Attention on winnersβ¦
By Dianna Malcolm
The Supreme Champion contender line-up includes (L-R) the Jersey, Ferdon Tbone Veneer (Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga), the Holstein, Glenalla Unix Maple-ET (Gilbert family, Ashburton), the Brown Swiss, Brookview Carter IC S2B (Brookview Genetics, Te Awamutu), and the Ayrshire cow that would win it all β Kiteroa Cream Bubbette (Kiteroa Ayrshires, Ohaupo). Photo: Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
The Supreme Exhibit of the NZ DairyEvent, Kiteroa Cream Bubbette. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
One team β with 43-head β including a contingent from Mid Canterbury are reflecting on a stellar NZ DairyEvent.
In the middle of December, the Gilbert family probably wondered what they had signed up for in terms of workload. The familyβs show campaign was shared between Luke Gilbert (Showcase Boarding, based out of Hamilton) and his brothers, Mike and Nick (Gilbert family) , who milk 650 and 630 cows respectively at Ashburton (Mid Canterbury). They prepared some of their team in the South Island while the balance was with Luke.
When they brought the team together, it involved transporting 18-head across the Cook Strait from the South to the North Island. It was the biggest collective team they had put together to date (21 in-milk and 22 heifers).
However, with the value of hindsight they delivered in spades for their clients, friends, and family when the results were washed out. Because within those numbers was the Supreme All Breeds Exhibit of this yearβs show, the Supreme All Breeds Intermediate Champion, the Grand Champion Holstein, Reserve Champion Holstein, Intermediate Champion Holstein, and the Junior Champion in the Combined Breeds.
The Supreme All Breeds Exhibit of the show (and Senior, Grand Champion of the Ayrshire Show), Kiteroa Cream Bubbette (owned by Zane and Marie Kite who milk 180 Ayrshires at ΕhaupΕ) had been boarding with Luke for six weeks before the show on behalf of her owners.
Zane Kite (rght) and his daughter, Zoe, can hardly believe their eyes as their Ayrshire entry, Kiteroa Cream Bubbette, is crowned Supreme All Breeds Exhibit of the NZ DairyEvent at Feilding. Photo: Ella Pirie Photography.
The Supreme All Breeds Intermediate was also an Ayrshire β Glenalla Reynolds Dawn β giving the Ayrshires a majority presence in the heavy-hitter awards. Dawn is owned and bred by the Gilbert family. The Gilberts also exhibited (and bred and owned) the Grand Champion Holstein [Glenalla Unix Maple-ET], they owned the Intermediate Champion Holstein [Joyclas Bullseye Moo-ET], and they prepared the Reserve Champion Holstein [Charbelle Tatoo Pix] with her owners, Charbelle Holsteins (Morrinsville).
Zane Kite said without staff on their farm, getting Luke to prepare Bubbette professionally made sense. He has also been grateful to the Fullerton family for their help in earlier campaigns. This win follows Kiteroaβs successful annual sale of 42-head (mostly calves) which grossed $120,000 in November.
Bubbette was the 2021 NZ Dairy Eventβs Intermediate Champion Ayrshire and while the eight-year-old was pushed hard by Glenallaβs Intermediate for Supreme All Breeds this year, the judges from Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand came together to give her the ultimate award.
Zane described it as a βwicked Ayrshireβ show, and while he was thrilled on the day itβs now business as usual for their Champion.
βWell, I was blown away at the time and of course itβs a massive buzz, but now it's back to reality I guess,β Zane said.
βI will say though that the achievement will live on for a fair while, and we'll acknowledge it, accept it, and be really proud of it.β
Supreme Champion Exhibit of the show Kiteroa Cream Bubbette with her banners and the team that made it happen. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
Courting offers
For Michael Gilbert β speaking on behalf of the Gilbert family β the campaign was a success on more than one level.
βThe thing we were the most happy with is that of the 43 animals we prepared, we bought everything out as good as we possibly could,β Michael said.
