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GreatBritish1
  • 6/29/2025
Landward episode 13 2025
Transcript
00:00The team have assembled along with thousands of others.
00:08Welcome to Lambert from the Royal Highland Show.
00:30Hello from sun-kissed Angleston, Edinburgh for a special programme
00:36bringing you the highlights of the Royal Highland Show 2025.
00:41This incredible event over four days celebrates the best of Scottish rural life.
00:47Food, farming and innovation.
00:49All the Lambert team are here striking out across the vast 280 acre site
00:55to bring you some of the best bits. Here's what's coming up.
00:59We discover what it takes to turn out a great turnout.
01:04Rosie finds out which goat is the goat.
01:08And you can judge the judge.
01:10But I'm in a spot here.
01:12When Cammy has to pick the best of the best.
01:15OK, I think I'm going to go. One more go at this, one more go at this.
01:23But first, with over 200,000 visitors expected,
01:27this is the biggest outdoor event in Scotland.
01:30But the show would not be the show without the sheep.
01:33Anne's following one breeder taking part in the competition.
01:36Seven o'clock in the morning.
01:42Hannah Jackson is showing four of her charlay sheep today,
01:46including her favourite, this ewe lamb born last December.
01:51She's the most hopeful.
01:53But, yeah, hopefully they all do. They all do not too bad.
01:57This year-old Tup will be first in the ring.
02:01What's the idea of the dye that you put on them?
02:04What does that do?
02:05It's just the same as a woman dyeing their hair.
02:09You make them catch her eye, it will give you that.
02:12So if you just brush the wool up on his bum, that's it.
02:18And just make sure there's no straw on the sides of him
02:21or anything like that.
02:24How's that?
02:25I think he's good to go.
02:26Looking braw.
02:31Good luck, Hannah.
02:33Not quite a podium finish.
02:44The Tup comes in fourth.
02:46But there's no time to dwell on things
02:48as Hannah is straight back into the ring with a Tup lamb.
02:56It's fourth place for him as well.
02:59Can her year-old ewe do any better?
03:05A second now for the first ewe lamb.
03:08Let's see how the last one gets on.
03:11And this one's actually our favourite.
03:12We're just coming in now.
03:19The judge is being very thorough, taking his time.
03:26And the ewe lamb gets noticed.
03:30That's a first for Hannah.
03:32She certainly knows her sheep.
03:34First place means entry into the overall female class
03:38where the lamb takes second spot.
03:41Reserve female champion.
03:43Giving her a shot at the overall breed prize.
03:47Where she holds onto second.
03:50Reserve Charolais champion.
03:53Congratulations, Hannah.
03:55Are you happy with that result?
03:58Yeah, absolutely delighted.
04:01No, I chuffed a bit.
04:02It's the best result we've had with the Charolais here at the Highlands.
04:04And you were right with your favourite as well.
04:06I knew she was good, but I didn't want to bigger up too much
04:09in case I was disappointed, but she brought home the goods.
04:13Well, I got involved with a little bit of the brushing,
04:15so I like to think that I helped with that success today.
04:18Oh, definitely.
04:19Every little helps.
04:20Every little helps.
04:22Now, there have been months of preparations for everyone competing here at Ingleson,
04:33but those in the heavy horse turnout, there's more than just the animals to get ready.
04:38In this competition, draft horses are judged on how well they cope with heavy work pulling carts and wagons.
04:48And the wagons have to be as well turned out as the horses.
04:52So, a little while back, Rosie went to Kinross to see one getting a makeover for the show.
04:57Ross Hastie is putting the final touches to a brewery dray,
05:11a horse-drawn cart that once delivered beer barrels to your local pub.
05:16Wow, look at this. Ross, how are you doing?
05:20These days, they're just for show.
05:22And a big part of that is the paint job.
05:25I'm now just outlining my original triangle.
05:28There's so much lining on something like this.
05:31It's a marathon, it's not a sprint.
05:36You've got to have a bit of sympathy to the age of the thing
05:39and educate yourself on what was being done.
