That’s a wrap: Day 7 at the Melbourne Royal Show

The spotlight was on the next generation of agricultural talent during day seven at the Melbourne Royal Show, with the ASA Nationals Youth Beef & Grain Championships taking centre stage. The Young Beef Victoria Calf Classic rounded off the competition day, followed by the prestigious Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout dinner.

Brad Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Royal, said the competition today was a shining example of the celebration of community and agriculture that makes the Melbourne Royal Show so special.

“The energy and excitement on display today highlight the best of our agricultural shows, and we’re proud to see young competitors leading the charge,” he said.

Here’s a wrap-up of today’s highlights.

 

Melbourne Royal Horses in Action Competition

Day seven wrapped up with an impressive showcase of talent in the saddle where the elegance and proper presentation of both rider and horse​ were on display.

Champion Open Pony: Nottingham Royal Highness (AI) exhibited by Emma Richardson 
Champion Junior Rider: Eliza Douglas riding Whitmere Trade Secret (Owned by Kylie Douglas)

To celebrate 90 years since the first Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout, a two-course dinner was served in the iconic MasterChef Kitchen for Melbourne Royal members and exhibitors. The meal featured the finest Victorian produce and products paired with Melbourne Royal award-winning wines.

The rider draw for the 2024 Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout was also conducted, and inductees into the Garryowen Hall of Fame were announced.

 

Melbourne Royal All Breeds Championships Show

The All Breeds Championship Dog Show saw confirmation breeds take centre stage, including Chow Chows, British Bulldogs, Samoyed and Japanese Spitz.

Best of Breed - Chow Chow: Mrs. D. Cummings & Mrs. D. Gooding: SUP.CH. Katasia Guns N Roses, bred by Mrs. K. Campbell-Young,
Best of Breed - British Bulldog: Ms L Dempsey & Mr J Jansz: CH. Janayin the Colour of Magic
Best of Breed - Samoyed: Miss Y Chen: Smiling Snowball Luminous Pandora, bred by Kristiine Uspenski
Best of Breed - Japanese Spitz: Mrs J James: Mathildapark Jaguar

 

Young Judges and Paraders Competition

The 2024 Melbourne Royal Show saw the highly anticipated Agricultural Shows Australia Young Judges and Paraders Championships, where top young talent in the agricultural industry came together to compete.

The Young Beef Paraders competition, held at 1 pm today, saw Olivia Delaforce (21) from Mt Beppo, Queensland, take the top spot. Olivia assists in running her family's Santa Gertrudis Stud and works at a large-scale Speckle Park Stud in Oberon, NSW. Parading cattle since she was around eight years old, Olivia's experience and passion for the industry shone through her performance. Olivia was also crowned runner-up in the grains young judging competition earlier today.

At 3pm, the Beef Young Judges competition, sponsored by Cattle Australia, crowned Mitchell Taylor, an 18-year-old from Quipolly, NSW, with the top prize. Mitchell, who is currently in his final year of school, has grown up around cattle and operates his own Poll Hereford and Shorthorn Stud. He has an impressive track record, having won numerous state-level competitions. It seems that success in agriculture runs in the family, as his sister, Emily Taylor, also achieved recognition earlier today by winning the national grains young judging competition.

National ASA Grains Young Judges Championship

Winner: Emily Taylor (NSW)
Runner Up: Olivia Delaforce (QLD)
Third: Emily Chambers

National ASA Beef Paraders Championship
Winner: Olivia Delaforce (QLD)
Runner Up: Zoe Skinner (WA)
Third: Jack Febey (TAS)

National ASA Beef Young Judges Championship
Winner: Mitchell Taylor (NSW)
Runner Up: Indiana Smith (WA)
Third: Candina Crowden (TAS)

The ASA Young Judges Championships host nine categories for judging and parading each year under the Agricultural Shows Australia national competition program: beef cattle, dairy cattle, alpaca, poultry, Merino sheep, meat breed sheep, and Merino fleece judging, as well as parading competitions in beef and dairy cattle. For more information on the national competition program, click here. 

 

Cattle Shop Calf Classic

Best Heifer Calf (under nine months): Seth Miller (parading Sky Blu)
Best Bull Calf (under nine months): Jayde Grylls (parading Winkel Park Very Cool)
Supreme Calf Champion: Jayde Grylls (parading Winkel Park Very Cool)
Best Fancy Dress Calf: Blair Martin & Riley Martin (Toy story)