Eastwell's Topper named Toowoomba Royal grand champion led steer

Owned by Tim and Lauren Eastwell, Warwick, and syndicate, the mediumweight champion overcame lightweight champion Tank and heavyweight champion Big Willy, both exhibited by Travis Luscombe, to take home bragging rights.

Purchased from the Combined Forces Show Steer and Heifer Sale at Kalbar this year, the show-topper weighed 458 kilograms when he toppled 389kg Tank and the competition's largest entry, Big Willy at 682kg.

Mr Eastwell said they'd bought Topper because they thought he was the most complete calf at the sale and they couldn't pass up the opportunity to exhibit him.

Excited by the win, Mr Eastwell said Toowoomba Royal was good preparation for Topper's next appearance, which will be at Beef Australia in a couple weeks.

It was the completeness of the steer that also won over judge Troy Nuttridge, TLC Fitting Service.

"He's probably the thickest across the top out of the three [champions], which is where our big money comes from," Mr Nuttridge said.

"He's a lovely, deep steer down through the hindquarter, not the same muscle shape pattern as the two steers that stand as light and heavyweight, but you've really got to admire the thickness that he does display through that hindquarter.

"He's just very softly made and it's that extra bit of softness about him that I've [picked] him."

Mr Nuttridge cast his eyes over the 32 exhibits and said they were all a real credit to their owners.

"The type of steer I'm trying to chase, we're in a beef industry and I want beef to put into the cabinet," Mr Nuttridge said of his judging criteria.

"If we took the hide off this lightweight calf, he would hang up and meet market specs, he's a soft-made steer, plenty of red meat down that hindquarter and a lovely topline.

"The heavyweight steer is a lovely soft-made steer once again, plenty depth of flank in this calf and plenty of muscle expression down through that hindquarter. He's thick and softly made over the topline - a real credit."