THE Managing Director of one of the country's leading livestock companies, Harrison & Hetherington, has been chosen to judge the prestigious Champion of Champions at this year’s Northumberland County Show.

Scott Donaldson, based at Borderway Mart in Carlisle, will judge the prize-winning animals from every section of the show as they are led in the time-honoured JS Hubbucks Grand Parade.

“It is an honour to judge the most prestigious competition of the day. After two years of the pandemic when so many shows have been cancelled, this is a great opportunity for the farming community to get together and celebrate their achievements. Harrison and Hetherington have attended the Northumberland County Show for many years. It is a relaxed venue to meet customers and friends, and consolidates business relationships, ” said Scott.

Aged 54, Scott has worked within the livestock industry his entire career and has an in-depth understanding of the sector at all levels. Aged 17 he joined Perthshire’s Macdonald Fraser and Company Ltd part of the United Auctions Group as a trainee auctioneer. He quickly progressed, and in 1988, aged only 21, became the youngest auctioneer at the time, to take the Rostrum at the Perth Bull Sales to sell pedigree Simmental cattle.

He joined Harrison & Hetherington in 2010 and has moved steadily upwards until he was appointed managing director in 2021. Well known, and a former president of the IAAS, Scott is highly respected across both the commercial and pedigree sectors, and in recent years has played a major role in the company’s growth and expansion. “I have no doubt the quality of livestock will be exceptional, and every single animal in this line up will be a champion, in its own right. I will be looking for the extra special sparkle that gives an animal an edge over the others; it is a quality that is hard to define, but I know it when I see it!”

Living in Bardon Mill, Scott’s added: “Agricultural shows are important to the farming community, but also valuable in making connections to food and farming for those not connected to rural life.This is the biggest show in the North-East and draws visitors from all walks of life, and so it is a perfect way of bringing people together to share their passion for food, farming and the countryside, and celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee weekend in style.”