CLEAN SWEEP OF LED STEER CHAMPS IN SYDNEY

Limousins dominated the led steer competition at Sydney Royal Show this week.

They started on a strong note in the Woolworths Trade Steer Competition which is the only Sydney Royal competition which allows heifers and crossbreds. The Champion was a purebred Limousin steer bred by the Kirk family and exhibited by St Johns College, Dubbo. It was the first of a Championship quadruple by this combination. The Reserve Champion Trade Steer was another Pure Limousin bred by Geoff and Bronny Nielsen, Warregah Limousins and exhibited by the Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth.

The Schools competition comprises light weight, medium weight and heavy weight classes. Each of the 37 schools represented can enter only one purebred steer. The closest Limousin got in the light weight class was third to a steer bred by Terry and Bev Dennis, Jordensprings Limousins and exhibited by Scotts School, Bathurst. The medium weight class was taken out by a Limousin bred and exhibited by Brisbane Waters Secondary College, Umina Campus. The Kirk family/St Johns College combination took out the heavy weight class with a steer that went on to become the Champion Schools Steer. Third place in this class went to a steer bred by Len and Val Tomkins, Riverglen Limousins, and exhibited by Narara Valley High School.

The Open light weight competition included three classes based on weight. The first class was won by the Kirk family/St Johns College combination. The same combination placed second in the next light weight class and won the third lightweight class. Champion Open light weight steer was the Kirk family/St Johns steer which won the first class.

There were six middle weight classes. Limousins had only one entry in the first four classes, which stood fourth. The fifth class was won by a steer bred by Don and Sarah Riley, Oakvale Limousins and exhibited by Calrossy Anglican School. In second place was a steer bred by Mount View Orchards, Flemington Limousins and exhibited by BWSC Umina Campus. The sixth class was won by the same combination with a black steer and third was a steer bred by Peter and Marion Wilks, Ballina Limousins and exhibited by Gosford High School. Champion middle weight steer was the black steer exhibited by the Oakvale/Calrossy Anglican School combination.

There were three heavy weight classes. In the first a steer bred by Kathy Curran, Deepfields Limousins and exhibited by BWSC Umina Campus placed second and a steer from the Warregah/Calrossy Anglican School placed third. The second class was taken out by the Flemington/BWSC Umina Campus combination with Warregah/Calrossy Anglican School in second place. The third class was won by the Kirk family/St Johns team with a steer from Jordensprings Limousins exhibited by Scotts School in second place and a Donna Valley steer exhibited by Yanco Agricultural High School in third place. The Champion heavy weight steer was the Kirk family/St Johns steer and Reserve Champion was the Jordensprings/Scotts School steer.

The judge Brett Littler from Industry and Investment NSW selected the Grand Champion steer from the four champion Limousin steers of which three were exhibited by the Kirk family/St Johns College combination. He selected the heavy weight champion as his Grand Champion steer. The Kirk family steers prepared and exhibited by St Johns College won five classes and an incredible four of the five Championship awards.

It can safely be said that Limousins were the Champions of the 2010 Sydney Royal Show led cattle competition.