News | Blue-Ribbon Competitions

That’s a wrap: Day 9 at the Melbourne Royal Show

Today was the day that Australia’s most prestigious women’s riding event, the Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout, crowned its 90th winner. It’s Australia’s most revered equestrian event, steeped in tradition and prestige, and it has been the pinnacle of horse ring events at Melbourne Royal Show since 1934. Each year it is contested by the most decorated saddle horses and top lady riders from around Australia each year.

Chair of Melbourne Royal’s Horses in Action committee, Bernie Hearne said: ”The Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout is named after champion thoroughbred saddle horse Garryowen, whose owner (trailblazing female jockey, hunter, and showrider) Violet Murrell died trying to save him from a stable fire. Today, 30 entrants were judged on their horse’s manners, paces, soundness and conformation, as well as their own riding, saddlery, and general appearance. The latter being historically accurate riding attire from boot to bridle, including a fresh white gardenia worn in the lapel buttonhole in a mark of respect to Violet Murrell.”

 

Horses

  • Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout was won by Melbourne-based Stephanie Barrington on Global PPS (produced by Romsey Park), a magnificent gelding acquired by his rider as a yearling. Barrington previously won the Garryowen in 2011 on retired thoroughbred racehorse, LA. South Australian competitor Kate Halliday took second place on her striking 17hh warmblood Kalimna Quick Hit, owned by Tahlia Hope.
  • Known as Kevin in the paddock, the pair have achieved many major titles together including Grand National Champion Large Hack earlier this year. First year competitor, Whittlesea’s Tamara Lee made her mark, taking third place as well as earning the accolade of best first year competitor. Lee rode retired thoroughbred Wynara Signature, who was ridden to victory in the Garryowen by her sister last year. The highest placed Off The Track thoroughbred was won again by Natalie McKay on St Andrews. Bred in New Zealand, ‘Andy’ had 30 starts for five wins, and raced until he was eight years old, before starting a successful showing career.
  • Champion Childs Hack awarded to South Australian competition Dree Merry with EBL Quiver ridden by Ella Manning,
  • Providence Cup is awarded to the hack or galloway judged to have the best Show hunter qualities (‘a quality show hunter must create the impression that it is capable of hunting over a variety of terrain’). The winner is over 14 hands. The competition is open to mares and geldings. It was won by back-to-back victor Lily’s Sovereign exhibited by David Quayle, Margo Haynes, Kate Reid, Catherine and Reece Gale.

Dogs

  • The Melbourne Royal All Breeds Championship Show is one of Australia’s largest Conformation shows. With more than 5,000 classes, 3,700 entries and 200 breeds, today was the big day for:
  • Chihuahuas (Mexican breed of toy dog, among the smallest of all dog breeds) Best of breed went to Mrs S Foote, Mrs C & Miss E Slavin with Standoff Let The Liquor Talk in the longcoat division. In the smoothcoat division, Mrs K Tilley & Mrs T Dix were victorious with Sup.Ch. Voncronan Diamond Desire At Skyeway.
  • Shih Tzus (developed in Tibet more than 1,000 years ago) Best of Breed was won by Miss T Sloan with Ch. Killilan Yrhonor Irest My Case.
  • Irish Wolfhounds (one of the oldest breeds in existence, developed by monks) Best of Breed went to Ms J Jeanes’ Ch. Tirowen Nymeria.
  • Siberian Huskies (directly descended from the sled dogs developed over of thousands)
    Best of Breed was won by Mr M & Mrs J Boase’s Ch. Canyonlands One More Time.
  • St Bernards (very large working dog from the Western Alps in Italy and Switzerland) Best of Breed was presented to Miss S Van Staden, Mr M & Mrs J Ross with their Ch. Beamzstar High Flyer.

 

Beef Cattle

Over the three days of fierce cattle competition, steeped in 150 years of history here at Melbourne Royal, we see 18 individual supreme breed champions crowned and producers celebrated. Today was all about the following breeds:

  • Shorthorn (a breed originating in north-east England in the 16th Century)
  • Grand Champion Bull: Finley High School’s nomination Finley High School Unstoppable – this exhibitor also won the Breeder’s Group Trophy.
  • Over the past quarter of a century, Finley High School’s stellar agricultural program has consistently propelled them to success in many arenas at the prestigious Melbourne Royal Show. The rural NSW school’s dedicated teachers bring students from years 7-11 to the Show, where they participate in three major sections: Sheep, Beef Carcase and Beef Cattle.
  • “We love that the Melbourne Royal Show is a very youth-oriented Show, because it means the kids have the capacity to be fully involved in all aspects of the Show,” said Finley High School Agricultural teacher, Robyn O’Leary. “Our kids got to be involved not only in parading, but in stewarding different events as well as participating in youth classes, so it’s very inclusive and the staff are always very patient with us,” she said.

 

Supreme Champion: Carlyle-based Spencer Family with their heifer Spencer Family U So Fancy.

  • Most Successful Shorthorns Exhibitor went to Scott Bruton of Roly Park Shorthorns from Lake Boga in Victoria.
  • Maine-Anjou (a breed founded in 1839 when the French Mancelle was crossed with the Durham. It was introduced into Australia in 1973. Maine-Anjou and Shorthorns have similar ancestry being Durhams)
  • Most Successful Maine-Anjou Exhibitor: Jared Mackelmann
  • Supreme Champion: Jared Mackelmann from Bluedrop Maine-Anjou in Invergordon, VIC with his heifer Morham Maine’s Dream

Santa Gertrudis (In 1952 an Australian syndicate, headed by Sir Rupert Clarke, Peter Baillieu and Sam Horden imported the first Santa Gertrudis cattle into Australia from the USA. Today, there are in excess of 2100 studs covering every state in Australia.)

Most Successful Santa Gertrudis Exhibitor: Riverina Wool (Aust.) Pty Ltd, based at Burramurra Santa Gertrudis Stud in Mathoura, NSW.

Supreme Champion was awarded to Riverina Wool Pty Ltd’s Kuloomba 526

Senior Champion Bull was awarded to Riverina Wool Pty Ltd’s Kuloomba 518

Small Interbreed Champion went to a Galloway: Balytyckle Top Gun exhibited by Sonya Heron of Balytyckle Stud, Melbourne. Sonya is a first-timer to the Royal Melbourne Show competition.

With a purposeful focus on youth in agriculture, today featured the new Ausmectin Youth Feature Heifer Show, an event for young people aged 26 and under giving them the opportunity to exhibit heifers that they have either borrowed, bought, or bred.