01/09/2025
Well, what a show to end on…………
We certainly surpassed all expectations on the day with the weather, the number of visitors & spectators, the quality of horsepower on display, the attractions and the variety of stalls in the Farmers Market area.
Notably, Metcheck hinted at rain from 3.00 pm on the 30th in the preceding week, and we were concerned that the ridden and driven classes, plus the team of 6 in the dray might be drenched in a deluge of rain. Encouragingly, as the days drew nearer, updates saw the rain window constantly being pushed back. From a very misty start at 6.00 am with the first horses silhouetted against the greyness in the showfield, to glorious sunshine by 9,00 am we couldn’t have asked for a better day. Rain came as promised later, nearer 5.00 pm, but by then the show had dispersed, the gazebos were down and packed away, and it didn’t affect us in any way.
And how amazing to host two large classes of yeld mares and older geldings first thing!
The crowds that gathered on all 4 sides of the rings were treated to a fantastic array of quality horses throughout the day. A few oops moments in the 2-year-old C**t & Gelding class to prove that even the mighty gentle giants can have a toddler tantrum. I’ll own up to owning one of them, and top marks to young Chloe Hunter, her first time on the end of his lead rope, for holding on and stopping Sandy in his tracks. The other culprit is famous for his boyish antics across social media and Kelsey Logan equally had Shindig under control. All going to prove that they can misbehave at times, but from all the comments we’ve had so far, both naughty boys added a certain comic element to the morning!
From a rather humble beginning at Uppermill Farm in 2021, when the show first moved to Kintore, the growth that has taken place was so obvious on Saturday. The farriers were working away in a cloud of smoke at the bottom of the field. Many hammers striking out a metallic tune the majority of the day. Four very patient Clydesdales standing under canvas awnings out of the sun whilst the competition to make shoes and shoe them took place throughout the day.
Looking from there to the entrance of the field and then scanning right, the massive red exhibition units of Gogar, and their dray, and the team of 6 horses tied up to their giant red horse lorry. Further right all around the perimeter of the field the expanse of stalls and vendors of the Farmers Market. Many new traders all smiling and just delighted to be in the sunshine with a great view of the rings.
The rest of the showfield seems much the same, with the competitor area and rings, but overall, the buzz yesterday from the public was tenfold and it was just amazing to see so many people there. They came at 9.00am, more came throughout the day, and they were still coming later in the afternoon.
Malcolm Allan met me in the Secretary tent around lunchtime with a beaming smile on his face. “Karen, there are so many fivers in the field”, for a second thinking he meant there was money scattered somewhere, but then realising he meant vehicles parked in his field. There were so many cars, and vans, and campervans!
Wow, we are just overwhelmed by the attendance yesterday and all of those “fivers” paid go toward the running costs of the show and keeping it going and growing.
To all of our sponsors this year, we thank you for supporting us. Committee Sponsor Co-ordinator, Charlie Wilson, and Treasurer, Loraine Murray have been instrumental in securing the majority of our sponsors for 2025. In addition, we have had some last-minute surprises from kind people on the day of the show. But the biggest surprise of all was triggered from a Show Flyer handed over after a riding lesson a month or so ago. The Gogar Dray and Team of 6 horses, 2 skips and an army of red wheely bins for the show rubbish, as well as a generous donation to our funds. Charlie has been in close contact with Gogar Services Ltd these past few weeks ensuring the arrival, siting of the exhibition units and placement of the dray and horses suited everyone.
The dray made its way to the ring just after 2.00 pm and I’m sure just like me, everyone there felt goosebumps. Driven by Ron Brewster, the six horses were all introduced by name, age, experience and achievements. It was a sight to behold and a dream come true for many to see it there at Uppermill Farm.
Without the help and support of so many people yesterday the show just would not happen, so I’ll start off with a huge thank you to Malcolm Allan, a shy and gentle person, by his own admission yesterday, who has supported The Aberdeen Show for decades. Generously inviting us to take over a field at his home in early 2022. In 2024 he happily added a second field to be used as the car park when space started to become tight with increasing numbers of visitors. This year he’s added a pedestrian gate in the top corner of the showfield, opposite the car park, completely of his own doing. Perhaps the minuted comment about pedestrians walking against the flow of cars prompted that kind action. Certainly, I can’t imagine his cows using it in the summertime. It is a simple but very kind thing and I’m sure everyone appreciated not having to walk quite so far to get into the showfield. He has accommodated all of the requests, and stabled horses overnight in luxurious deep straw beds, allowed camping in the field. All simple things again that help to make showing easier for those travelling a distance and arriving the day before. He is a very lovely and kind man.
