1870. GEORGE BROWN, Westertown, Fochabers. Colonel Fraser gained the first prize in the section for cows; but as this cow gained the Challenge Cup in 1869, she could not compete. The judges awarded the cup to the second-prize winner in section for cows, Duchess 1st 930. This is possibly the only occasion on record when a Challenge Cup has gone to a second-prize beast. Duchess 1st 930 was bred by Mr Brown; s. President 354, d. Duchess of Westertown 927. 1871. W. DINGWALL FORDYCE of Brucklay, M.P. Bull M'Combie 430, 3 years, 5 months, and 18 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Bright 454, d. Miss M'Combie 1118. 1872. GEORGE BROWN, Westertown, Fochabers. Bull Baron Settrington 356, 3 years and 3 months; bred by exhibitor; s. March 355, d. Duchess of Westertown 927. 1873. SIR GEORGE MACPHERSON GRANT, Bart. of Ballindalloch. Cow Eisa 977, 6 years, 6 months, and 14 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Trojan 402, d. Erica 843. 1874. THE MARQUIS OF HUNTLY, Aboyne Castle. Cow Dora of Aboyne 1282, 6 years and 4 months; bred by William M'Combie, M.P., Tillyfour; s. Bright 454, d. Vine of Tillyfour 1167. 1875. THE EARL OF FIFE, K.T., Duff House, Banff. Bull Young Viscount 736, 2 years and 4 months; bred by William Duff, Hillockhead, Glass; s. Hampton 492, d. Erica 3d 1249. 1876. NO SHOW in consequence of Highland Society's show taking place at Aberdeen. 1877. WILLIAM M'COMBIE of Tilly four. Cow Sybil 1st of Tillyfour 352, 4 years; bred by George Reid, Baads, Peterculter; s. Sir William 705, d. Fancy of Baads, 1948. 1878. LIEUT.-COLONEL FERGUSON of Pitfour, Mintlaw. Bull Logie the Laird 3rd 862, 4 years and 5 months; bred by Alexander Bowie, Mains of Kellie, Arbroath; s. Gainsborough 596, d. Lizzie 4th 2249. 1879. ROBERT ANDERSON, Daugh, Tarland. Bull Prince Albert of Baads 1336, 2 years, 4 months, and 9 days; bred by George Reid, Baads, Peterculter; s. Bachelor 690, d. Kate of Baads 1947. 1880. HENRY D. ADAMSON, Balquharn, Alford. Cow Sybil 2nd 3526, 4 years and 3 months; bred by the late William M'Combie of Tillyfour; s. Sir Garnet 684, d. Sybil 1st 3524. 1881. R. C. AULD, Bridgend, Whitehouse. Bull Knight of the Shire 1699, 2 years, 6 months, and 15 days; bred by H. D. Adamson, late of Balquharn, Alford; s. Dragon 1178, d. Pride of Mulben 3rd 3249. The M'Combie Prize. In 1877 a subscription was started in order to make some suitable testimonial to Mr William M'Combie of Tillyfour, M.P., by breeders and others throughout the county and elsewhere. A sum of over £300 was thus raised, and, at Mr M'Combie's request, the money was handed over to the Royal Northern Agricultural Society, in order to constitute a capital, the interest of which was to be paid as a prize every year. This special prize is styled The M'Combie Prize, and is awarded to the best breeding animal of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed. A prize of the value of about £15 is at present awarded yearly out of this fund. The first competition took place in 1878 at the annual summer show of the Society. The following is a list of the owners, breeders, and pedigrees of the animals which gained this prize : 1878. JOHN HANNAY, Gavenwood, Banff. Bull Young Viscount 736, 5 years and 3 months; bred by William Duff, Hillockhead, Glass; s. Hampton 492, d. Erica 3rd 1249. 1879. ROBERT ANDERSON, Daugh, Tarland. Bull Prince Albert of Baads 1335, 2 years, 4 months, and 9 days; bred by George Reid, Baads, Peterculter; s. Bachelor 690, d. Kate of Baads 1947. 1880. HENRY D. ADAMSON, Balquharn, Alford. Cow Sybil 2nd 3526, 4 years and 3 months; bred by the late William M'Combie of Tillyfour; s. Sir Garnet 684, d. Sybil 1st 3524. 