With 66 head entered it was a good challenge for first time Royal Show Judge, Tom Cochrane, “Kangawarra” Illawarra Stud in the Nowra district of NSW.  With a pleasing number of spectators watching ringside, all entries from the nine exhibitors presented in great bloom which together with sunny weather all added up to an enjoyable day.

The Champion Cow and Grand Champion Illawarra exhibit, Myrtleholme Empress 60, came from the 4 – 5 years in milk class.  Her pedigree matches her overall quality.  She was exhibited by the Bourke Family.  Her ET sister, Myrtleholme Empress 62 was Champion at the 2017 Spring Fair at Berry, while their maternal sister, Myrtleholme Empress 32 was Champion at Toowoomba some years ago.  The Reserve Champion was shown by MJ & GJ Henry and was the well performed for several years, Venvale Thelma 121.  She also won best udder, showing more bloom in her udder than the mid-lactation champion cow.  Honourable Mention Senior Cow went to the Priebbenow family with Silverleigh Anita 61.  At her first show she did not parade to advantage.

Coming from what was considered the outstanding class of the show in overall quality and which was also the largest class with 10, a big future is predicted for the Junior Champion, Jondene Empress 14, exhibited by FS Johnston & Sons. Although not closely related to the Champion cow, they both descend from the Yarranvale Empress cow family which stud was dispersed in 1958.  Over the 60 years since, probably no cow family can lay greater claim to glory than the Empress line.  Jondene Empress 14 also won best udder under 3 years of age.  Reserve Junior Heifer, also from the same class, was Myrtleholme Paula 45, another top heifer sired by the highly rated, Silverleigh Maxima.
Honourable Mention Junior was the Myrtleholme Thorpe sired Tara Panda 13.

INTERBREED:  
Although we could not match the effort of last year we acquitted ourselves well with:
Reserve Junior Heifer – Jondene Empress 14
Reserve Junior Udder – Jondene Empress 14
Reserve Champion Pen of 3 Heifers
Champion TYPE & PRODUCTION COW – FS Johnston & Sons - Panorama Carnation 42
Story - Lloyd Peters

RESULTS:
Class 1:  Rabobank Heifer 6mths & U12mths dry
1.    M & G Henry – Tara Glimmer 4, s. Kangawarra Jack, d. Tara Glimmer
2.    M & G Henry – Tara Laura 6, s. Kangawarra Jack, d. Tara Laura 3
3.    D & L Priebbenow – Silverleigh Anita 81, s. Silverleigh Monarch, d. Silverleigh Anita 70


Class 2:  Larprop Heifer, 12mths & U18mths dry
1.    C & M Vonhoff – Myall Phoenix Delight, s. Silverleigh Phoenix, d. Myall Landcruiser Delight
2.    Phillips Barron Nichols – Sunnyview Absolute Fussy, s. Absolute, d. SV Fussy
3.    Phillips Barron Nichols – Sunnyview Barbwire Pamela, s. Barbwire, d. SV Pamela


Class 3:  Garden City Artificial Breeders Heifer, 18mths & U24mths dry
1.    M & G Henry – Tara Cherry 13, s. Tara Chester, d. Tara Cherry 10
2.    C & M Vonhoff – Myall Jetson Patsy, s. Storman Jetson, d. Chelmonte Patsy 59
3.    FS Johnston & Sons – Jondene Kitty 61, s. Jondene Winkie, d. Jondene Kitty 39


CHAMPION JUVENILE ILLAWARRA HEIFER:  TARA CHERRY 13 – M & G Henry

RESERVE CHAMPION JUVENILE HEIFER:  MYALL PHOENIX DELIGHT – C & M Vonhoff

HON MENTION JUVENILE HEIFER:  TARA GLIMMER 4 – M & G Henry

Class 4:  Heifer, 2yrs & U3yrs dry
1.    C & M Vonhoff – Myall Landcruiser Susan 2, s. Myall Landcruiser, d. Foundation Cow
2.    C & M Vonhoff – Myall Apple Tinklebell, s. Bluechip Mr Aussie Apple, d. Myall Jetstar Tinklebell.


Class 5:  Heifer, U2yrs in milk
No entries

Class 6:  Russell & Sons Heifer, 2yrs & U2.5yrs in milk
1.    M & G Henry – Tara Panda 13, s. Myrtleholme Thorpe, d. Tara Panda 6
2.    Eight Mile Ag Trust – St Andrews Queenie 86, s. Myrtleholme Thorpe, d. St Andrews Queenie 47
3.    Eight Mile Ag Trust – St Andrews Dahlia 13, s. Myrtleholme Thorpe, d. St Andrews Dahlia 9


Class 7:  Jefo Australia Heifer, 2.5yrs & U3yrs in milk
1.    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Empress 14, s. Jondene Ford, d. Marybrook Empress 5
2.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme Paula 45, s. Silverleigh Maxima, d. Myrtleholme Paula 38
3.    M & G Henry – White Park Polly 470, s. Jondene Drummer, d. White Park Polly 462


