sol.  If it wasn't for the officials, there would be no games played.  Caithness seems to be well off for officials compared to other areas in the Highlands.