Joyce family still on top

The family again won the IDW Grand Champion Guersey Exhibit on Tuesday with a cow, Wintergreen Brace Weave, they bought last year.

The cow, owned by Steve and Renee Joyce and Steve's father Gary, had earlier won the five-year-old cow class.

Judge Murray Sowter, Murribrook Holsteins, Moss Vale, NSW, said the cow brought most things he was looking for in a champion.

It had good width, had more spring of rib and was long bodied.

He also awarded the cow best udder, commending its teat placement and the rear udder definition.

Although it was well into its lactation, it was still obviously making a lot of milk and its udder had a nice bloom to it, he said.

The reserve champion was First Love McKenzie, shown by T&S Shea, M&R Shea and N&M Wilkie, Bacchus Marsh, Vic.

The intermediate champion was won by a cow described by its owner Amy Cleggett, Glencoe, South Australia, as "her ugly duckling".

Ms Cleggett, a veterinary university student, owns about 15 cows that run in the herd of her parents, legendary Guernsey breeders Lyndon and Joyce Cleggett.

She said the intermediate champion, Brookleigh Spruces Ashtree, was not much as a heifer but had developed so much.

"I love her udder," she said.

Mr Sowter agreed, describing the cow as having a quality udder throughout, with a high rear udder and overall mammary quality.

The junior champion, Marloo Yogibear Pasha, was shown by Michael and Paula Gray, from Rollands Plains, NSW.

"I'm pretty pumped - she's the first juvenille I've bred and won with," Mr Gray said.

The Grays milk 320 cows, including about 100 Guernseys, on the mid north coast of NSW.

Mr Gray said he liked the easy-going nature of the Guernseys.

Mr Sowter said the heifer had the least number of things he would like to change from the animals shown in the junior classes.

It had nice breed character, style and balance, he said.

The premier breeder and premier exhibitor awards were again picked up by the Cleggett family.