05:42Whatever you're doing, you want it to be period-correct.
05:45There's room for a bit of creativity,
05:47but the overall look of it has got to be a certain weight.
05:51Preparing the horsepower for the turnout are driver Ella Roberts and cart owner Adam Young.
06:00I would shake your hand, but you are up to your elbows in it just now.
06:04Yes, it's rather soapy and rather hairy at the minute.
06:07Adam's been restoring the dray since last year.
06:10We started stripping it down in September, took all the old varnish off,
06:15took the lines off and we've had it in pieces.
06:19And that's it now, starting to come back together.
06:22And I think Ross is really almost the final touch.
06:25And the colour of the cart is where decorator and exhibitor can let their hair down.
06:30It's a very traditional design, but all these vehicles, you can have your own artistic licence with them.
06:36You can choose the colour of the paint, you can choose the accents to put on it,
06:40you can melt it into what you want your own turnout to be.
06:46And here it is, finished and looking splendid.
06:49We'll be back with the heavy horses later in the programme,
06:53discovering the incredible story of the man judging the turnout classes.
06:58He's travelled further than most to be here.
07:06There are competitions aplenty here at the Royal Highland,
07:09including the Scottish Dairy Championships.
07:12Judges, of course, have to have the most discerning palate.
07:15So for some reason, he chose Cammie.
07:21Now, if I'm going to be a judge, I better look the part.
07:24But between you and I, I've no idea what I'm doing.
07:35Showing me what's what is the Dairy Steward here in Scotland's Larder,
07:39a look round.
07:41I hear you need a judge.
07:42Yes, you'll do though.
07:44How do I look?
07:45Very smart.
07:46You don't need the white jacket though.
07:48It makes me feel quite important though.
07:49You can keep it.
07:50Can I stick with it?
07:51Yeah, you can stick with it.
07:52We can work with that.
07:53So what exact products?
07:54It's dairy obviously, but what does that cover?
07:56Cheese, yoghurt, butter, milk, cream, ice cream.
08:01I like all of those things.
08:03It's going to be tough, I can tell.
08:04Yes.
08:05All the items that you'll be looking to judge have been judged and scrutinised by the industry
08:10experts for hours and hours and hours basically.
08:13So we've got the best of the best and we want someone who is eating and buying these products
08:19on a daily basis to be able to come in and decide from that.
08:23Is this quite an important accolade?
08:25Oh, definitely.
08:26They have producers from up and down the country of various sizes, so you have very small artisan
08:31ones to bigger companies that will enter this.
08:34I thought it was just going to be a bit of fun.
08:36The pressure's building a little bit here.
08:40Are the exhibitors going to be here?
08:43Not this afternoon.
08:46So that's one less thing.
08:47We won't have them watching.
08:48Not that you'll know about.
08:49But it's still going to be tough.
08:59So, can I just dive in?
09:00Right, yes, definitely.
09:01Do you want to start with the cheese?
09:03Yes.
09:07That is a beautiful cheese.
09:08That's not what I was expecting.
09:09That took a long time to judge and go back over because they struggled to find fault with it.
09:14Wow.
09:15Yogurt next.
09:16Yep.
09:17Am I meant to eat it straight out of their side?
09:19Yeah.
09:20Nobody's double dipped.
09:21I don't mind.
09:25I tell you.
09:28Wow.
09:29Now, butter.
09:30I'll try it on its own first.
09:33These guys know their job.
09:37Now this one I feel is almost like cheating because like ice cream is always amazing.
09:42So this looks like pistachio?
09:43Yes.
09:47Spot on.
09:48Have you tried this yet?
09:49Yes.
09:50Unreal.
09:51Milk next.
09:53This is not the job I thought it was.
09:55I thought it would just be like, oh, I like that one.
09:56That's the winner.
09:57Oh, no, no.
09:58And this is...
09:59Double cream.
10:00Double cream.
10:03Do you know, it's one of these wins.
10:04They've all beat hundreds of other entries to get on this table.
10:07Mm-hmm.