βParticularly the milkers. To get 21 milkers out in one day was something we'd never done before, and itβs pretty hard to get that right. Not to mention, that we were obviously looking after other people's animals, so there's always that added pressure too. We tied in with Charbelle Holsteins for the week and we couldnβt have done it without their help.β
They are now courting buying offers on both their Supreme All Breeds Intermediate Ayrshire and Grand Champion Holstein. They only milk 30 Ayrshires themselves (within their combined herd numbers of 1280 cows). Itβs worth noting they have now owned two Ayrshires that have achieved Supreme Champion titles at the NZ DairyEvent [including Pukekaraka Elle Delilah, who was Supreme in 2021 and Grand Champion Ayrshire in 2025]. Both of those cows go back to modest-priced buys Michael made from the Pukekaraka stud. He shared that he bought the dam of this yearβs Supreme All Breeds Intermediate for $2400.
βDawnβs dam [Pukekaraka Burdete Rose] was an older cow when we bought her, but she had been a successful show cow herself,β Michael said. βWeβve got a couple of daughters out of her now, and Dawn happened to be one of them. So, buying those Ayrshire cows at that particular sale is getting better and better for us results wise.β
In the last decade Holsteins have found their way into their mostly Jersey herds and now number around 400 split between the two herds. To breed and exhibit Grand Champion Holstein is another milestone they will savour for some time to come.
Brothers Luke (left) and Michael (right) Gilbert take in the moment that put them on the Supreme All Breeds Exhibit (left) and Supreme All Breeds Intermediate Champion which are both Ayrshires owned by exhibitors Kiteroa Ayrshires (Ohaupo ) and the Gilbert family (Ashburton) respectively. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
Michael Gilbert is made Supreme All Breeds Intermediate of the show by the Ayrshire judge from Australia, Scott Braendler, with the Ashburton familyβs Glenalla Reynolds Dawn. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
The Supreme and Reserve Supreme Intermediate were both owned/bred and exhibited by the Gilbert family, from Ashburton. Nick (on the Holstein) and Michael (on the Ayrhsire) are flanked (L-R) by Semexβs Rachel Cox, the Jersey judge Wayne Kuhne (Australia), the Holstein judge Brian Carscadden (Canada), the Combined Breeds judge Brent Crothers (UK), former NZ DairyEvent committee member, Neville Turnbull (who donated the trophy), the Ayrshire judge Scott Braendler (Australia)and the youth show judge Michael Jenkins (Waikato). Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
βLikeβ this Champion
Pat and Shelley Schnuriger had never won a broad ribbon at the NZ DairyEventβ¦until this year.
Their senior heifer calf β from one of their deepest maternal families β changed that when she first topped the senior heifer calf class of 30-head, and then went all the way under Canadian judge Brian Carscadden. Shelley said that a couple pointers from the judge was appreciated during her class win and she put them straight into her game for the final race.
The βLikeβ cow family has been infused with sire Mr Ernestanthony Havenofear and the win was exciting for the tight family team.
Likeβs dam, Raetea Byway Like, won her class in the youth show at the NZ DairyEvent five years ago and her granddam has finished second in her class, but this generation has set the bar high. The emotion got the better of Shelley for a second, and she was tearful.
βIt's pretty exciting and it was emotional because the βLikeβ family is one of our strongest cow families in our herd and for me to have animals that are coming through into our show team every year is brilliant. Even our show sign in our string is of βLikeβ family members.
She said having international judges at the event is critical.
βAll of our judges in New Zealand are awesome and it's lovely to see all our junior judges coming through. For a show like this itβs great to have the outside perspective of international judges who are also sharing their experience with the associate judges.β
In all, they showed three breeds, Milking Shorthorn, Holstein, and Ayrshire.
