Business To Business


We know that a vast amount of business and networking happens at the show, much of it un-quantified and occasionally informally conducted on a bale of straw!


We felt that a facility would be appreciated where folk could book a meeting room to have a quiet chat with potential or existing customers or clients over a nice cup of coffee.


Accordingly, we are dedicating a permanent building that overlooks the Main Ring for this purpose to be shared with International Visitors.


Hopefully, many useful (and lucrative) contacts can be established. If you feel this facility is something you would like to book, give David Cochrane a call on 0131 335 6207.


50 Years – And Counting!


The RHASS has now been holding the Royal Highland Show on our permanent site here at Ingliston for 50 years. Actually it’s 51 but we lost the 2001 show to FMD.


We thought it would be interesting to trawl through the catalogues to compare the”then and now” to see how many exhibitor names we could spot who have family longevity and involvement in the show.


Several names leapt out from the pages of the heavy horse section - Ronnie Black (following in father Hugh’s footsteps), Thomas Clark & Sons of Perth, the Greenhill Family, Messrs Christie of Balfron, the Youngs of Arradoul, Charlotte Young of Doura (following both her father and grandfather), E Ormiston (Highland Ponies), and of course, H P Sleigh and Sons, famed for their Shetlands.


In the sheep sector, the MacTaggarts of Muirhouses, the Duns of Gilston and J & J Frame were spotted, with William McGowan of Fingask, Cupar, James C Innes & Sons, Huntly and Messrs Biggar of Castle Douglas being still very familiar names in the beef cattle rings.


The dairy sheds featured blue chip names such as William Young of Skerrington Mains, A & S Lawrie, Cuthill Towers, the Lindsays of Harperfields and the Templetons of Knowe and Syke Farms.


While our dairy produce sector has expanded from involving only cheese and butter into the exotic delights of ice creams and frozen yoghurts, three creameries were still with us in 2009 – Lockerbie, Rothesay and Torrylin, although, of course, Rothesay sadly closed earlier this year.


Please fill in the form with your pack to claim your 50 year rosette if you are one of this special band of exhibitors – and yes, it is gold!


Many of you are fans of the show department on Facebook – we set up our wee site for social networking just before last year’s show.


We were taking photos as the showground built up, with stables popping up in long rows and cattle stalling filling the hall and thought we would share them with others who would find it interesting.


This year we have made many more posts, reminding exhibitors of closing dates and other important issues, as well as having a bit of fun with caption competitions and so on. We enjoy interacting with you all and would welcome more of you to sign up as “fans”.


Photo: Paul Dodds


Vet Stars Of The Small Screen


Many of you will no doubt have been tuning in to STV on a Tuesday evening to follow the work of the Royal Dick Vets from both the large and the small animal practices dealing with a broad spectrum of animals, some very exotic. There will not be any snakes, rabbits or marsupials at the show (at least we hope not!) but you will see Colin Penny, Matt Hanks, Kath Dun and other colleagues on all four days. This year, the provision of the 24/7 veterinary care is being sponsored by the Vion Food Group.


International Visitors –


With An Equine Twist! Each year we welcome increasing numbers of overseas visitors with many often involved with International Congresses for a variety of beef cattle societies.


In 2010, we have over 100 visitors here for the Shorthorn Society’s World Congress, with almost as many European Hereford enthusiasts coming over. Delegates to the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth Conference will spend Thursday at the show as part of their packed 16 day pre and post conference programme.


The show will also have some four legged international visitors making their first appearance in Scotland, these being a magnificent team of Canadian Belgian heavy horses. Dave Mouland from Hampshire sadly lost his Clydesdale team and decided to replace them with a team from Tom Lane of Birtle, Manitoba.


After many long days travelling across the Atlantic, the two 6 year olds, a 5 year old and a 3 year old arrived at the end of April at Fordingbridge, where they settled in very quickly.


Dave and his wife and daughter have made the long journey North to enjoy the “craic” for the last few years. We are


Photo courtesy of John Fraser


sure that their team, along with two teams of Percherons, will cause much interest from the spectators as they will stand out from their Clydesdale and Shire cousins.


Young Stars!


We are very pleased to say that entries for our new sheep Young Handler classes have been good.


The kids will be showing off their skills on Sunday morning from 10.30 prior to the Sheep Pairs Interbreed.


Photographed are the two Graham boys, John and James whose father and mother Douglas and Lynda hosted Scotsheep 2010 at their farm at Mains of Burnbank, Blairdrummond.


Forward Planning


Royal Highland Show Dates 2011 June 23-26 2012 June 21- 24


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