Sydney Royal 2023

Leading cattle breeder, Ms Kirrily Johnson-Iseppi from Dalby in Queensland judged the Charolais at Sydney Royal show, an event where she has an enviable record in Interbreed success with her GK Red Angus stud. In the junior heifer section the Thompson Family, Venturon Charolais, Boyup Brook were well rewarded for their long trek to the event. Venturon won three of the six junior heifer classes starting with Heifer under 12 months. Venturon Reminisce T54 (P) sired by the $52,000 Moongool Pilgrim, took this class with her power and performance. Their Turnbull’s Duty Free 358D daughter, Venturon Fancy Like T24 (P) won the next class and was praised by the judge for her neck extension and capacity. It was their class winner from Heifer 19 to 20 months that won the division. Imported embryo Venturon Starstruck 157S (P) was selected as Junior champion heifer. She appealed to the judge for her capacity and she combined everything to make the total package. She was a power heifer in a moderate frame with a stack of capacity who moved out freely with a heap of top in her. This heifer had previously been grand champion at Adelaide Royal show. This heifer won the Phil Bower Memorial Trophy donated by Nigel and Casey Wieck in honour of the late Phil Bower who sponsored this section for many years.

Reserve Junior Champion heifer was Winchester Miss Cooley S14 (P) exhibited by the O’Brien Family from the 16 to 18 months class. She is sired by Venturon Maximum Impact (P). The judge commented this heifer was super feminine, very free moving and was a complete package. Winchester also won the 18 to 19 months class with a WC Milestone 5223 (P) daughter, Winchester Daisy Duke S5E (P). This heifer was a daughter of the Interbreed champion female in 2022 at Sydney Royal show and was described as having tremendous capacity in a more moderate frame.

Winner of the Heifer 14 to 16 months was CB Lady In Snow White (P) exhibited by Nigel and Casey Wieck. This heifer was sired by Winchester Lock N Load (P) who was in turn sired by Venturon Maximum Impact (P) highlighting the consistency in type the judge was selecting. Ms Johnson-Iseppi commented favorably on the strength of the junior heifer section.

In the senior females, youth member Sarah Frost placed first in the Heifer 20 to 24 months with her Destiny Saige (P). A heifer carrying pure Palgrove genetics she was sired by Palgrove Milestone (P) and from the Clara family. Vanessa Selleck exhibiting Charolais at Sydney for the first time won the 24 to 30 months senior class with Myona Penny R15. This young female on her first calf was sired by 2019 Sydney Grand champion bull, Caloona Park Nugget (P).

Myona Charolais exhibited the class winner in the Female 30 to 36 months with a SVY Grizzly 521C (P) daughter, Myona Rosie R8 (P). Myona prefixed females placed in every senior female class.

The winner of the senior female class, Wakefield Amaze 38 (P/S) exhibited by Greg and Jenny Frizell really caught the judge’s attention. Parading as an eight-year female her structure and presence stood out. The judge used the word amazing more than once, commenting on the udder structure, correct feet and legs and her ability to rear her calf, she appreciated the cow’s clean front end blending into a high capacity body. She was a free moving female with tremendous femininity and for a cow to be as structurally sound as an eight year old was very impressive. This female was last shown in 2019 where she was Supreme Charolais Exhibit at the Charolais National show and also Grand champion Charolais and Interbreed champion female at Brisbane Royal show. Sired by Advance Domino (P) and from a French influenced female line this cow had many admirers around the grounds.

Kirrily then used the Senior champion female for her Grand champion female and Supreme Exhibit. She commented “Some might say she belongs in the paddock, but with a cow that’s as amazing as this, is eight years of age, and with an udder structure that’s still really fine and tidy, is totally sound in those feet and legs and strides out well and she’s still doing a really good job on that young heifer calf, you’ve really got to appreciate her”.

Reserve Senior cow was from the Winchester team. Winchester Miss Cooley Q6E placed second in the mature cow class and paraded with a very well developed calf. This female was a full sister to the Reserve junior champion heifer. This female won the same award in 2022 to her stablemate Winchester Daisy Duke N16E (P).

In the junior bull section new members, Erin Ferguson and Murray Van Der Drift from Victoria won the 9 to 12 months class with Golden Rose Trigger (P)(R/F). Sired by HJR Bulletproof 411B (P) and from a DSK bred dam he had a daily weight gain of 1.8kg/day and weighed 562kgs. His flush sister placed second in the Heifer 9 to 12 months class. His dam is from the well known and successful DSK Flossy family.

Myona Charolais placed first and second in the class 14 to 16 months. Class winner was Myona Stoplight S18 (P) sired by Myona Platinum P22 (P) and second place getter was Myona Starlight S17 (P) sired by Silverstream National N40 (P).

Nigel Spink at his Sydney debut exhibited Challambi Sargent (P)(R/F) to win the 18 to 19 months class and eventual Reserve Junior Champion bull.

Sargent was sired by Palgrove Hannibal (P) who has bred exceptionally well for the Mount William herd in Victoria. Sargent has a daily weight gain of 1.33kg/day and scanned 123cm² EMA. This bull was very long and showed impressive muscle development.

Venturon returned to the division lead with Venturon Showbiz 161S (P) taking the 19 to 20 months class and Junior Champion bull. From the same imported flush as the junior champion heifer this young sire had a daily weight gain of 1.33kg/day.

The junior bull, Venturon Showbiz 161S, was praised for its muscle and softness by Ms Johnson-Iseppi. “He has a really good head and neck, and I liked the way he moves out and cruises around the ring. When we stand behind him, he’s really wide in the pins and got a stack of muscle in him while retaining that softness and the ability to cover really well.” His dam SVY Starstruck 409B has had direct progeny be declared champions in four different countries, Canada, USA, Mexico and Australia.

Venturon Showbiz 161S (AI)(ET)(P)

SYDNEY ROYAL CHAROLAIS SPONSORS

Phil Bower Memorial Award, Junior Champion Female sponsored by CB Charolais

Senior Champion Female sponsored by Kenmere Charolais

Grand Champion Female sponsored by Winchester Charolais

Junior Champion Bull sponsored by Minnie-Vale Charolais

Senior Champion Bull sponsored by Australian Premier Genetics

Grand Champion Bull sponsored by Ashdan Charolais

Supreme Charolais Exhibit sponsored by Stoney Creek Charolais

Pair of Bulls sponsored by Elstow Charolais Breeders Group sponsored by Caloona Charolais

Vale: Philip (Phil) Bower

In 2022 the Charolais breed lost a great supporter in Phil Bower. Through his Rational Nutrition company and 4U2 Charolais herd founded in 1998, Phil has been a tremendous supporter of the Charolais breed. Rational Nutrition were major sponsors of the Charolais Youth shows and the Junior Champion Female at Sydney Royal show. This year in memory of Phil, Casey and Nigel Wieck, CB Charolais and Select Fitting Services who have a long relationship with Phil, donated the Phil Bower Memorial Award. Phil was greatly respected by those that had the pleasure to meet him in the rural industry, Charolais family and will be greatly missed.