IN A strongly-contested field of Speckle Parks, it was a contingent of Victorian studs that snared the majority of the major titles.
Merom Maximum, a bull older than 18 months but younger than 24 months from Merom Speckle Park, Tuerong, Vic, lived up to its name by winning the grand champion bull and senior champion bull titles, after its class win.
Fellow Vic breeder Blue Ridge Speckle Park, Gundowring, took out grand champion cow with its junior champion Blueridge M244 Amy's Girl.
In its debut show, Redwood Range, Auburn, impressed judges Jake Phillips, Phillips Cattle Company, Naracoorte, and Angus Llewellyn, Keith, with its young bull out of the over eight months and under 14 months class - Redwood Range Sergeant - taking out the junior champion bull title.
Senior champion cow was awarded to Hanging Rock Speckle Park, Newham, Vic.
Owner of Merom Speckle Parks on the Mornington Peninsula, John Weekley, said they were commercial Angus breeders who had started a Speckle Park stud six years ago.
"We liked the stories about what they were originally doing as a terminal sire across Angus and we thought we'd have a go at trying to breed our own version of the Speckle Park and started showing them not long after," he said.
"These days we're running about 150 Speckle Park breeders."
Mr Weekley said he was not surprised by the number of exhibitors and level of interest in the Speckle Park judging this year.
"The breed has evolved tremendously (in that six years)," he said.
"There's no question that the herd membership is one of the fastest growing in Australia.
"A lot of people are saying it's a fad, but I've heard that for the last six years and there's just more and more people coming into it.
"They like the animals - they're very hard-doing. They go well in all geographies. They have great maternal skills, good milk and good temperament."
The grand champion bull weighed in at 858 kilograms, had an eye muscle area of 118 square centimetres, a rib fat measurement of 11 millimetres, and P8 rump fat of 11mm.
Mr Phillips was full of praise for both the junior and senior champion, saying the senior exhibit had got the nod because he had "a bit more bone" and a "bit more development".
"He's just so well made underneath, balanced from nose to tail, is beautifully made through the front and deep through the side and has a beautiful loin on him," he said.
"The most important thing is they're both functional, walk well and are ready to do the job."
The "fundamentally well put together" junior champion cow Blueridge Amy's Girl got the nod over its senior counterpart Hanging Rock Hattie.
"She is so sound and square made with ample carcase," he said.
