Victorian Red Poll On Farm Challenge, April, 2016.

The Victorian Red Poll “On Farm Challenge” for 2016 was commenced on Sunday the 17th of April when driver Doug D’Oliver picked up Judge Annette Walker from her home in Buln Buln and drove her to the three herds being assessed on the day. They were Mark and Elke Harris’ Ketlang Stud, Doug D’Oliver’s St Cerry Stud at Leongatha and Anne and Frank Moya’s Tiraslea Stud at Nar Nar Goon. Anne and Frank Moya visited all three herds to take photos also.

Proceedings then continued early on the following Friday when Anne and Frank Moya transported Annette to Ian and Nell Staff’s Sophronites Stud at Pheasant Creek. They arrived at 9.15am and judging continued until noon. After lunch, Don Castle, who had driven from Stoneyford in Western Victoria, drove the Judge to Ian and Jill Coghlan’s Eurimbla Stud in Gerogery NSW (just over the border). Both Don and Annette were hosted by the Coghlans overnight after judging of the cattle was completed.

The next day, Saturday 23rd April, saw another long day’s travel to the Storm family’s Stormley Stud in Barham, also over the border in NSW. Judging of cattle was completed there and Don then commenced on the long drive to Stoneyford for Don Castle’s Koallah Park Stud. Annette was hosted by Don and wife Beverley at home, and after the Koallah Park Red Polls were assessed. The next herd to be assessed was that of Sandra and Damian McAlinden’s Rua Mor Stud, followed by that of Greg and Kelley Abbott’s Turanga Stud at Kolora.

Once again, the Castles hosted Annette overnight and then Don drove her to the home of Nell and Ian Staff in Pheasant Creek where Annette gave a presentation on her judging techniques and presented the awards for the Challenge. She explained how she had a strong connection with Red Polls from an early age when her parents milked Jersey cross Red Polls and then used Red Polls with their great milking qualities to finish off calves properly.

Annette is well known as becoming one of the most successful breeders and exhibitors of Red Poll cattle, winning numerous Championships in major Shows and progressing the breed by training young people in grooming, feeding and showing her cattle and managing the first Red Poll Handlers Camp at Heathcote Junction.

A hearty lunch was provided by Nell Staff for all in attendance and Annette was thanked for her wonderful performance and a job very well done by President Gay Ward.

Selected photos were posted on our Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/Australianredpolls and further information can be seen on our websites www.redpoll.org.au and www.redpollvic.com

Alltold, entries included 28 junior heifers, 42 senior cows (the oldest was a 12 year old cow exhibited by Don Castle), 12 bulls and 7 pairs of cattle under 18 months each bred from the same sire. Nine Red Poll Herds were represented and these entries vindicate the concept of this event where entries surpass Red Poll exhibits at any major Show in Australia.

Results

Class 1.Female - 9-16 months 
1st – D & S McAlinden – Rua Mor Olive 
2nd – N & I Staff – Sophronites Florence
3rd – S Storm & Sons – Stormley  Princess

Class 2. Female – over 16-24 months 
1st –  D Castle – Koallah Park Judy Rose
2nd – G Abbott – Turanga Ada
3rd –  G Abbott – Turanga Gay

JUNIOR CHAMPION HEIFER 
 D & S McAlinden – Rua Mor Olive

Class 3. Female – over 24- 36 months 
1st – I & J Coghlan – Eurimbla Rising Moon
2nd – D Castle – Koallah Park Rae Lyn
3rd –  D Castle – Koallah Park Prudence Dainty

Class 4. Female - over 3 - 5 years 
1st –  D Castle – Koallah Park Violets Gloria
2nd – S Storm & Sons - Stormley Lara
3rd –  N & I Staff - Sophronites Lucinda

Class 5. Female –  over 5 years
1st –  I & J Coghlan – Eurimbla Next Door
2nd –  D Castle – Koallah Park Heather
3rd –  D D’Oliver – Stormley Jodie

SENIOR CHAMPION FEMALE  
I & J Coghlan – Eurimbla Next Door

Class 6. Bull - 9 – 16 months
1st – D Castle – Koallah Park Earnest
2nd –  D Castle – Koallah Park Sinatra Ajax
3rd –  G. Abbott – Turanga EMA 402

Class 8. Bull – over 24months - 5years
1st –  G Abbott - Almora Amos 
2nd –  D Castle – Koallah Park Nathan
3rd –  Eurimbla Ace

Class 9. Bull - over 5 years
1st – D & S McAlinden  - Rua Mor Bolt
2nd –  G Abbott – Turanga EDA Hero

CHAMPION BULL -  D Castle – Koallah Park Earnest

Class 10.  Pair under 18 months by the one sire.

1st –  S Storm & Sons – Sire –Stormley Ned Kelly
2nd – S Storm & Sons – Sire - Hallmarks Power Walker
3rd –  G Abbott – Sire – Turanga EDA Hero

Some Participants in the Victorian Red Poll On Farm Challenge 2016 - from left - Anne Moya Tiraslea), Frank Moya (Tiraslea), Nell Staff (Sophronites), Jill Coghlan (Eurimbla), Ian Coghlan (Eurimbla), Greg Abbott (Turanga), Doug D’Oliver (St Cerry)	Sophronites Scarlet (age 12 years) demands attention from Visitors Greg Abbott, Jill Coghlan and Doug D’Oliver.
Ian Coghlan (Gerogery NSW)- Winner of Champion Bull; Judge Annette Walker - Buln Buln; Don Castle (Stoneyford, Vic) Winner of Senior Champion Cow; (Not in photo - Damian and Sandra McAlinden (Gellibrand, Vic) Winner of Junior Champion Heifer.	7 Year Old Cow Eurimbla Next Door - Senior Champion Female; (cow and calf) Sire Eurimbla Lepidus; Dam Eurimbla Watsonia with a seven month old heifer calf by Eurimbla Leopold.
Koallah Park Earnest - Champion Bull - Sire Eurimbla Ajax; Dam - Koallah Park Emily April	Rua Mor Olive - Junior Championn Female - Sire Rua Mor Bolt; Dam Sophronites Pippi