'It's all about the people': Competition and camaraderie on first day of Royal Highland Show

The first day of the show, a “big livestock day”, was dominated by competition, with hundreds of pruned and pampered sheep, cattle, goats and ponies marching obediently before panels of judges scrutinising their characteristics.

The energy in the showground was palpable soon after the gates opened as First Minister John Swinney spoke to industry leaders at a breakfast address. Families and acquaintances also gathered round the rings and food and drink traders opened their stalls as the first day of the event got under way.

For livestock owners like Chrissie Davidson, who has been showing cattle for 25 years and now co-owns the Barnsview Aberdeen-Angus herd, the show is the culmination of a full year of planning and preparation.

“We normally have an idea of which cows we’re going to show a full year in advance,” she said. “So we’re already planning what we’re going to show next year.

“Around February and March, we start doing more work with them, getting them used to being power-washed and taking them for long walks two or three times a week. We have to teach them things like how to stand still.

“We run a quiet farm at home so in the lead up to the event we have to simulate a busier, show-like environment for them.

“We put balloons and banners up in the shed and put the radio on so they get used to the noise and it’s not too much of a shock to the system.”

She said right up to the last moment the team are busy with the final touch-ups, which include a black “spray tan” to keep the cows’ coats looking glossy and black shiny “nail polish” for the perfect finish.

It was also a packed day in the sheep ground, where breeds including Suffolk, Border Leicester and Blackface competed for prestigious titles.

“It’s been a great first day,” said Andrew Morton from Lochend Farm, who won two firsts for his lambs in the commercial section. “The standard of sheep here is second to none. It’s probably the best row of commercials I’ve ever seen.

“The atmosphere is great. For us, this is our shop window.”

David Gilmour, from Ayrshire, is 74 and used to show sheep every year at the Royal Highland Show until he retired three years ago.

Summing up what he loves about the show, he said: “It’s all about meeting people. The contacts and friends that I’ve gained over the years are second to none. I just love it.

“I’ve got grandsons who have been coming since they were five, they’re now fifteen and the friendships that they’ve built up over the years here have been amazing.”

As the afternoon rolled around and the drizzle set in, visitors flocked to the stands for shelter and headed to the bars to enjoy a drink.

Friends Louise Cockburn and Marilyn Walker reunite every year at the show, and this year their friend Gail Armstrong has travelled from Durham to join them.

“It’s like a big family get together,” said Ms Cockburn. “You meet up with people you don’t see for a year.”

While they said the show is a more expensive day out than it used to be, they said it’s “still a lot of fun”.

“We’ve done lots of shopping, and drinking. We like the show jumping and the horses, that’s our favourite,” said Ms Armstrong.

Sally Oyler has also been coming to the show with her friend for decades and loves how it brings people together.

“I just love catching up with people, I’ve been here so many times and seen it but you never know who you’re going to bump into,” said Ms Oyler. “The atmosphere is great. Everyone’s very friendly.”