The three Supreme All Breeds winners were led off by the Holstein (right), followed by the Ayrshire (centre) and the Jersey. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
βThereβs no βIβ in Warrenβ
Jersey historic moment
For Ferdon Geneticsβ Warren and Michelle Ferguson and family, they couldnβt have got a better lead-in to their upcoming βChase Your Dreamsβ Jersey sale on April 22 on-farm at Otorohanga. Ferdon was the prefix on all three of the Senior Jersey Champions (with the Reserve Champion now belonging to Tony and Lois McAllister, of Ohaupo).
The McAllisters bought Ferdon Victorious Flower at Lot 1 at Ferdonβs sale in 2024 for $17,000. She won the four-year-old class, and was shown within Ferdonβs string. However, the Ferguson familyβs five-year-old class winner, Ferdon Tbone Veneer, was on the money for Senior Champion. Veneer has now won Grand Champion Jersey for three successive years. She is also one of their top producing cows at 815kg Milk Solids in 280 days last season.
βIt's kind of been Tony's [McAllister] dream to get down there and beat us,β Michelle said. βHeβs rapt with the results and thatβs part of the reason weβve called our next sale βChase your Dreamsβ, because thatβs what weβre all doing, isnβt it?β
Warren said this year proved to be historic for them, and incredibly satisfying.
βI don't think we have ever had our prefix on all three Senior Champions, before,β Warren said. βWeβve had Junior, Intermediate and Senior, but to get the three lined up in the senior show is pretty special. We couldnβt do much better than that.β
He says they will sell a full sister to the Reserve Champion in their sale. They had also considered offering their Honourable Mention Champion, but their loyal team of helpers had vetoed the decision.
Warren was also awarded the 2026 recipient of the NZ Dairy Event Outstanding Achievement and Service Award, which he said had to also include Michelle and his family.
βThereβs no βIβ in Warren,β he smiled.
Ferdon Jerseys didnβt own them all, but they did breed all three Senior Champions in the Jersey Show under Australian judge Wayne Kuhne. The cows are (L-R) Champion Cow Ferdon Tbone Veneer (Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga), Reserve Champion Ferdon Victorious Flower (Tony & Lois McAllister, Ohaupo) and Honourable Mention Ferdon Tbone Lyn (Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga). Photo: Sheila Sundborg.
Shake it upβ¦
First-time Jersey competitor at the NZ DairyEvent - who won Junior Champion Jersey - was shaking so much he couldnβt type in his phoneβs password in so he could video the champion lineup.
Peter and Claire Hansen had made the decision to drive up from the South Island this year for the first time. Peter said he wasnβt sure right up until he pulled out of their gate, but Claire encouraged him.
βWe've been through a really tough year financially at our other business [Peter Hansen Drainage], and I think it knocks your confidence and gets you tired and you're like, βShall I do it?β
βBut Claire was really encouraging. I think also having the calibre of animal too made us give it serious consideration. Good animals don't come round every day, and I thought to honour her that it was worth coming up here to give her a chance.β
The trip from Rangiora in the South Island involves a ferry trip. Peter said they had a camera in their gooseneck, so he could watch his heifers, and he did take a cabin for himself. But the sustained adrenalin didnβt afford him much rest.
Their familyβs decision to go allowed them the chance for Lilac Grove Video Chip, sired by St-Lo Video, to go all the way in a strong Jersey show under Australian judge Wayne Kuhne, of Bushlea fame. Peter and Claire milk 30 registered cows and supply raw milk under their business Fernside Fresh, in addition to their drainage business.
Peter sourced the embryos for Video Chip from Avonlea Genetics in Canada. He said he was grateful to be able to choose the cow they flushed and the sire they used.
βThe genetics are my passion and we have wanted to bring in cow families that we admired. Andrew and Jennifer [Vander Meulen] from Avonlea Genetics were so kind to let us, one, flush the cow, and, two, nominate the sire.
