A HEAVYWEIGHT Murray Grey was awarded champion carcass, and winner of class four, at Casino’s Beef Week competition on Tuesday with Linda Martin from Tenterfield claiming the 91.2 point win.
In class three the winner was Laurie Tillman, a retired Kyogle dairyman lately turned to beef, with a pure Charolais. That scored 91.2 with fellow Kyogle Shire producers Murray Nicholls, Rukenvale, and his uncle John Nicholls, Ettrick, right behind.
John, who also won the lightweight class-one division with a favourite black Limousin on 84.6, has amassed so many competition ribbons – beginning in 1949 – that he burnt a bag of them just the other day to make room for more.
“I’ll compete until I’m 85,” said Mr Nicholls.
Mr Nicholls, a 76-year-old, credited a Brisbane Ekka reserve ribbon for a carcass with 95 points as one of his prouder moments.
Casino High School did the next generation proud scoring champion student entrant with a Charolais steer from Jeremy Cruickshank, Piora, which placed second in the class four with 90.3 points. For student representatives Travis Brettner, Backmede and Chloe Vidler, Theresa Creek, success at judging a winning finish gave greater confidence to pursue a career in agriculture.
Class two carcass was won by Keith and Annette Wilcox, Tenterfield with an Angus cross while Alan Leslight, Kyogle, took second with a Speckle Park/Charolais.
