YORKE Peninsula's Minlacowie Poll Hereford stud completed a hat trick of Alice Springs Show grand champion all-breeds bull titles, at last weekend's Northern Territory drawcard.
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The two-year-old, Minlacowie Graphite exhibited by the Honner family, Brentwood, caught the eye of judge Erica Halliday, Ben Nevis Angus stud, Walcha, New South Wales. He was a son of Minlacowie Diamond, sold by the stud at the 2010 Dubbo National Show & Sale at $13,000.
"He was a big, deep, easy-doing bull with plenty of muscle and capacity and tremendous eye appeal," she said.
Mrs Halliday, who was invited to judge thanks to her association with clients in the Alice Springs area, was "blown away" by the quality of the bulls shown before the sale.
"The Droughtie bulls were a real feature and were spot-on for going out into that area," she said.
It was one of the best judging experiences she had ever had.
"It was so wonderful - the hospitality and the effort everyone made to get to the show," she said.
"I guess most of them do School of the Air, so the kids' confidence and competency up on the microphone and with their cattle was just amazing."
Minlacowie principal Tom Honner, who exhibited the grand champion, said it was a real thrill to win all-breeds champion three years in a row.
"You are betting against the odds to do that, especially with different judges each year," he said. "It is huge for us to do this three years in a row, with the judging ring a fair bit of what your reputation is built on."
With his five head he won two classes, plus second and fourth placings.
*Full report in Stock Journal, July 11 issue, 2013.
