It was two NSW based studs who dominated Speckle Park judging proceedings at the Royal Queensland Show taking home the lions share of top prizes amidst very strong competition.
Wattle Grove Elvira N41, a 14-month-old heifer from Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW, was awarded junior champion heifer, grand champion cow or heifer and supreme Speckled Park exhibit from a field of 40 and was described as the “standout animal of the day” by judge Gerald Spry, Spry’s Shorthorns, Wagga Wagga.
“The Supreme exhibit was very, very strong. She is truly outstanding, regardless of colour she is a great example of the beef breed,” Mr Spry said.
The heifers triumph followed victories at the 2018 Sydney Royal Show and Beef Australia 2018, held in Rockhampton earlier this year.
Wattle Grove studmaster, Dale Humphries, said his showring successes are a result of a consistent and high quality breeding program.
“She is an exceptional heifer but she comes out of a great dam, both very strong genetically. We had the reserve junior champion heifer as well in a very strong class,” he said.
Greg Ebbeck and Tim Bell, Six Star Speckle Park, Bundanoon, also enjoyed a successful day at the Ekka with their bull Fish Creek Farm Lightning winning the grand champion bull title.
Graduating from the 20-30 months class, the bull sired by NZ-bred bull ‘Extreme’, but out of an Australian-bred dam was purchased by the stud partnership when he was a calf.
“We liked his structural soundness and extra growth rate as a young bull,” Mr Ebbeck said.
They also took home reserve champion senior bull with Six Star Premier, successful in the 30-42 months class, and stud principal Greg Ebbeck was pleased with their progress.
“Our grand champion was junior champion at last year’s Melbourne Feature Show and reserve champion at Sydney to his full E.T brother. It is good to see both bulls do so well,” he said.
Judge Gerald Spry said both bulls had impressed him on the day for their outstanding outlook and conformation.
“They are both very sound in structure with good feet and long powerful bodies,” Mr Spry said as he assessed their quality.
“It’s a very good showing. I liked the maturity of the cattle and we saw some very commercially balanced cattle. The top end were very good,” he said.
Winning the 12-16 months class, Corndale Nelson, exhibited by Scott, Janelle and David Bartley, Corndale Speckle Park, Warwick, QLD was awarded the junior bull championship, while Deeargee New Frontier exhibited by Deeargee Speckle Park stud, Uralla won the reserve award.
Hunter Valley Magic exhibited by Troy Hepburn, McKees Hill was awarded senior champion cow or heifer, while Wattle Grove 61Y Unique L211, Corndale Speckle Park were awarded the reserve prize.
Sash for Pair of Bulls was awarded to the Six Star stud, while the Wattle Grove stud was successful in parading the Breeders Group ahead of Corndale stud with the group from Sunny Dale Speckle Park stud, Jiggi via Lismore placed third.