βWe couldn't get the St-Lo Video semen here. So, when Andrew gave us the opportunity, I asked if he would mind using that bull and he very kindly let us. We just think she's awesome. And, the cool thing too is she's got such a great nature and a presence in the ring. She's just a natural.β
They have a full sister at home and they believe they are the only two St-Lo Video daughters in New Zealand.
βWhich is kind of cool too.β
Peter said his nerves in the championship were big.
βEven when she won her class, the hairs on my arms were up. I went to take a video of her on the move in the ring, and I couldn't get my passcode right because my hands were shaking that much.
βBut it's so cool. I donβt think it has sunk in fully. Itβs also just lovely to have my daughter, Brooke, here helping.
βWe've had a great time together coming up. We're just super proud to be able to win this today, very humbled, very thankful for the team helping out in the shed, and very grateful to Avonlea Genetics.β
Ferdon Genetics came in for Reserve Champion and Tom Gilbert won the crowd over on Honourable Mention with his pocket-rocket presence.
Lilac Grove Video Chip gets the nod from Australian judge Wayne Kuhne for Junior Champion Jersey. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
Combined breeds strong at the top end
The Combined Breeds was judged by expatriate New Zealander, Brent Crothers, who now lives in the United Kingdom.
Brent was quick to say that the breeding and showing in New Zealand had progressed significantly since he left. He now represents MilktechNZ Ltd in Shropshire.
The Combined Breeds includes the Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorn breeds. The Swiss had a strong show with the Junior Champion (Brown Swiss) coming out of Mid-Canterbury. The Grand Champion, Brookview Carter IC S2B, was also a Brown Swiss owned by Brookview Genetics (Te Awamutu).
Carter IC S2B (sired by Voelkers TD Carter) is currently the highest classified Brown Swiss cow in New Zealand at EX92. Brookviewβs Vince Steiner and family have had a brutal year with their son, Quinn, being involved in a serious car accident in Canada. This show was about celebrating his ongoing recovery, the familyβs resilience, and their passion for the cows that they love. Vince said they have 10 Brown Swiss in their Ayrshire and Holstein herd that numbers 600. He also confirmed that the Brown Swiss have been a popular inclusion.
βI admire and love them because they are lead cows anywhere and everywhere they go,β Vince said. βIt is not very often that many Brown Swiss are left in the yard after the first three rows of the herd go through. βIf there is a Brown Swiss at the end of milking, you start looking at her to find out whatβs wrong.β
The Combined Breeds was won by Brookview Genetics (Te Awamutu) with the familyβs Brown Swiss, Brookview Carter IC S2B. Photo: Sheila Sundborg.
As an aside, the Combined Breeds judge, Brent Crothers (UK) had been hit by a medium square bale late last year which required a complex surgery to fuse his back. The accident also broke his scapula, ribs, and leg. For him to make the flight to his birth country for this show was a massive achievement in itself. He couldnβt have known when he left England that he would be giving Grand Champion to the Brookview team, which included Quinn Steiner, who had faced a similar surgery after a car accident late last year. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
Girl-power was strong in the youth
Four young women β one a rookie β tapped into consistency and teamwork to win the Open Country-sponsored Youth Challenge.
Zara Williams, 18, Bella Booth, 17, Violet Simons, 10, Lucy OβReilly, 16, admitted to some pre-game nerves. They didnβt win any of the disciplines it was decided by (judging, parading or judging), but they were competitive with them all, and that consistency was the difference that gave them a valuable seven-point margin in the final analysis.
Captain Zara Williams and the youngest member, Violet Simons, returned to the team this year. They said they wanted redemption for last year, and they were pumped to achieve it. Violet said they felt more confident coming into the clipping and she was pleased that their heifer was settled when they were clipping her head.
The Shorthorn team was also an all-girl team with Haylee Baker, Mikayla Marshall, Tamara Treymane, and Ruby Trubshaw. The youth show involved a lot of young people and the sheer volume of numbers and passion on display impressed the international judges.
