BARTON Partnership, “Dunreath”, Garoo, have taken out the Jason Goodwin Memorial Shield at Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange (TRLX) yesterday for the second year running.
The Barton’s lambs won the medium trade weight (45kg to 49.5kg) category before being announced as the grand champion pen ahead of G and J Rogers, “Colly Plains North”, Quirindi, who won the light trade weight category and the Aitken family, “Nekia Downs”, Duri, who won the export weight (50+kg) category.
The shield was presented to the Clive Barton by Jason Goodwin’s 19-year-old daughter, Millie.
Event coordinator Simon Burke described Jason as “a great bloke and young agent bought down in his prime at the age of 36”, adding that it was great to see his family on hand to present the shield named in his honour.
Buyers from major sheep processors cast their eye over the 1500 lambs in this year’s show with judges’ representative, Fletcher International buyer, Brian Wellings, full of praise for the field.
“It was a lovely line-up of lambs,” Mr Wellings said.
“The lightweight pens were a little disappointing and showing a bit of dryness but the medium weight and heavy classes were very good.
“The champion pen obviously came from the medium weight category and a few of the super heavy lambs were a little on the fat side but, considering the season and dry conditions, it’s a credit to all the vendors to present lambs in this condition.
“There was only a struck match between the medium and export class but the trade class got the nod as overall champion.
“If you want to see proper trade lambs, beautifully presented in a live weight class - even though they still have to hang up on the rail - then the winners are an outstanding example.
“The crutch is perfect and it’s a lovely finish - everything about them is really well presented and the owner has gone to a lot of trouble to win this.”
The champion pen was knocked down to Fletcher International by Ian Morgan Livestock for $300 for the top 10 lambs and $250 for another 10 with Barton Partnership donating $5500 to a very grateful Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
It comes on the back of their $8000 donation to the chopper last year and will be tallied up with other donations made throughout the sale with the helicopter expected to receive around $6000.
The lightweight category lambs made $137 selling through Purtle Plevey Agencies (PPA) and the export category made $178 through Newcombe Livestock and Property (NLP).
The event was sponsored by North West Direct Sales who have been with the event since the beginning, the Goodwin family, WSD Enterprises, Tamworth Livestock Selling Agents Association (TLSAA), Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange (TRLX) and the Douglas family from Abalene Park Poll Dorset stud, Woolomin.
Marshall Douglas said it was an honour to sponsor the show given Jason Goodwin’s commitment to the industry and everything he did to get his clients “the best possible price”.
He recalled when Jason attracted southern buyers to the old Tamworth saleyards, subsequently pushing lambs over $100/head for the first time and raising the bar to a new level for producers.
Many of the lambs in yesterday’s show were sired by Abalene Park Poll Dorset rams and the stud’s success was a living testimony to Jason’s encouragement of the then newish venture.