Help on the day is much needed and this year we would like to thank the following individuals who willingly gave up their time to Marshall in the car park, sell programmes, pick up litter, poo pick in the rings, all under the direction of Vice Chairwoman, Jan Watt, as Volunteer Coordinator this year.
Denise Wilson
Caroline Tabor
Suzanne Begg
Brenda Peter
Elaine Mather
Ali Jermieson
Angela Dobb
Hannah McDonald
Cammy McDonald
Michael Murray
David Watt
Fynn Watt
Anabelle Watt
Mr Lamb
Charlie Taylor
The 2025 Sponsors were:
Malcolm Allan House Builders Ltd
NSB Contracting LTD
Gogar Services ltd
Patrick McDonald
D.R Alexander & Son
Dunnydeer Veterinary Group
The Property People North East
Carmichael & Baxter Ground Works
Jim Urquhart Commercial Repairs
CT Scott Ltd
Norvite
Bob Hamilton
Mrs Whippy Ice Cream
Lochside Clydesdales
We are grateful for all of your support, and for many, your continued support of the Aberdeen Show. Times are financially tough for businesses at present, and we appreciate every penny that you can spare.
Thank you to Kim McConnachie for contacting businesses and traders. For organising the Farmers Market again this year with a wide variety of vendors and stalls. There will be a separate post to name them all and give them a bit of a shout out, but some new faces who we hope will return next year. A special mention to Graham Whyte who provide the refreshments for all of the volunteers on the day and have done so for many years.
To the folk who enable the showing to take place, our Ring Stewards, Charis Gray and Jacqueline Robertson, assisted by Graham Bruce who delivered results to the commentator and subsequently the Secretary Tent in timeous fashion. Our holding Ring Stewards, Kenny and Jackie Wilson who kept everyone in line so to speak, and in the right order!
Thank you to our judges, Annette Noble, Charlotte Young and Virginia Osbourne-Antolovi who made the trip north to join us on the day and pick our winners and champions. We hope you enjoyed your day at the Aberdeen Show.
The lady with the voice, to Ruth Skinner, who always has something to say to keep everyone informed throughout the day. Ruth has been our commentator for many years now and we are so grateful to her.
To our First Aiders, Event First Aid Service, who thankfully had nothing major to deal with, merely issuing a few plasters on the day.
To Donald Munro of lxmevents for the PA System and making sure that this year the competitors had a clear communication from the ring. Apparently, it was top class, loud and clear!
Turriff Printing Services and Glenview Rosettes, who yet again turned the programme and Rosette order around in record time. Renowned for being last minute but I always get it done. Thank you for your services and attention to detail.
Bruce the Ice Cream man who drove in at 10.00 am just as temperatures were rising. Everyone thanks you!
Ian Roy of the Clydesdale Horse Society who has attended the show with his merchandise many times and always happy to be here.
To all of the committee who have made my job so much easier these past few years, Loraine Murray our Treasurer. George Skinner and Jim Ingram for your expertise in all things Clydesdale. Alan McConachie who joined this year to assist wife Kim. Margaret Ingram who accompanied husband Jim. Lexi Wilson our youngest member who always brought a smile to meetings. Jan Watt who took on the website and online entries, and the paperwork for the public licence. Charlie Wilson who has secured Sponsorship for the past two years. To Chairman, Patrick McDonald, who has been instrumental in the precision of the showground layout, and kept law and order during meetings, and for turning up extra, extra early on the day of every show to organise and park the competitors.
To all the followers on the page, all the spectators and visitors every year. To Ben who comes every year with his mum, this year his 20th Show, having first visited in Duthie Park when he was 10.
To each and every one of you I say a huge thank you.
And to anyone I’ve forgotten to name, it’s not intentional, I thank you too!
One final person who deserves a mention is my husband Alan, who has put up with 8 years of the kitchen table covered in papers throughout the summer, the hallway littered with boxes, rosettes and programmes, me sat up late and sometimes grumpy. He’s supported me more than anyone has and he even kindly fuelled up the 4 x 4 on Friday without a mention when my head was frazzled and time was of the essence to get everything done, AND, two horses washed!!
So many people who have contributed and without all of your help the 2025 Show would not have been the success it was, and I am very grateful. x
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