The youth show winners from the Radly team included (L-R) Izzy Edge, Zara Williams (leading), Lucy OβReilly and Violet Simons (front). Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
Individual Youth
In the individual youth show, the Supreme Champion was Bullseye Leigh (sire: MB-Lucky Lady Bullseye-ET), who was exhibited by Lucy OβReilly (Tirau). The pair came with a great backstory that started on Snapchat. Lucy borrowed a calf that hadnβt been taught to lead who belonged to Campbell Young, at Te Awamutu.
βAll my years of breeding, I've always wanted to have my very own prefix by my prefix dam to stand at the front of the class,β Campbell said. βI did the day trip carting Lucy's calves down in trailer for them and spent few hours at shed before racing home. Unfortunately I missed the whole youth show but I was kept updated by Snapchat that we won her class then my phone fell down the far side of the seat and it wasn't until I walked into the shed and I was told sheβd won. At first I thought they meant sheβd won her class, but it was the whole youth show. That's when the emotions got real.β
Bullseye Leigh dam is Finally Bridge Leeza ( x Bridgestone) from Rau Roa Windbrook Leeza (the granddaughter of Waipiri Oman Liza). Campbell is a contract milker with 20 of his own cows. He says heβs continually been impressed by Lucy and when Leigh caught his eye, he was happy to put the two together. βLucy will always stop and chat and she also listens and takes on advice and guidance and her care of animals is second to none,β Campbell said. βThe OβReillyβs are a great bunch who just want to enjoy their children's passion. I get more enjoyment of seeing a youngster on the halter than being in the ring myself.β Lucy said it was a thrill to spend the five weeks working with Leigh. She also entered three of her own calves. They included Speddyd Hanske Macca, who won her youth show senior calf class and Honourable Mention in the senior section of the youth show.
The Supreme Champion of the Youth Show was Lucy OβReilly (Tirau) with her heifer, Finally Bullseye Leigh. L-R is Gabby Steiner (associate youth judge), Semexβs Rachel Cox with the judge, Michael Jenkins, and show announcer Brian Robinson. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
SUPREME CHAMPIONS OF ALL BREEDS (BY AGE)
πππππππ ALL BREEDS πππππππ OF THE SHOW - ππππππππ - Kiteroa Cream Bubbette (sire: Palmyra Tri Star Burdette ET) β Kiteroa Ayrshires (Ohaupo).
πππππππ ALL BREEDS ππππππ ππππππππ - ππππππππ - Kiteroa Cream Bubbette (sire: Palmyra Tri Star Burdette ET) β Kiteroa Ayrshires (Ohaupo)
πππππππ ALL BREEDS ππππππ ππππππππ UDDER - HOLSTEIN - Glenalla Unix Maple-ET (sire: Croteau Lesperron Unix) β Gilbert Family (Ashburton)
πππππππ ALL BREEDS ππππππππππππ CHAMPION, SUPREME INTERMEDIATE BEST UDDER β ππππππππ - Glenalla Reynolds Dawn (sire: Palmyra Lochinvar Reynolds-ET) β Gilbert family (Ashburton)
πππππππ ALL BREEDS ππππππ CHAMPION- ππππππππ - Raetea Havenofear Like (sire: Mr Ernestanthony Havenofear) β Raetea Holsteins (Rotorua)
INDIVIDUAL BREED CHAMPIONSHIPS
ππππππππ
