EKKA 2023: Celamba Unicorn and KJ Hill Adena share grand champion Speckle Park win

In the end, the competition's top honours were shared between Speckle Park breeder Celia Mackay, Celamba Speckle Park, Bullamankinka, Tarawera, who exhibited the grand champion bull, and New South Wales exhibitors Wayne and Cindy Tucknott, Harrington, who exhibited the grand champion female.

Exhibitors from across the state and the country gathered ringside at the RNA Showgrounds on Friday to see 78 Speckle Park exhibits, up from 61 entries back in 2022.

The exhibits went before judge Tom Wildling-Davies of Premier Livestock Solutions, Brisbane, who spoke very highly of Celamba Unicorn in the junior class.

Mr Wilding-Davies said Unicorn's ability to the track the country freely was what put him over the senior bull on the day.

"(Unicorn) is a bull that I just think has a tremendous amount of sire appeal, a huge amount of balance, and a bull that is incredibly mobile," Mr Wildling-Davies commented.

The sire prospect weighed 421kg, with P8 and rib fat measurements of 8 and 4 millimetres respectively, and an eye muscle area of 184 square centimetres.

Celia was not present on the day to watch her young bull claim grand champion, and due to illness, her exhibits were fitted by Select Show Cattle.

Ms Mackay said she was quite chuffed with the result.

"I can't believe it. I strive to breed quality not quantity, and to be able to breed something like is just unbelievable," she said.

"This was the first year that I have brought my own stud cattle to the Ekka."

Ms Mackay said the grand champion win was dedicated to her partner, Rodney Pullford, who passed away on June 2.

"It's a tribute to Rodney because he choose this bull to go into the show and it was his dream," she said.

The pair began breeding Speckle Park in 2018, and Unicorn was sired by Battalion Utah Q44, which Celia bought for $45,000 in 2021.

"I bought six cows off Oakey Creek in 2018, and this bull's dam, Six Star 68L Spanish Angel F33, was one of them," she said.

This was the first time that Wayne and Cindy Tucknott, KJ Speckle Park Hill, Coopernook, NSW, had exhibited cattle at the Ekka and they were in shock when their senior champion cow, KJ Hill Adena, and her six-month-old calf, KJ U2 Ultimate, won grand champion female.

"We've been running Speckle Park cattle for five years now," Mr Tucknott said.

"We went to the Speckle Park feature show in Sydney, which went quite well we thought, but we've sort of retired from our business," he said.

"The results at the Ekka were very much a surprise. We did have hope for Adena and her calf as she placed second and third at Sydney Royal Show."

KJ U2 Ultimate was sired by Wattle Grove Codiak Magic K9.

No. of exhibits: 87 animals entered but only 78 exhibited

Junior champion bull: Celamba Unicorn (P) (Speckled), exhibited by Celia Mackay, Celamba Speckle Park, Celamba Pty Ltd, Bullamankinka, Tarawera.

Reserve junior champion bull: Pinnacle Park Top Spot (AI) (ET) (P) (Speckled), exhibited by Jamie Medhurst, Pinnacle Park Speckles, The Summit.

Junior champion female: Fox Tail Hill Never Trade Secrets (White), exhibited by Troy Hepburn, Mckees Hill, NSW.

Reserve junior champion female: KJ Hill Tabitha (AI) (P) (Speckled), exhibited by Wayne and Cindy Tucknott, Harrington, NSW.

Senior champion bull: Wattle Grove Shoot To Thrill S740 (AI) (ET) (P) (Speckled), exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW.

Reserve senior champion bull: Wattle Grove Mailman S730 (AI) (ET) (P) (Speckled), exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW.

Senior champion female: KJ Hill Adena (AI) (ET) (P) (Leopard), exhibited by Wayne and Cindy Tucknott, Harrington, NSW.

Reserve senior champion female: Wattle Grove 300X Valley S750 (AI) (ET) (P) (Speckled), exhibited by Kenneth and Tanya Falkenhagen, Boonah.

Grand champion bull: Celamba Unicorn (P) (Speckled), exhibited by Celia Mackay, Celamba Speckle Park, Celamba Pty Ltd, Bullamankinka, Tarawera.

Grand champion female: KJ Hill Adena (AI) (ET) (P) (Leopard), exhibited by Wayne and Cindy Tucknott, Harrington, NSW.

Pair of bulls: Wattle Grove Speckle Park

Breeder's Group: Wayne and Cindy Tucknott