LEADING livestock auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington have revealed the line-up of livestock judges for this year's Borderway Agri Expo.

Judging the main cattle classes is farmer James Crichton from Cumbria; the Baby Beef & Cattle Young Handler classes will be judged by Argyllshire farmer Duncan Semple; and responsible for main sheep classes is noted sheep farmer and breeder Stuart Wood.

Due to be held on October 29, and with a prize fund of £15,000, Borderway Agri Expo is a showcase featuring some of the finest livestock from across the UK. Each of the judges have been chosen for their expertise and knowledge.

This will be the first Agri Expo since the pandemic and it is expected to attract in the region of 800 head of the highest calibre of cattle including sections for pedigree breed society calf shows, and sheep.

Scott Donaldson, Managing Director of Harrison & Hetherington, said: “These three judges are experts in their fields, and we are very fortunate that they have agreed to judge this year. I know all of them will take their positions incredibly seriously and I would like to thank them personally for giving up their time.”

James Crichton runs the 130-acre Loughrigg Farm at Egremont and focusses primarily on buying cattle to fatten for local butchers. Each year, he fattens roughly 500 Limousin and Charolais cross cattle, as well as lambing 180 ewes from his closed flock of Beltex crosses. Over the decades, he has accumulated a wealth of experience and knowledge in the market which he is looking forward to putting to use at the event.

James said: “Being asked to judge at the Borderway Agri Expo is a great honour. I’ve been involved with livestock and agriculture all my life and have been fattening cattle since I was 15 so I’m excited to bring the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to the event. As always, I’m expecting to see some of the best cattle in the country. In terms of winners, I will be looking for a beast with a good top line and good cover, stylish, with presence and something that is eye catching.”

Across 1200 acres of mixed farm, Duncan Semple runs 80 suckler cows and 350 ewes at Dippen Farm in Argyll. His cattle are primarily bought from Stirling or are otherwise home bred, and at present he has 15 pure Charolais and the rest are black Limousin cross cows. Despite not having attended Borderway Agri Expo in person, Duncan has had numerous calves show at the event, some of which have achieved success in the ring. Duncan has considerable judging experience and is looking forward to seeing what he knows will be a tremendous line up of young cattle.

Duncan said: “I’m extremely honoured to have been invited to judge. It will be my first time in Carlisle – I’m probably one of the very few in the industry who has never attended Agri Expo – and so I’m very excited to be taking part. When judging, I’ll be looking for an animal which is presented correctly, walks correctly, and has a showy head. I am not looking for extremities: it is correctness that matters to me. I want to see a proper loin, and well fleshed calves must walk correctly.”

Full-time fireman Stuart Wood is a renowned sheep breeder and former auctioneer from Aberdeenshire. Farming around 350 acres, Stuart along with Partner Stasa and Children Chloe and Murray have a flock of around 1200 sheep consisting of pedigree flocks of Pure Beltex, Blue Texel, Badgerface, Dutch Texel and Dutch Spotted, alongside a commercial MV flock of Mules and Suffolk cross ewes.

Stuart said: “Borderway Agri Expo is such a substantial event in the agricultural calendar and in judging the pairs of lambs I will be looking for a perfect mating pair, with great tops and loins and with attributes relevant to their class, sector and breed.”