π½ππ·πΊπΈ: ππππ‘π‘ π΅ππππππππ (πππ’π‘β π΄π’π π‘πππππ) - π΄π π πππππ‘π: πΆππ’ππ‘πππ¦ π·ππ£πππ (π΄π’ππππππ)
ππππππ AYRSHIRE Cπππππππ β Sunshine Dales Diva (sire: Ruisseau Clair Tuxedo-ET) β Sunshine Ayrshires (Woodville)
πππππππ β Brookview Moloss V Sarsha (sire: Marlie Moloss) β Brookview Genetics (Te Awamutu)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Sunshine Rubicom Debi (sire: Des Coteaux Rubicom ET) β Sunshine Ayrshires (Woodville)
ππππππππππππ ππππππππ & ππππ ππππππππππππ πππππ AYRSHIRE /SUPREME INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION OF ALL BREEDS - Glenalla Reynolds Dawn (sire: Palmyra Lochinvar Reynolds-ET) β Gilbert family (Ashburton)
πππππππ β Brookview Vimo Cruise (sire: Vr Stakkehave Viljar Vimo) β Brookview Genetics (Te Awamutu)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Mossy Rubi Maple (sire: Des Coteaux Rubicom-ET) βD & R Simons (Midhurst)
ππππππ ππππππππ, NORTH ISLAND CHAMPION, GRAND CHAMPION/SUPREME CHAMPION EXHIBIT OF THE SHOW Kiteroa Cream Bubbette (sire: Palmyra Tri Star Burdette ET) β Kiteroa Ayrshires (Ohaupo)
πππππππ & ππππ ππππππ πππππ - Landell Tric Goldlock S2A (Sandyford Triclo ET) β Aislin Farms (Feilding)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Premier Jumper Blueprint ET (sire: Lessard Jumper ET) β Brookview and Munden Farms (Te Awamutu)
PREMIER SIRE β Des Coteaux Rubicom ET, STgenetics NZ
PREMIER EXHIBITOR β Brookview Genetics, Te Awamutu
The Supreme Exhibit of the NZ DairyEvent, Kiteroa Cream Bubbette, getting over the first hurdle in the breed show when she was named Grand Champion Ayrshire by Australian judge, Scott Braendler. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
Ryan Barker accepts the Junior Champion Ayrshire crown from association Ayrshire judge, Courtney Davies (Auckland). Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
ππππππππ ππππππ
π½ππ·πΊπΈ: π΅ππππ‘ πΆπππ‘βπππ (ππΎ) - π΄π π πππππ‘π ππ’πππ: π»πππ£ππ¦ ππππ€πππ¦ππ (π·πππππ£ππππ)
ππππππ ππππππππ β Brown Swiss β Stormrose ATR Valkyrie (sire: Hilltop Acres B Gamechanger) β Shane and Ainsley Leonard (Ashburton)
πππππππ β Brown Swiss β Te Hau Owen Astra (sire: Studerβs BS O Malley Owen) β Holly Williams (Feilding)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Milking Shorthorn β Lakeview Jiath Peach S0S (sire: Riversleigh Jiath) β Lakeview All Breeds (Dannevirke)
ππππππππππππ ππππππππ & ππππ ππππππππππππ πππππ β Brown Swiss β Esmore Omalley Nova S2B (sire: O Malley) β Thurvalley Brown Swiss (Rotorua)
πππππππ β Milking Shorthorn β Westell Mont Sandie S0S (sire: Riverleigh Alston Montagna) β M & B Meier (Hamilton)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Brown Swiss β Lakeview A Joy (Alesha Shaw, Ohaupo)
ππππππ ππππππππ & πππππ ππππππππ ππππππππ ππππππβ Brown Swiss β Brookview Carter IC S2B (sire: Voelkers TD Carter) β Brookview Genetics (Te Awamutu)
πππππππ & ππππ ππππππ πππππ β Brown Swiss β Greenridge Vic Carrie S3B (sire: Victor-ET P) β Thurvalley Brown Swiss (Rotorua)
ππππππππππ πππππππ AND KEN AND BETTY BAKER MILKING SHORTHORN GRAND CHAMPIONβ Milking Shorthorn β Westell Jedi Rollie S1S (sire: Glencliffe JP Jedi) β Josh & Kareena Sneddon (Tokoroa)