Class 8:  Jefo Australia Heifer Best Udder & Attachment U3yrs
1.    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Empress 14, s. Jondene Ford, d. Marybrook Empress 5
2.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme Paula 45, s. Silverleigh Maxima, d. Myrtleholme Paula 38
3.    Eight Mile Ag Trust – St Andrews Queenie 86, s. Myrtleholme Thorpe, d. St Andrews Queenie 47

Class 9:  Heritage Bank Group of Three Females U3yrs
1.    F S Johnston & Sons
2.    M & G Henry
3.    Eight Mile Ag Trust

JUNIOR CHAMPION ILLAWARRA HEIFER:  JONDENE EMPRESS 14 – F S Johnston & Sons

RESERVE CHAMPION JUNIOR HEIFER:  MYRTLEHOLME PAULA 45 – Bourke Family

Class 10:  Lallemand Animal Nutrition Female, 3yrs & over dry
1.    R & J Lindsay – Silverleigh Cindy 106, s. Warramont Advent Flame, d. Silverleigh Cindy 72


Class 11:  Garden City Artificial Breeders Female, 3yrs & U4yrs in milk
1.    M & G Henry – Tara Cherry 11, s. Jondene Ford, d. Tara Cherry 3
2.    FS Johnston & Sons – Jondene Barbara 23, s. Jondene Ford, d. Jondene Barbara 9
3.    C & M Vonhoff – Myall Joker Fortune 2, s. Silverleigh Ruby’s Joker, d. Foundation Cow.


Class 12:  DHA Rural Female, 4yrs & U5yrs in milk
1.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme Empress 60, s. Hansomes Tulip, d. Myrtleholme Empress 29
2.    M & G Henry – Tara Topaz 4, s. Kangawarra Jack, d. Tara Topaz 3
3.    M & G Henry – White Park Minnie 38, s. Blackwood Park Dellman, d. White Park Minnie 29


Class 13:  Jefo Australia Female, 5yrs & U7yrs in milk
1.    M & G Henry – Venvale Thelma 121, s. Llandovery Verbs Viscount, d. Venvale Thelma 120
2.    D & L Priebbenow – Silverleigh Anita 61, s. Silverleigh Wendell, d. Silverleigh Anita 55
3.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme Empress 59, s. Myrtleholme Dane, d. Myrtleholme Empress 46


Class 14:  Larpro Female, 7yrs & over in milk
1.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme Rose 250, s. Apples Absolute, d. Myrtleholme Rose 167
2.    Phillips Baron Nichols – Sunnyview Duchess, s. Majestic, d. Chelmonte Duchess
3.    C & M Vonhoff – Rosedale Max Modie 2507, s. Braeless Maxwell, d. Rosedale Churchill Jodie


Class 15:  DHA Rural – Group of 3 Females over 3yrs
1.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme
2.    M & G Henry – Tara
3.    C & M Vonhoff – Myall

Class 16:  WT & EF Savage Memorial – Group of Five
1.    M & G Henry – Tara
2.    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene
3.    Eight Mile Ag Trust – St Andrews

Class 17:  The Australian Dairy Farmer – Maternally Related Family Group
1.    Phillips Barron Nichols
2.    Bourke Family
3.    C & M Vonhoff

Class 18:  National Australia Bank – Two Females – Progeny of one Sire
1.    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Ford
2.    M & G Henry – Tara
3.    Eight Mile Ag Trust – St Andrews

Class 19:  Farmer Breeding Services – Group of 4 head any age
1.    M & G Henry – Tara
2.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme
3.    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene

Class 20:  Neil & Shirley Shelton Memorial – Best Udder & Attachment over 3 yrs
1.    M & G Henry – Venvale Thelma 121, s. Llandovery Verbs Viscount, d. Venvale Thelma 120
2.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme Empress 60, s. Hansomes Tulip, d. Myrtleholme Empress 29
3.    Bourke Family – Myrtleholme Rose 250, s. Apples Absolute, d. Myrtleholme Rose 167

SENIOR CHAMPION ILLAWARRA COW:  MYRTLEHOLME EMPRESS 60 – Bourke Family

RESERVE CHAMPION COW:  VENVALE THELMA 121 – M & G Henry

HON MENTION COW:  SILVERLEIGH ANITA 61 – D & L Priebbenow

SUPREME ILLAWARRA EXHIBIT:  MYRTLEHOLME EMPRESS 60 – BOURKE FAMILY

DAIRY EXPRESS ILLAWARRA BREED PRODUCTION CHAMPION MILK & TYPE:  
    PANORAMA CARNATION 42 – FS JOHNSTON & SONS – 8911 Ltrs, P279kgs, F317 kgs.