ANDREW Bassingthwaighte’s Yarrawonga Fixer swept all before him at the Royal Queensland Show, named the grand champion Santa Gertrudis bull before going on to be named the champion of champions. (See that story p4).
Last year’s lauded junior champion entered the showring at 1092kg, had a massive 141sq cm eye muscle area, a daily weight gain of 1.19kg and a P8 rib fat depth of 16/11mm.
Judge Darren Childs, Glenlands Droughtmasters, Bouldercombe, described the powerhouse 30 month old as an exceptional animal in the 153 head Santa line-up.
“He is a tremendous phenotype and shows the seedstock industry is focused on delivering functionality and fertility and producing the kilograms of beef as efficiently as possible,” Mr Childs said. “Put another colour skin on this bull he would easily win in other breeds. That is how good he is.”
Fixer is by the influentual poll sire Yarrawonga Corvette (by Waco Youthful (PS) and from the poll female Yarrawonga G391. Queensland’s top bull will now head to next month’s Royal Adelaide Show.
Reserve champion senior bull was Moongana Karachi, exhibited by Cyril and Denise Gauld from Moongana, Drillham. The very impressive 1026kg bull with a 134sq cm EMA was bred from Wightfields G43 and the Moongana B female.
It was an outstanding Ekka for the Bassingthwaighte brothers, Andrew and David. Yarrawonga Escort also went back to back in being named the senior champion female after being named the grand champion in 2016. The all-class matron by Yarrawonga Ace drew plenty of praise from the judge for the bull calf she had at foot.
Reserve champion senior female was Waco Frankie, a rising three year old by Waco Carter shown by David Bassingthwaighte and Family, Waco Santas, Mungallala.
The Bassingthwaighte brothers’ outstanding Brisbane showing sets the platform for the annual 200 head Yarrawonga and Waco bull sales at Yarrawonga, Wallumbilla, on September 14.
It was also a Yarrawonga/Waco match up in the junior bulls. The poll Yarrawonga Gamer (Waco The Don/Yarrwonga H823) came out on top to be named junior champion ahead of reserve Waco Mustang (Waco Digger (Ps)/Waco Elkie (P). Both were in the 18-20 months class.
In the junior females, Waco Marley was named the champion. The classy … shown by
The reserve junior champion female was Rosehill Matilda, the 16-18 months class winner shown by John and Rosemaree McCarthy, Clifton.
It was also a return to the showring for the Northern NSW based Yulgilbar stud following a 10 year hiatus. Rob Sinnamon was sporting a broad grin when Yulgilbar Missippi (p) by Cardona Nardoo (Ps) won the first event of the day, the 8-12 month old heifer class.
Yarrawonga and Waco also dominated the group classes. Yarrawonga won the pair of bulls competition, the breeders group and the sires progeny group with Yarrawonga Corvette (Ps). Waco placed second in the breeders group and progeny stakes group, while Neil Watson from Watasanta, Tamworth, NSW, placed second in the pair of bulls competition.
Results
Judge: Darren Childs, Glenlands Droughtmasters, Bouldercombe. No. of exhibits: 153.
Grand champion bull: Yarrawonga Fixer, D&AD Bassingthwaighte, Wallumbilla.
Grand champion female: Yarrawonga Escort, D&AD Bassingthwaighte.
Junior champion bull: Yarrawonga Gamer. Reserve junior champion bull: Waco Mustang, David Bassingthwaighte and Family, Mungallala.
Junior champion female: Waco Marley, David Bassingthwaighte and Family. Reserve junior champion female: Rosehill Matilda, John and Rosemaree McCarthy, Clifton.
Senior champion bull: Yarrawonga Fixer, D&AD Bassingthwaighte. Reserve senior champion bull: Moongana Karachi, Cyril and Denise Gauld, Drillham.
Senior champion female: Yarrawonga Escort, D&AD Bassingthwaighte. Reserve senior champion female: Waco Frankie, David Bassingthwaighte and Family.