10:08So obviously I'm going to say everyone's great, but everyone is great.
10:10This is the best job at the show this week, I'm telling you.
10:13But I'm in a spot here.
10:16It's taken two days to whittle all entries down.
10:19Oh, sorry mate, just give us a... it's tougher now.
10:24You can go back.
10:25You can retaste.
10:30Do you know what I think?
10:33One more go at the milk.
10:38Okay, I think I'm going to go...
10:40One more go at this, one more go at this.
10:45Okay, I've got an answer.
10:47I've got an answer.
10:48I'm going to pick the cheese.
10:50Fabulous.
10:51As our overall champion.
10:52Yeah.
10:53Of 2025.
10:54Most importantly.
10:55Very worthy winners.
10:56That is not mac and a cheese, but it is now.
10:59It's incredible.
11:00Now, it was not as easy as I thought.
11:03So listen, if you need a judge next year, give Duke a shout out.
11:07We will keep you in mind.
11:09This is the place where the world's best pedigree cattle are shown and judged.
11:20And in our last program, I caught up with Aberdeen Angus farmer, Neil Watty, who's the judge at this year's show.
11:26He told me what he's looking for.
11:28As a pedigree animal, they have to have a really good head and nice face, nice length of face.
11:34The length of the animal is very important.
11:35The width of the animal is very important.
11:37A good long body with quite a wide back, all from the shoulder right to the end.
11:41Here at the show, it's nearly time for the Angus competition to start.
11:50I wonder how Neil's feeling.
11:53It's one of the biggest events in a cattle show in Scotland.
11:57So I'm a bit nervous.
11:59I, you know, I was fine last night, but now it's the day has arrived.
12:03The nerves are kicking in a bit.
12:06Only the cattle seem relaxed as competitors rush
12:10to get their beasts show ready.
12:13They'll all be working pretty hard right now.
12:15The hair gets blown up, you know, and then there's glue gets put on it,
12:19and then the feet get shined up, the tail gets back combed,
12:23the face gets a kind of sheen put on it as well.
12:26It's just like a big hairdresser, you know?
12:30The competition starts with the female classes.
12:34When a class comes in, they walk round two or three times,
12:37they stop and then I view each one individually.
12:40Then you watch them walking away.
12:42That's quite important because the back legs are very important.
12:46So you do that with every animal.
12:48You've kind of made up your mind probably by that time,
12:50but you make them walk again.
12:53And then you have one kind of final check again,
12:56and then that's it, you go with that.
13:00Neil goes through the same process for each class,
13:03picking his winners, who then face off against each other
13:06for female champion.
13:08We know the line-up of Aberdeen Angus females
13:11for our judge Neil Waddy to tamp out his female champion.
13:16And Moss Hall Red Essence is his choice.
13:21Your champion goes to number 2496.
13:26The males are next.
13:28Not so many to choose from,
13:30and Rules Mains Platinum becomes Neil's best bull.
13:33Then your champion in the bull section goes to number 2515.
13:38It then becomes a battle of the sexies,
13:41as the respective champs go head-to-head against each other
13:44for the top breed prize.
13:47If it's a really good one, the judge will pick it right away,
13:50and he might even know from his first class
13:52he's got his champion.
13:55And that's how it's been for Neil.
13:57One animal has stood out.
14:03Moss Hall Red Essence.
14:06She kind of caught my eye when she came in the ring.
14:09She's got a really sweet, feminine head,
14:12and she's got a big, deep body, a lot of flesh on her.
14:16Next year, Neil will be the one being judged again,
14:19but perhaps he'll be a bit more sympathetic to the man in charge.
14:23And I get a few funny comments as I walk past,
14:26and some of my son's friends were saying,
14:28oh, you've made a right mess of that.
14:31But I think they were joking.
14:33And he's maybe made his own job a bit more difficult.
14:37Seemingly, I've just been told that it's the first time
14:40the Highland Show has ever had a red Arborine Angus champion.
14:43So, I've set a new trend.
14:45Throughout this series, Arlene's been joining Neil White on his Borders farm
14:58to follow the progress of one field of barley through the growing season.
