Raffle

Raffle Winner

Press Release - July 2019

National Sheep Association Scotland and Honda ATV competition winner receives their prize

Running a large sheep and cattle enterprise will be easier in future for one lucky Scottish farming family after winning a Honda ATV.

The Honda TRX420FM1 Fourtrax was the main prize in a competition organised by the National Sheep Association Scotland in partnership with Honda UK, and to be in with a chance of winning entrants could buy raffle tickets from the NSA and affiliated sheep breed societies ahead of the draw, which took place at the Royal Highland Show in late June.

The chance to win such an attractive prize attracted considerable interest, and more than 6,200 tickets were sold generating funds to help finance the Association’s and sheep breed society’s activities.

The Honda TRX420 is ideal for livestock farms with its ability to transport a rider plus materials over the most demanding terrain easily and efficiently. Power is from a dependable 420cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke petrol engine driving through a 5-speed transmission. Efficient shaft drive to the front and rear wheels means there are no belts or chains to maintain and Honda’s SuretracTM limited-slip front differential ensures light steering but makes the most of available grip in slippery situations. Independent front and rear suspension and a supportive but well padded seat maintain comfort throughout the day. For transport tasks the Fourtrax 420’s load racks carry up to 30kg at the front and 60kg at the rear, and for bigger loads a rear hitch allows trailers up to 385kg to be towed.

The winning ticket was pulled out of the box by Honda UK area sales manager Damian Butterworth on the NSA stand at the Royal Highland Show, and NSA Scottish Region Secretariat and Events Organiser Euan Emslie made the call to inform winning farmer Gordon Rennie. “When I called Gordon to tell him he had won the Honda ATV he was almost speechless, then told me he was 59 years old and had never won anything before. With a sizeable sheep flock and cattle too, the ATV will be a useful addition to his farming enterprise,” Euan explained.

The Rennie family farms at Newmill Keith, Aberdeenshire and livestock include approximately 1,000 sheep and 60 cattle. Gordon’s daughter Zoey Rennie had purchased the draw ticket on Gordon’s behalf at the Royal Highland Show, where she had been part of a professional shearing display using a bicycle-powered shearing set in the NSA marquee.

Zoey, accompanied by her dog ‘Mac’, collected the prize in late July at a presentation arranged at the family’s local Huntly branch of authorised Honda dealer, AM Phillip Agritech. The prize was presented by AM Phillip Agritech Group Parts Manager Ben Ewan and also present was NSA immediate past chairman John Fyall.

Honda UK is continuing its support of the NSA and will provide another ATV as a prize for a similar competition running from this September until June 2020. Draw tickets will be available from NSA Scotland and affiliated breed societies, at events throughout the year and the lucky winning ticket will be drawn at the Royal Highland Show next June.

“We are extremely grateful to Honda UK for its ongoing support of our organisation, which represents and supports sheep producers throughout the UK,” added Euan. “We have much work to do in Scotland, with the Government and other partners within the industry and the raffle will provide valuable funds to help us achieve this. Honda ATVs are known for being hard working and reliable, and the partnership is ideal.”

Notes to editors

  • Honda’s ATV range includes models from 90–675cc with 2wd or selectable 2/4wd. In early 2017 it introduced its Pioneer 700 side-by-side UTV models with 2 or 4 seats, a tipping rear load bed capable of transporting up to 386kg, and with up to 680kg towing capacity. More than half of the new ATVs purchased each year in the UK are Hondas, and the brand enjoys a strong reputation for reliability, efficiency and excellent after-sales support through a network of almost 100 carefully selected, authorised main dealers. All new machines come with a full 2-year manufacturer’s warranty as well as free-of-charge user training through the industry approved European ATV Safety Institute (EASI) scheme, which has training centres and specialists throughout the UK.
  • NSA Scottish Region is part of the National Sheep Association, an organisation that represents the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the UK. It is funded by its membership of sheep farmers and its activities involve it in every aspect of the sheep industry. More at www.nationalsheep.org.uk and www.nsascotland.org.
The draw was held at the Royal Highland Show on 23rd June 2019. Damien Butterworth drew the winning ticket, which had been bought by Gordon Rennie.
The draw was held at the Royal Highland Show on 23rd June 2019. Damien Butterworth drew the winning ticket, which had been bought by Gordon Rennie.
Zoey Rennie and Mac-the-sheepdog collected the quad bike from John Fyall, NSA Scottish Region committee member (left), and Ben Ewan of AM Phillip Agritech.
Zoey Rennie and Mac-the-sheepdog collected the quad bike from John Fyall, NSA Scottish Region committee member (left), and Ben Ewan of AM Phillip Agritech.