Biggenden’s Radel Family scooped the pool in the major championship at the 2010 Gympie Show taking out both Champion Cow with Happy Valley Dora 65 and Reserve Champion with Happy Valley April 14.

Both Dora and April competed in the 5 yrs and under 7 yrs in milk class, coming first and second.  Dora also won the Over 3 Best Udder & Attachment despite having been in milk since last September.

Most successful exhibitor, Michael and Glenda Henry, took out Honourable Mention with Tara Tracey.

The Henry’s also had a double in the Junior Heifer championship, winning Champion Junior Heifer with Tara Bounce and Honourable Mention with White Park Melba 395.  Splitting these two was the Ledger Family’s Riverwood Linnette although Mike Henry claimed a connection through Linnette’s dam, White Park Linnette 199.  Tara Bounce was also named Best Udder & Attachment under 3 yrs.

In the Juvenile classes, the Ledger Family took out Champion Juvenile with Riverwood Waffle 3 and Honourable Mention with Riverwood Doris 7.  The Henry’s Rosedale Talent Melody was named Reserve Champion Juvenile having come second to Riverwood Waffle in the first class of the day.

However, Rosedale Talent Melody turned the tables in the Supremes being named Reserve Supreme Champion Juvenile Heifer.

Full results available through News/Show Results

The major prize of Champion Cow at the 2010 Toowoomba Royal Show went to Jondene Kitty 28 owned by F S Johnston & Sons of Imbil.

Judge, David Kuhl (South Australia) placed Kitty ahead of Riverwood Lucy 2 (Ledger Family) and Tara Tracey (M & G Henry) respectively in the championship lineup.  In becoming eligible for the championship, Kitty won the 5 Yrs & Under 7 yrs in milk class as well as Best Udder & Attachment.

F S Johnston & Sons of Imbil, under the stewardship of Jock Johnston, were extremely successful with their team of ten head taking out seven first placings in addition to Champion Cow.  Jock also won Champion Heifer – Most Milk in the on-ground milking competition.

Mike and Glena Henry’s Tara Lace 5 won Senior Champion Butterfat Plus Protein and also most Milk.

Junior Champion Heifer went to Allen & Denise Whatman with Allen Vale Virgin 8 who also won Best Udder & Attachment Under 3 years. Jondene Buttercup 82 (FS Johnston & Sons) was Reserve.

The Ledger Family’s 6 months and under 12 months heifer, Riverwood Model 4 won Champion Juvenile with Jondene Model 18 (FS Johnston & Sons) taking out Reserve.

The breed also performed very well in the inter-breed competition with no placing lower than third.  The Whatman’s Junior Champion Heifer was placed second.

Full results available under News/Show Results.

Back to the Bourkes

The Bourke family has again reigned supreme in the Queensland Illawarras’ Production Cow of the Year competition, this time with Myrtleholme Empress 32.  They retain the Michael Ledger Memorial Shield following on from their success in 2008 with Mytleholme Lemon Empress 14 and will receive further prizemoney of $250 donated by the Ledger Family.

Empress produced a whopping 13472 litres of milk and 944 kgs of fat plus protein at an average of 3.3% protein and 3.71% fat.

Not only does Empress put milk in the vat, she looks good too, taking out Honourable Mention in the Champion Cow lineup at the 2009 Toowoomba Royal Show.  Empress is by Myrtleholme Kieran.

The Bourke family is new to the show ring, creating great interest amongst other breeders and dairy people.  Their herd features heavily in the top ten production figures for each age group with a major achievement being the top ten animals in the Mature Milk section.

ICSA Qld Br Top Ten Production - All Ages - 08-09

Queensland President, Mr Robert Lester, was given the honour of judging the Illawarra section at International Dairy Week 2010.

Bob, as he is commonly called, runs a 700 acre property at Warwick in conjunction with his brother Bill also a past president of the Queensland Illawarra Branch.  Milking an average of 150 cows and producing Lucerne, corn, wheat and barley, keeps Bob and Bill busy although he also finds time to play a bit of golf at the Warwick Golf Club.

Bob has judged at numerous country shows across Queensland over the years as well as Sydney and Adelaide Royal Shows twice and Toowomba Royal.

Bob’s comments on his choices at IDW as well as a full list of class placings are available on the CrazyCow website www.crazycow.com.au

SEMEX AUSTRALIA - CHAMPION COW - Llandovery Commanders Dainty (sire: Llandovery Commander, Chelsea McMillan)
SEMEX AUSTRALIA - RESERVE CHAMPION COW - Winganna Startrump Handsome (sire: Glenbrook Star Trump, Coburn Family)
HONOURABLE MENTION - Llandovery Futurions Joan (sire: Llandovery Jeans Futurion, T & E Hayes)

RURALCO - INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION - Winganna Empire Handsome (sire: Llandovery Jinnys Empire, Coburn Family)
RURALCO - RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION - Glenbrook Venus 19 (sire: Lemon Grove Bumper, IL & JA Mueller) 
AGRI-GENE - JUNIOR CHAMPION HEIFER - Kangawarra Bunny 3026 (sire: Kangawarra Claret, Reg Cochrane P/L)
AGRI-GENE - RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION HEIFER - Kangawarra Samantha 3034 (sire: Kangawarra Claret, Tim & Natalie Cochrane)

SUPREME CHAMPION COW - Llandovery Commanders Dainty (sire: Llandovery Commander, Chelsea McMillan)
PREMIER BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR: CR Chittick

Remember this name – Simon Tognola.

North Queensland youth and junior Illawarra member, Simon Tognola, is a star on the rise, both through his judging expertise and photography skills.

Simon’s entries in the 2009 Queensland Illawarra’s Junior photo competition were outstanding.  Judge, Kelvin Cochrane, was high in his praise while also providing construction criticism.  The photos can now be viewed in the Junior section of the Gallery on the Queensland Illawarra’s website.

Simon is already making his mark in the Queensland cow photography world, receiving commissions from a number of high profile Illawarra breeders. 

Simon has also recently been appointed to the Queensland State Judging Panel and is expected to receive invitations to judge given his success in junior judging competitions.

Nephew of Illawarra breeders, Greg and Bronwyn English, Malanda, Simon has been helping out at with the Eacham Vale show team for a number of years.  Given his interest and obvious abilities, his star will continue to rise.  Congratulations and good luck Simon.

(Click here) 2009 Junior Photo Comp - Judge's Comments