15:02Here at the show, she's tracked him down in the machinery section,
15:12where he's in his element.
15:15You're like a wee boy at Christmas.
15:17Oh, hi Arlene.
15:18Hiya.
15:19Nice to see you again.
15:20Nice to see you.
15:21How important is a machinery show like this for farmers?
15:24Shows like this are very important.
15:26You know, there's obviously the social aspect,
15:28technology moves on so quickly that you have to keep yourself up to date.
15:31Have you got a shopping list?
15:33I've always got a shopping list.
15:34It's just affording it that's the problem.
15:37What's the big thing at the moment?
15:39One of the things that's been running through the show for a long time
15:41is precision technology.
15:43And you're talking sort of GPS, precision and auto steer.
15:47So that just reduces overlap.
15:49So you're reducing inputs.
15:50You know, it has an environmental benefit.
15:52So what about tractors?
15:53Because they've relied so heavily in the past on fossil fuels.
15:56Has that changed?
15:58Yeah, I think it has.
15:59They're looking at lots of different things.
16:00You know, they're looking at hybrid and alternative fuels.
16:03And this tractor here is completely fueled by methane,
16:06which is a new development.
16:07Farming needs constant investment, constant renewing.
16:10There's always better ways to do it.
16:11Have you decided what you're buying today then?
16:13One of everything, I think.
16:14Let's go and get a cup of tea and we can chat about it.
16:17Yeah, I think so.
16:18Count our pennies.
16:23As well as all the livestock and machinery,
16:26there's much more to see and do here at Engleston.
16:29So we sent show newbie Shabazz to give us a beginner's guide
16:33to the Highland.
16:41I knew it was big, but I didn't realise it was this big.
16:43So I'm going to go get some advice about what I should see.
16:54Hey Cammie.
16:55Shabazz.
16:56How's things?
16:57What should I go and see at the show?
16:58Mate, you have to go and see the sheep shearing.
17:00It's actually a young farmer's competition today,
17:02so they're fighting it out for the silver handpiece.
17:04Actually, about five years ago, I entered the competition myself.
17:08So if you go and look at that handpiece, you might see my name on it.
17:12There's some buzzing here, and seeing the speed of the shearing is incredible to watch.
17:20But there's plenty more to see.
17:21Oh, hi Diggie.
17:22What would you recommend I go and see?
17:23Well, I love the forestry.
17:24It's unbelievable.
17:25They've got chainsaw carving.
17:26But the best thing, see the big poles, the climbing poles?
17:27It's so difficult to go up.
17:28You've got to climb them.
17:29Did I tell you I did it a few years ago?
17:30I mean, you got all the way up to the top.
17:31I've been thinking it was unbelievable.
17:32It's a great story.
17:33Stick around.
17:34Three, two, one, go!
17:36Now, that is seriously impressive.
17:38Hi, Rosie.
17:39I thought I might find you here.
17:40You've caught me doing my shopping, Shabazz.
17:41What do you recommend I go and see?
17:42Well, my favorite is the forestry.
17:43It's unbelievable.
17:44They've got chainsaw carving.
17:45But the best thing, see the big poles, the climbing poles?
17:47It's so difficult to go up.
17:48You've got to climb them.
17:49Did I tell you I did it a few years ago?
17:50I mean, you got all the way up to the top.
17:51I've been thinking it was unbelievable.
17:52It's a great story.
17:53Stick around.
17:54Three, two, one, go!
17:55Now, that is seriously impressive.
17:56Hi, Rosie.
17:57You've got me doing my shopping, Shabazz.
17:59What do you recommend I go and see?
18:00Well, my favorite bit is the food.
18:02There is Scottish produce galore.
18:07Time for a quick pit stop to refuel,
18:09and I've only seen a small part of the show so far.
18:12First impressions, it's busy, it's very, very big,
18:16and you definitely need some comfy shoes.
18:18I'm off for a wee breather.
18:20Earlier on, we saw the effort that goes into getting these carts
18:28and wagons ready for the heavy horse turnout classes.
