SEBAY XCITABLE

       Caithness is Scotland's northernmost mainland county.  A rugged coastline and somewhat barren treeless landscape, surrounded by ocean, but possessing a unique charm unlike any other Scottish county, with an abundance of fine livestock farms and hardy residents.  

           We are excited about the prospect of breeding our ewes to Caithness rams from Andrew Polson. We never thought we would ever have the chance. We certainly must appreciate Deb for making this happen.  Our current ewe flock is heavy in the Scottish genetics from the last "Park type" importation from back in the nineties - Caithness genetics from two Longoe rams, and Brotherstone Trooper from the south of Scotland flock owned by Tommy Dun,whom I knew.

     Andrew grew up on a croft in Smerlie, Caithness with North Country sheep, near the village of Lybster.

     I spent every summer growing up just a few miles south of Lybster on Remiggy ,my grandfather's farm, with North Country sheep and Shorthorn cattle. I soon determined that livestock breeding would be my life's work, which I am blessed to say came to pass.

      Andrew and I never crossed paths, since I left for U.S.A. after college in 1965, long before his time.

  Andrew is a successful engineer, involved with North Sea oil drilling off the north east coast from Aberdeen. He bought a farm near his work and brought his foundation sheep flock from his native Caithness, where the North Country breed was developed long ago.     

      When we first talked by phone, Andrew told me something else that I was very interested to hear.       Helping Andrew make his flock selections along with his father John, was Tommy Munro, a fine stockman that I knew very well from about 60 years earlier.  He used to work for my long time friends Donald  and Innes Miller in the 1960's on Dale farm near Halkirk. I visited Dale often and I spent much time with the livestock  and Tommy.  I showed Tommy how to clip cattle for show and soon he and I convinced Donald to let us show a steer calf at the county fair, which won his division. 

    After Dale, in 1969, Tommy took a job with Alistair Clyne, Field of Noss, one of the premier sheep breeders, leading  to great show success nationally for the next two decades. This was the opportunity Tom needed, and he became established as a leader in North Country sheep circles and a respected judge of livestock.  It is reasonable to suppose that the Smerlie flock foundation was built to last.

    Sadly, Donald Miller and Tommy are both now gone but we are still in touch with Innes, though he and I are both getting long in the tooth, as the saying goes.

    I have enjoyed getting to know Andrew by phone, but hope some day to get back to the old country  again and have a proper visit, and maybe even a dram or two.

                                      Martin Macqueen