PREMIER SIRE β Voelkers TD Carter, STgenetics NZ
PREMIER EXHIBITOR β Northbrook Enterprises Ltd, Feilding
The Honourable Mention Combined Breeds (from the Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorn show) was also the Ken and Betty Baker Milking Shorthorn Grand Champion. Westell Jedi Rollie S1S is owned by Josh and Kareena Sneddon, of Tokoroa. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN
π½ππ·πΊπΈ: π΅ππππ πΆπππ ππππππ (πΆπππππ) - π΄π π πππππ‘π ππ’πππ: π΅πππ¦πππ ππβπππππ (π
ππ‘πππ’π)
ππππππ CHAMPION HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN & SUPREME JUNIOR CHAMPION OF ALL BREEDS β Raetea Havenofear Like (sire: Mr Ernestanthony Havenofear) β Raetea Holsteins (Rotorua)
πππππππ β Lochmir Dropbox Tiara (sire: Kings-Ransom Dropbox-ET) β Charlie Kelsen (Dannevirke)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Nova Adeline Beauty-Red (sire: Progenesis Ambrose) β Nova Genetics (Palmerston North)
ππππππππππππ ππππππππ & ππππ πππππ INTERMEDIATEHOLSTEIN FRIESIAN β Joyclas Bullseye Moo-ET (sire: MB-Luckylady Bullseye-ET) β Gilbert family (Ashburton)
πππππππ β Radly Handshake Lavana (sire: Siemers Handshake 32706-ET) β Powell family (Palmerston North)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Cavan Chief Tonio (sire: Stantons Chief) β Lucy OβReilly (Tirau)
ππππππ ππππππππ, ππππ πππππ & GRAND CHAMPION HOLSTEIN FRIESIANβ Glenalla Unix Maple-ET (sire: Croteau Lesperron Unix) β Gilbert Family (Ashburton)
πππππππ β Charbelle Tatoo Pix (sire: Duckett Crush Tatoo-ET) β Charbelle Holsteins (Morrinsville)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Westell Schief Carla (sire: Stantons Chief) β Westell Properties (Te Awamutu)
PREMIER SIRE β MB-Luckylady Bullseye-ET, Semex NZ
PREMIER EXHIBITOR β Gilbert Family, Ashburton
Canadian judge Brian Carscadden gives Michael Gilbert the tap out for Grand Champion Holstein with Glenalla Unix Maple-ET, who travelled from Ashburton in Mid Canterbury. Photo: Sheila Sundborg, Canada.
ππππππ ππππ
JUDGE: πππ¦ππ πΎπ’βππ (πΏππππππ‘βπ, ππππ‘ππππ π΄π’π π‘πππππ) - π΄π π πππππ‘π ππ’πππ: πΎπβπ’ ππππππ (πΆππππππππ)
ππππππ ππππππππ ππππππ β Lilac Grove Video Chip (sire: St-Lo Video) β Peter Hanson (Rangiora)
πππππππ β Ferdon Victorious Belle (sire: River Valley Victorious-ET) β Ferdon Genetics (Otorohanga)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Glenalla Skyclass Ruby (sire: Perkins Skyclass ET) β Tom Gilbert (Ashburton)
ππππππππππππ ππππππππ JERSEY β Fynreath Viral Gracie S3J (sire: Bushlea PN Viral) - Fynreath Genetics (Matamata)
πππππππ β Glenalla Viral Tessie (sire: Bushlea PN Viral) - Gilbert Family (Ashburton)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Manor Victorious Lois (sire: River Valley Victorious-ET) β Jeyes family (Te Kuiti)
ππππππ ππππππππ & ππππ πππππ & πΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝ Μ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝ Μ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝπΜ²ΝΝ Μ²ΝΝβ Ferdon Tbone Veneer (sire: Richies Jace Tbone A364) - Ferdon Genetics (Otorohanga)