18:34Picking the best is almost as difficult a job,
18:37and Arlene is meeting the man given the task this year.
18:44Robert Detweiler knows about heavy horses.
18:47He has a lifetime of experience with them.
18:50But this is the first time he's judged at the Royal Highland Show.
18:54I caught up with him a few days ago,
18:57beside a much quieter main ring.
19:01Nice to meet you.
19:02Welcome to Scotland, to the Highland Show,
19:04and to the main ring.
19:05It's wonderful.
19:06It's a beautiful place.
19:07Now, that's not a local accent I'm hearing.
19:09Where are you from?
19:10I'm from Owine, Iowa.
19:11It's about five hours west of Chicago.
19:13Well, I notice a couple of chairs strategically placed for us.
19:16Shall we go?
19:17Please.
19:18I'm looking forward to hearing all about you and your story.
19:22Have you been to Scotland before?
19:23I have, yes.
19:24A few times?
19:25A few times, yes.
19:26Actually, all for Clydesdale's.
19:28I know, but they are magnificent beasts, aren't they?
19:30They are.
19:31Why not travel the world?
19:32But the Clydesdale is just one of the heavy horse breeds Robert has spent his life with.
19:41His love for the animals began when he was just a boy, growing up in an Amish community in rural Iowa.
19:48My father had horses way back, as far back as I can remember.
19:54But we had Belgian horses.
19:56The Amish farmers do all their field work with horses.
19:59And the Belgian was always the most popular one for a work horse.
20:03Thirty-two shoes make a thunder and sound.
20:06The gleaming red wagon rolling behind.
20:09And it was this experience of working heavy horses that gave Robert a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
20:16The Budweiser Clydesdales, arguably the most famous hitch or team of Clydesdales in the world.
20:28When I was 22 I went to work for them.
20:31I started off as a harness cleaner and a year and a half later I was the lead driver.
20:35I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
20:37And so that just gave me amazing opportunities to show the horses all over the world.
20:42And I've been to Tokyo, Japan.
20:44I've been to Puerto Rico.
20:46We flew the horses over there.
20:48And some very big events.
20:50I did three presidential inaugural parades.
20:52That's about as big as they get over there.
20:54And we did a ticker tape parade for the troops when they came home from the war.
20:58There was, I think, eight million people there at that.
21:01And so it's great to have Clydesdales for that because they do have that disposition
21:05that allows them to put up with some of the stuff that goes on for these parades.
21:09Robert hung up his driver's cap in 1998 and is now back in Iowa,
21:15focusing on breeding the next generation of Clydesdales.
21:19Now you're here at the Highland Show judging for the first time.
21:23What are you going to be looking for in terms of the turnout?
21:26Well, the whole spectacle.
21:27You want to see, you know, style and action and feather.
21:31And you want the wheel team to be bulked up so they should weigh a ton or better.
21:35And as they go forward, maybe a little bit more stylish here.
21:38And that's kind of what I'm looking for.
21:40But I like this position.
21:41I'm getting too old for the wild ones, you know.
21:43So the feather is the hair on their legs is a very important thing.
21:47And I like a good horse regardless of what color it is.
21:49Well, we wish you all the best with your judging.
21:51I hope you have a wonderful Highland Show.
21:53And it's been an absolute pleasure talking to you.
21:55Thank you. Wonderful.
21:56Good to be here.
22:04Now to the goats.
22:06Everyone has their eyes on the prize.
22:08The overall champion, Rosette.
22:10But this year there's a bonus.
22:12And Rosie's meeting one man who wants it.
22:15Gordon Smith is putting the finishing touches to the 15 goats he's brought to Ingolston.
22:23And he expects the same high standards from the rest of his team.
22:28You could have shaved.
22:30I've never been the razor.
22:32And this year there's more than usual at stake
22:35because whichever of the goats in here wins overall champion
22:39also gets to take home the Queen's Cup.
22:44It's the top prize for livestock at the show
22:46and rotates between the animal sections.
