Top Paraders

Annie Pumpa, Champion Parader Sydney

Olivia Delaforce, Champion Parader Brisbane

Jamie Vosper, Champion Parader Melbourne

Judy Hopkins, Res Champion F002 Parader

Simmental Australia TOP PARADERS

The 50th Anniversary celebrations allowed us to hold our own Simmental Parader events at some of the Royals. Our winners were: Annie Pumpa: Sydney Royal Olivia Delaforce: Brisbane Royal Jamie Vosper: Melbourne Royal Also at Sydney Royal, Simmental member, Judy Hopkins won Reserve Champion F002 Parader in the open classes.

Tips to becoming a Top Parader!

By Kim Groner

Paraders – As a youth member, probably the most nerve-racking, fiercest competition of them all to participate in. And as a judge, it is undoubtedly one of the most humbling to adjudicate, as we sift through (at times) hundreds of eager youth participants, knowing full well, how much this competition means to the participants.

None-the-less, winners must be chosen and here are some of the top criteria that is important when selecting the top paraders.

Above all else, a judge will be assessing the parader’s ability and technique in handling their animal and the presentation of both themselves and their animal. At the end of the day, we are looking for someone that we believe could do the best job possible to present an animal in a judging class.

TOP TIPS ...

FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER

You don’t have long out there to impress the judge. Make sure both you and your animal are clean, tidy and well-presented (including proper fitting halter) and that you walk out with the confidence that you can win.

LOOK NATURAL

Aim to walk at a comfortable pace in unison with your animal, holding its head in a natural position. A parader that that is relaxed and looks like they are enjoying themselves will appeal far more to a judge than someone who looks uptight and nervous and your animal will respond much better to your body language too. If your animal doesn’t want to walk, use mild force on the halter, nose dog/ring if required, the cane to tap your animal up (only if practiced) or politely ask the parader behind you or a steward to help out. Dragging an animal around the ring doesn’t do you or the animal any justice.

BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Whilst keeping an eye on the judge is important, remember that you also need to watch the steward for further instructions as well as being attentive to both your own animal and fellow competitors. It’s not uncommon to see a parader that is so focused on the judge run into the competitor in front of them.

MAKE SURE YOUR ANIMAL IS VISIBLE AT ALL TIMES

The primary reason that show cattle are taken into the ring is to be assessed by the judge, so make sure they are visible! Keep at least one animal body length between yourself and the animal in front of you, be it parading or standing, so there is plenty of room for the judge to walk around your animal to view it from different angles. When walking, circle out wide to make sure the judge can see your animal for as long as possible. If another animal is blocking the judge’s view of yours, you may have to move your animal into a better position.

SET YOUR ANIMAL UP CORRECTLY

The standard way to stand an animal is to have both front legs parallel to each other and the back leg closest to the judge placed slightly further back than its other back leg. This is how an animal looks most balanced as it is how they choose to naturally stand. An animal should either be naturally walked into this stance or aided by ‘rocking them’ on the halter and should require minimal use of the cane to achieve this desired position. Overuse of the cane can easily create an agitated animal and generally takes longer to stand them up correctly; by which time, the judge has already moved on. Knowing your individual animal’s structure is also vital in order to emphasise their good traits and cover up their flaws when standing them up.

AND FINALLY, ‘IT’S NOT OVER TIL IT’S OVER’

Keeping ‘working’ from the second you enter the ring until the moment you leave, even if you’ve been defeated. There is only one judge/opinion inside that ring on any particular day, but you never know who will be sitting outside the ring looking on and who you/your animal may impress.