Numbers in the Poll Hereford judging were considerably higher at the Royal Canberra Show this year, rising from six entries last year to 18 head in 2020.
While Bungendore producers Danny and Debbie Hill are notable for their Angus cattle, they are fast establishing themselves in the Poll Hereford breed and walked away with the supreme exhibit award for the 21-month-old bull, Granite Hill Pinnacle.
The young bull was by the $31,000 high marbling sire, Wirruna Kalimna K326, and out of Kanimbla Revona M017 who was purchased as a heifer from the Sydney Royal in about 2016 when Mr Hill began establishing his Hereford stud.
Having attended the Hereford National at Wodonga for four or five years, Mr Hill wanted to take his own bulls to the sale and will make his debut this year selling Pinnacle and his half brother who finished second to him in Canberra, Granite Hill Poser, out of Rylopark Princess RLPM003.
Pinnacle was uncontested for the grand champion bull title but had a tough battle for the supreme title coming up against the senior and grand champion female, Cloverlee Cherry Ripe M016, from Ken and Elizabeth Ikin, Bannister, whose dam, Cloverlee Cherry Ripe K165, had won the supreme award four times and interbreed female last year.
Judge Sam Hunter said it was a very difficult decision to pick between two high quality exhibits that would stand in the front line of any major show championship in the country.
But he couldn't look past the extra muscle and power of Pinnacle.
"We have a big long stretchy bull that is full of power and red meat and muscle and moves around the ring with quite a bit of ease," he said.
"He has got a heap of sire appeal about him."
Mr Hunter commended Cloverlee Cherry Ripe M016 and her heifer calf by Tycolah Mastercraft, Cloverlee Cherry Ripe Q001, describing her as a high capacity, moderate female with a good maturity pattern.
Exhibitor Mr Ikin was very happy with the result from last year's junior champion winner who was mirroring her mother who was now retired from the show ring.
"The Cherry Ripe line are moderate framed modern day cattle which we have got to produce," he said.
The junior champion female was also from the Cloverlee stable in the form of 10-month-old Cloverlee Minerva Q001, by Tycolah Mastercraft and out of Cloverlee Minerva L042.
Doug Nash and family, Cranbury Poll Herefords, Cudal, secured all of the three reserve championships.
Reserve junior champion female was 18-month-old Cranbury Ursula P004, by Kidman Governor K059 and out of Cranbury Ursula H36. The reserve senior champion female was five-year-old Cranbury Colleen K62, by Sevenbardot McLarty E156 and out of Cranbury Colleen D4.
Reserve senior champion bull was 29-month-old Cranbury Tornado N043, by Kidman Governor K059 and out of Cranbury Minerva.
Results
Breed: Poll Hereford
Judge: Sam Hunter, Yass
No. of exhibits: 18 head
Junior champion female: Cloverlee Minerva Q001 exhibited by Cloverlee Poll Herefords
Reserve junior champion female: Cranbury Irsula exhibited by Cranbury Poll Hereford
Senior champion bull: Granite Hill Pinnacle exhibited by Daniel Hill, Bungendore
Reserve senior champion bull: Cranbury Tornado N043 exhibited by Cranbury Poll Hereford
Senior champion female: Cloverlee Cherry Ripe M016 exhibited by Cloverlee Poll Hereford
Reserve senior champion female: Cranbury Colleen K62 exhibited by Cranbury Poll Hereford
Grand champion bull: Granite Hill Pinnacle M016 exhibited by Daniel Hill, Bungendore
Grand champion female: Cloverlee Cherry Ripe M016 exhibited by Cloverlee Poll Hereford
Supreme exhibit: Granite Hill Pinnacle exhibited by Daniel Hill, Bungendore