22:49It's been a few years since a goat has had the chance to win it.
22:54Gordon, you're looking very busy. What's happening?
22:56We're getting ready for the first class of the day.
22:59How does judging differ in terms of the livestock classes?
23:03Goats are completely different.
23:05They're judged with the full udder.
23:07Then you milk them.
23:09You weigh the milk.
23:10Sample the milk.
23:11Then you go back in.
23:13And you're judged with an empty udder.
23:15And he's brought a secret weapon.
23:18Talcum powder.
23:19What's this for?
23:20Just to make them a wee bit whiter.
23:22It does.
23:23Hi, hi, hi.
23:24You'll need to edit that bit.
23:35The goats are examined.
23:38Milked.
23:39Then scrutinised again.
23:41And now they're about to hand out the rosettes for each class.
23:48Gordon bags a second place.
23:51It's not enough for entry to the Queen's Cup competition,
23:54but he has high hopes for his goat, Gildan Elmer.
23:58It is looking good.
23:59It is looking good.
24:00It is looking good.
24:01Fingers crossed.
24:02And she's got what it takes.
24:04Beautiful long milky neck.
24:05Lovely withers.
24:06Nice and broad on the back.
24:07Plenty of room for the udder underneath.
24:08A hell of a lot of milk.
24:09Beautiful animal.
24:10I'm so pleased for you.
24:11How do you feel?
24:12Absolutely delighted.
24:13She also scoops the dairy pies.
24:14If she can take the overall champion rosette, it's a clean sweep and the Queen's Cup.
24:18There's a lot of work that goes into there.
24:19A lot more than you think.
24:20I'm keeping everything crossed for you.
24:21He's hoping.
24:22The competition is tough and varied.
24:43It's like one of the wee dogs who walked to Rencroft.
24:47It's like one of the wee dogs that walk to Rincroft.
24:50But Elmer gets the decision.
24:53Congratulations, sir. Queen's Cup.
25:00Congratulations. Show me this. This is fantastic.
25:02Let's hope we'll be waiting on.
25:04That is fantastic. You must be so thrilled.
25:06Very.
25:06How are you going to celebrate this?
25:09Oh, we might have a drama too.
25:17Great to see the goats taking the top trophy there, wasn't it?
25:23And talking of winners, Cammie's on his way to see the biggest draw in the show.
25:32This is the Grand Parade, where Rosette winning horses, sheep, goats and cattle
25:37get to strut their stuff in front of the entire show.
25:43And at the front of the cattle here, with his beef champion,
25:47dreams do come true.
25:48Yeah, that's how much it means to you.
25:49Yeah, an amazing thing.
25:50The show is in my blood.
25:55What a beautiful beast.
25:57Aye, he's 1,520 kilos.
25:59Oof!
25:59Don't let him go.
26:00So, we've got Mad Pandor here.
26:06It's last year's winner as well.
26:08Beautiful beef.
26:09So, this is the first time we've won it.
26:14We've been reserved the last two years.
26:16Dreams came true.
26:17Third time lucky.
26:18Yeah, that's just incredible.
26:19Aye, the woman.
26:22This next one absolutely encapsulates the beauty of the Highland show,
26:26because we have here Wells Dante.
26:29They are the overall supreme champion of the heavy horse.
26:35She's only done one other show and first show this year, so delighted with it.
26:39She must be just an absolute talent.
26:41Yeah.
26:42It's terrible.
26:42I do have to ask, though, is it normal for a Shetland to beat a Kaisley on the heavy horse?
26:47Sometimes.
26:54One thing we can always be proud of here in Scotland is the incredible stock that we produce.
27:00And all the very best of them come here to the Royal Highland Show.
27:04And if I was to sum this whole thing up in my own words, I have to say, it's some buzz.
27:12Congratulations to all.
27:15And that brings us to the end of this programme and our series.
27:18We will be back in the autumn, but in the meantime, catch us on the BBC iPlayer.
27:22From all the Lambert team here at the Royal Highland Show, thank you so much for your company.
27:27Bye-bye.
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