Despite another dreadful Queensland wet season, the annual Beaudesert and Woodford Calf Shows were held on rare, reasonably fine days.
First off the block was Beaudesert run by the South East Queensland Illawarra Cattle Club with great support from their members. Judge, Rob Lindsay (Warwick) commented that the calves varied in presentation, condition and type.
"Throughout the day I was looking for clean sharp deep bodied heifers with good width and good rump structure," said Rob.
He said "I was impressed with both of the champion heifers. The junior champion was a very stylish calf with great depth and width. The reserve junior was from the baby class and matched the champion in type. This calf showed nice length for a baby. The senior champion excelled in length combined with good width and great feet and legs."
The annual battle between the Jondene and Riverwood studs continued with Jock Johnston of Jondene taking home the bacon on this occasion. Nephew, Steve Ledger of Riverwood Stud, did have one win taking out the junior championship with Riverwood Model 9, a daughter of his 2011 Brisbane Intermediate Champion. Jock's Jondene Tiddlewinks 8 took out Reserve Champion Junior Heifer.
Roly Voss continued his domination in the bulls with Mt Vista April's Surprise.
In the senior animals, Jock reigned supreme taking both Champion and Reserve Champion Senior Heifer with Jondene Judy 7 and Jondene Jinny 113 respectively. Jondene Judy 7 was also named Supreme Illawarra exhibit.
All participants returned home a good deal heavier as a result of the wonderful catering from the SEQICC team. Congratulations to Chairman Peter Ardrey and Secretary Sharyn Voss, for this well organised event.
After another week of rain, but thankfully not enough to cause flooding this year, the combatants travelled to Woodford Showgrounds for the Wide Bay Burnett Illawarra Cattle Club's Calf Show under judge Keith Dorries, Panorama, Oakey, who commented that it was an impressive line up of heifers with most classes being very even making it an enjoyable display to judge.
Keith said "The Junior Champion was a superb exhibit with a wide frame, deep open rib and clean bone. She had a little more width right through that gave her an advantage over the Reserve who was a heifer that blended together very well."
"The Senior Champion was a lovely stylish silky heifer with good depth of rib and used her overall quality to finish ahead of the reserve who was a well grown long bodied heifer that also displayed strength and substance," he said.
This week the only thing Jock could win was the fruit raffle with Steve offering him his hanky from the week before even though it was still a bit wet.
The Ledger's Riverwood Model 9 was again Junior Champion with Riverwood Buttercup 25 in reserve place.
Senior Champion Heifer was Riverwood Model 7, sister to the Ledger's 2011 Brisbane Reserve Champion Cow, with the Reserve Senior Champion Heifer, Cheralyn Moira 37 owned by Peter and Cheryl Ardrey.
Special thanks to Di Pratten for all her organising and the wonderful morning tea.
