EVERYWHERE you looked during the Esk show, Droughtmasters were in abundance, with nearly 130 entries in the breed's feature show.
Major winners at the event were Ianbrae Droughtmasters, Conondale, and Glenlands stud, Bouldercombe, whose exhibits won the champion bull and female titles respectively.
The feature event attracted nearly 30 studs from across Queensland, vying for bragging rights at the hotly contested competition. Bulls hit the spotlight first with Condamine Icon (P), an eight-month-old, Condamine Galaxy son, exhibited by Dalvia Kroll, Chinchilla, winning the champion male calf. Glenlands Rocket (P), exhibited by the Childs family, Bouldercombe, won the reserve from Brian and Yvonne Heck's Bryvonlea Norris (P) and Greg and Sharon Harms' Oakmore Memphis (P).
Glenlands D Rambo (P), a 16-month- old, Glenlands Maxamillion (P) son, took the purple ribbon for the junior champion bull. A Billabong entry from the same class, Billabong Abercrombie (S), was selected as the reserve, while Anglezed Conrad, a Fortrus Droughtmaster nomination and John and Catherine Hick's, Billabong Armstrong, also made it into the final round.
Ianbrae Mr Wrinkles scored champion bull and grand champion bull accolades after beating out Glenlands Quarry (P), Craiglea Bruno (P) and Billabong Armstrong (P).
Mr Wrinkles (ET) (AI) is a 23-month- old DNA verified son of Glenlands Maranoa, out of Ianbrae Tinsel.
Ianbrae Droughtmaster stud principal Paul Mackay, Conondale, said he was always confident with Mr Wrinkles.
"This is his first show in 12 months so it is good to win such a big show straight off the bat," he said. "He's always been a good calf so I had a bit of confidence in him."
Mr Mackay said it was the depth of flank, good bull's head and good bone that set Mr Wrinkles apart from the competition. He has also been nominated for the Droughtmaster National bull sale in September.
"He's bred in purple bloodlines and is the result of our ET program," he said.
"For what we breed I find him to be right on the money."
Billabong Arabella (P), a Billabong Winchester daughter, stood out from the strong female classes to win the champion female calf title. Second place-getter in the 12 month to under 15 month heifer class, Glenlands Remembrance (P), by Mungalla 718 (P) took home the reserve ribbon.
Ianbrae Showgirl (P) and Ama-Lili Opal May (P) won their classes in the same field.
Junior champion female was won by Glenlands Rania (P), a 20-month-old, Glenlands Maranoa daughter, while the reserve title went to Paul Dingle's Waringle Naomi, another Glenlands Maranoa daughter.
Glenlands D Quote (P) won the broad ribbon for the senior champion female and went on to claim the grand champion female award. Glenlands stud also claimed the breeders group title and Billabong took out the reserve, with a third place to Craiglea.
Esk's Miss Showgirl, Emma Doughlas, Esk, with Corinna Winslade, Glenlands Droughtmaster Stud, Bouldercombe, and the junior champion Droughtmaster bull, Glenlands D Rambo. Click on the image to view a gallery of social photos from around the Droughtmaster ring.
In the sires' progeny class, first place went to Waringle (Glenlands Maranoa), second was awarded to Breffni (RSVP Boris) and third went to High Country (Billabong Ridley).
All Droughtmaster classes and broad ribbons were judged by father and daughter team, Brett and Emma Warne, Jembrae Droughtmasters, Injune.
Droughtmaster Australia CEO Neil Donaldson said competition on the day was fantastic.
"I was chuffed the studs had made the effort, there was a good cross-section of cattle and it was great to see a lot of spectators," he said.
Mr Donaldson said Ianbrae Mr Wrinkles was a worthy grand champion Droughtmaster.
"I think he had great breed character, he had a great head, great conformation and plenty of muscle, which is the important part of the whole business," he said.
"Stud breeders need to focus on breeding muscle and being relevant to commercial breeders."
