Judge Brandon Sykes awards Roly Park Thunderstruck with Grand Champion British Breed Bull, led by Scott Bruton, at Euroa on Sunday. Photos: Andy Wilson
The Euroa Agricultural Society’s Autumn Beef Cattle Show drew a crowd to the Euroa Showgrounds on Sunday, March 12 for the event’s third year.
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Cattle were judged in the four categories of British, European, Bos indicus and smaller breeds.
Junior exhibitors aged between 15 and 25 also had their own division of competition.
Head cattle steward Leanne Colclough said the show was on a par with the two previous years’ events.
“It was a successful day with similar numbers in terms of crowd and entries,” Mrs Colclough said.
“Outside of the Melbourne Royal, this would be the biggest show in Victoria.
“We’ve had entries range from as far away as Yanco in NSW to south-east of Melbourne.”
The show also drew a visit from Chris Todd, the general manager of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders’ Association in Brisbane.
Brandon Sykes and Robert Hutchinson were the day’s two judges, operating in separate rings.
Mr Sykes said judging was largely determined on cattle structure.
“The integrity in their structure has to be really strong,” he said.
“We look for high performance in terms of carcase.”
The Roly Park Shorthorn, Thunderstruck, won both Junior Champion Bull and Grand Champion Bull of the British breeds, and was led by Scott Bruton.
The Speckle Park breed featured heavily on the day, with Jackungah Takeoff T10 winning Reserve Junior Champion Bull.
The relatively modern breed is one of few to have been developed in Canada by crossing Shorthorn with Aberdeen Angus.
Mrs Colclough said the Speckled Park entries from the day would be entered into that breed’s feature event at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show.
“And the Limousin shown here today will be heading down to the Melbourne Royal Show,” she said.
The Supreme Champion of the show was Challambi Sargent, owned by Challambi Charolais founder Nigel Spink, and was led by Trent Storm.
Steward Amanda Croxford said the number of entries in the junior showing divisions was promising.
“We have had a great roll-up of junior paraders,” Ms Croxford said.
“And if the event gets any bigger, we’re going to need a bigger shed.
“It’s good fun for the young ones to get into it.
“It’s a stepping-stone for the kids to then show little commercial animals and then start breeding their own and so form their own small stud.”
“Amanda is a good example of all of that,” Mrs Colclough said.
“It’s how she got into all of this.”
Emma Godbolt, 7, travelled from Wodonga with her father Peter and was awarded second prize in the junior commercial class with a Hereford-Angus cross heifer calf.
“It was only the third time that Emma has led,” Mr Godbolt said.
“The heifer belongs to Mark Stevens from Shepparton whose daughter is friends with Emma.”
Emma said she was wary when she first began showing cattle but that it was very good for her.
“The calf’s name is Bella and she’s only five months old,” she said.
Emma’s advice to aspiring young leaders was simple.
“You can do it.”
Seven-year-old Emma Godbolt came second in the junior leaders class with five-month-old heifer Bella, with assistance from her father Peter. Emma's advice to aspiring young paraders was simple: "You can do it".
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