1881. R. C. AULD, Bridgend, Whitehouse. Bull Knight of the Shire 1699, 2 years, 6 months, and 15 days; bred by H. D. Adamson, late of Balquharn, Alford; s. Dragon 1178, d. Pride of Mulben 3rd 3249. The Family Prize. This Society, in 1879, commenced a section for family groups of the polled breed, the family to consist of a cow of any age, and two or more of her direct produce, male or female. In addition to ordinary premiums, special prizes, value £10 each, were given as follows: In 1879 by Lord Douglas Gordon, and in 1880 and 1881 by Earl of Aberdeen. The following are the winners, together with a list of the animals, in the successful groups:— 1879. THE MARQUIS OF HUNTLY, Aboyne Castle, Aboyne. Madge of Portlethen 1217, 8 years, 3 months, and 20 days; bred by Mr M Combie of Tillyfour; s. Major of Tillyfour 509, d. Ruth of Tilly four 1169. OFFSPRING. Marjorie 2574, 5 years and 2 months; bred by Mr Walker, Medusa 2577, 4 years, 3 months, and 19 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Pluto 602. Monarch 1182, 3 years, 4 months, and 7 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Pluto 602. Duke of Aboyne 1500, 2 years, 4 months, and 20 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Duke of Perth 357. Morven 1502, 1 year, 4 months, and 10 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Duke of Perth 357. 1880. JAMES MOIR, Mains of Wardhouse, Insch. Hawthorn of Wardhouse 2467, 5 years and 2 months; bred by exhibitor; s. Wallace of Wardhouse 983, d. Miss Carnegie 3rd 2419. OFFSPRING. Hawthorn 2nd 4031, 2 years and 6 months; bred by exhibitor; s. Watchman 1533. Black Chief, 5 months and 12 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Bogfern 901. 1881. GEORGE REID, Baads, Peterculter. Isla 1965, 7 years, 2 months, and 5 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Sir William 705, d. Fancy of Baads 1948. OFFSPRING. Isla 3rd 4376, 2 years, 3 months, and 20 days; bred by exhibitor; s. Keillor 1280. Isla 4th 5003, 1 year and 3 months; bred by exhibitor; Isla 5th, 2 months and 23 days; bred by exhibitor; s. 445 CHAPTER XXI. THE BREED IN THE SALE RING. Lord Panmure's sale in 1841-Mr Fullerton's sale in 1844-Keillor sale in 1848-Mr M'Combie's first sale in 1850-The Auchtertyre sale in 1853-Crathes sale in 1856-Mr Bowie's sale in 1857-Inchmarlo sale in 1857-Mr M'Combie's sale in 1857-Keillor dispersion in 1860-Mr M'Combie's sale in 1860-Kinnaird sale in 1861-Balwyllo sale in 1863-Kinnaird sale in 1865-Tillyfour sale in 1867-Portlethen sale in 1869-Castle Fraser sale in 1870-Tillyfour sale in 1871-Recent public sales-Average for Prides-High prices for Ericas-High prices for Baads Sybils-Prices for exported animalsPrices at 82 public sales. MUCH interesting and useful information regarding the history of the breed is derived from a study of the catalogues and price lists of important sales of polled. cattle. Of many of the early sales we are without record. The first of which we have any notice is that of Lord Panmure, held at Brechin Castle in October 1841, when Mr Fullerton purchased the celebrated bull Panmure 51 for £17, 17s. The next sale we know of was Mr Fullerton's, at Ardovie in 1844, when a number of important transactions took place. Mr M'Combie of Tilly four bought at this sale the heifers Queen Mother 348 for £12, 10s., and Jean Ann 206. Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, here purchased Earl Spencer 24, and Mr Ruxton, Farnell, Monarch 44, both famous bulls. Mr Watson had a sale at Keillor in 1848, but of it we have been unable to procure a complete record. Mr M'Combie |