πππππππ β Ferdon Victorious Flower (sire: River Valley Victorious-ET) - Tony & Lois McAllister (Ohaupo)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Ferdon Tbone Lyn (sire: Ritches Jace TBone A364) β Ferdon Genetics (Otorohanga)
PREMIER JERSEY SIRE β River Valley Victorious-ET, World Wide Sires NZ
PREMIER EXHIBITOR β Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga
Corey Ferguson accepts the Champion Cow title from Australian judge Wayne Kuhne. It is the third successive year that Ferdon Tbone Veneer has triumphed in the Jersey show. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
πππππ πππ πππ πππππππ 2026 πππππ ππππ
JUDGE: Michael Jenkins (Waikato) - Associate judge Gabby Steiner (Te Awamatu)β β
ππππππ ππππππππ (ππππππ πππππππ) β Finally Bullseye Leigh (sire: MB-Lucky Lady Bullseye-ET) β Lucy OβReilly (Tirau)
πππππππ β Tahora League Tonio (sire: Jacobs League) β Jacoba Gread (Waihi)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Speddyd Hanske Macca (sire: Siemers HOM Hanske-P-ET) β Lacie Taylor (Opanake)
ππππππ ππππππππ ππππ ππ (ππππππ πππππππ) β Joyclas Monument Gumbrop (sire: Bomaz Monument) β Charlie James (Palmerston North)
πππππππ β Glenalla Skyclass Ruby (sire: Perkins Skyclass ET) β Tom Gilbert (Ashburton)
ππππππππππ πππππππ β Mossy Rolex Memo (sire: Marilie Rolex-ET-ET) β Violet Simons (Midhurst)
πππππππ ππππππππ - Finally Bullseye Leigh (sire: MB-Lucky Lady Bullseye-ET) β Lucy OβReilly (Tirau)
πππππ πππ πππ πππππππ πππππ ππππ
πππππ ππππππππ πππππππππππ
Judges: Michael Jenkins (Waikato) and Brent Crothers (UK)
ππππππ πππππ ππππ
ππππππππ πππππππ - Lacie Taylor, Opunake
πππππππ - Adam Watson, Te Awamutu
ππππππππππ πππππππ - Zara Williams, Feilding
YOUTH SHOW TEAMS EVENT
ππ¬π β πππππ β πππ π©π¨π’π§ππ¬ (Zara Williams, Lucy OβReilly, Izzy Edge, Violet Simons)
ππ§π β πππππππππ ππππππππππππ β πππ π©π¨π’π§ππ¬
ππ«π β πππ πππππππ -πππ π©π¨π’π§ππ¬
πππ‘ β ππππ ππππππππππ β πππ π©π¨π’π§ππ¬
πππ‘ β πππππππ ππππππππ β πππ π©π¨π’π§ππ¬
πππ‘ β ππππππππ ππππππ β πππ π©π¨π’π§ππ¬
πππ‘ β ππππ & πππππππππ β πππ π©π¨π’π§ππ¬
πππ‘ β ππ ππ β πππ π©π¨π’π§π
The youth show clipping/parading/judging team came was the Radly team and it included (L-R) Izzy Edge, Zara Williams (leading), Lucy OβReilly and Violet Simons (front). Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
ππππ πππππππππ πππππππ: Haylee Baker
ππππ ππππππππ ππππ: The Minions
ππππ ππππππ: SHORTHORN
Overall All-Breeds Junior Judging Competition
1st - Lucy O'Reilly (Holstein, Tirau)
2nd - Alex Fullerton (Holstein, Hamilton)
3rd - Riley Taylor (Jersey, Opunake)
Entry numbers were 10% higher this year and the number of young people impressed the international judging panel. Photo: Sheila Sundborg.
The fancy dress portion of the competition really gave everyone the chance to shine. Harriet Little pulled off a classic Bumble Bee ensemble. Photo: Sheila Sundborg (Canada).
Xavier Gread was completely in character during the fancy dress judging. Photo: Ella Pirie.
For more results and photographs, please visit the NZ Dairy Event on Facebook or contact Hennie Verwaayen on 021 298 3959 or email - verwaayenhennie@gmail.com