STUDS ON SHOW: Central west does well at Sydney Royal
Graham Coddington, Coddington Uardry Poll stud, Wellington, holds his grand champion medium/strong wool poll Merino ewe, sashed by John Gray, Schute Bell, Yennora. Photo: THE LAND
Central west studs have taken out top honours in the highly-competitive sheep and beef competitions at this year’s Royal Easter Show.
Graham and Sue Coddington, Coddington Uardry stud, Wellington won 11 broad ribbons including the renowned Otway Falkiner Cup for five poll Merinos at this year’s show.
The best exhibitor award, for three rams and two ewes, was one of the many awards for the community minded couple.
Mr Coddington was also awarded Most Successful August Shorn Poll Merino Exhibitor.
He said it was a “really great achievement’’.
“Competition in these events are so much stronger these days,” he said.
Mr Coddington said what set his poll Merinos apart from competitors was body size, hindquarters and quality wool.
The beef competition was just as kind to central west stud, Pine Creek Angus, Cowra.
Pine Creek dominated the beef cattle competition winning in excess of 10 major awards including Premier Beef Breeder, Most Successful Exhibitor and all four interbreed competitions.
This is the second year in a row Pine Creek principal Greg Fuller and family were awarded the breeders group interbreed Gordon Fuller Memorial Perpetual Trophy.
The stud went on to win the Urquhart Trophy for supreme beef breed animal with their Angus bull, PC Kodiak 5R H130. Pine Creek stud then won the RAS Supreme Interbreed Heifer.
The Fuller family also took home the Hordern Trophy for Supreme Beef Breed Championship for the Angus breed award, with Kodiak.
Jeremy and Phillipa Walsh, Ruby Park Limousins, Dubbo won the Champion Lightweight Steer award, in the purebred steer and carcase lightweight open steer and carcase championship.
Andrew Rayner, Grathlyn stud, Mudgee, won the Merino grand championship and the ultrafine wool March shorn Merino ram. Russell Jones, Darriwell stud, Trundle won grand champion medium wool Merino ram at the show.
Mr Jones said the two-tooth ram was affectionately known as ‘Buddha’.
“He’s massive. He’s got an outstanding head on him,’’ he said. “He’s a real reflection of what I’m trying to breed.”
This is the third time in five years Mr Jones has won the grand champion medium wool Merino ram award. Mr Jones described the win as a “thrill’’.
“We’ve been coming here consistently for the past 10 years,” he said.
“We compete against the best sheep in the state, which is a great thing to be a part of.”
Tattykeel Poll Dorset stud, Oberon, won every supreme interbreed broad ribbon on offer in the meat and dualpurpose sheep judging.
They were awarded the Peter Taylor Memorial Trophy for group of one ram and two ewes.
The stud went on to win the JA and MY Gilmore Perpetual Trophy for best pair before that pair was judged individually and sashed supreme prime lamb sire and supreme prime lamb dam.
Tattykeel stud’s Graham Gilmore said the family stud had been showing for 40 years and took out the Peter Taylor Memorial Trophy two years previously.
“The next win is always the best,’’ he said.
“The Sydney Royal Show is a very prestigious award so to win all four is not a bad effort,” he said.