This year, 26 of our dedicated Cattle Team students, accompanied by 29 animals, travelled to Sydney to compete in the Sydney Royal Easter Show from 8 to 13 April.
Our team was comprised of students from Years 8 to 12, and our cattle included Limousins, Angus, and Simmentals. Three of these animals were proudly home-bred at the College, while others were generously provided by Summit Livestock (Crookwell), the Mawhood Family (Oberon), Mass Genetics (Dubbo), Coolibah Simmentals, and the Kirk Family.
Tuesday – Arrival and Setup
Upon arriving at the showgrounds on Tuesday, our team immediately got to work. The students unloaded all 29 animals and set up our display and working areas. After allowing the cattle some time to rest, the team diligently washed and settled them in, readying for a busy and competitive week ahead.
Wednesday – Weighing, Scanning & Team Selections
Wednesday started with weighing and scanning, and we were thrilled that nearly all of our animals met their market specifications. We were especially proud when:
- One of our home-bred Limousin steers, led by Fraser Wythes, was selected for the Limousin Stan Hill Team of Three competition.
- A Mawhood Angus steer, led by Jack Reid, made the Angus team.
- A Simmental steer from Coolibah Simmentals, led by Olivia Watts, was chosen for the Simmental team.
These selections are outstanding achievements for our students and breeders.
Thursday – Paraders Day
Paraders Day saw fantastic results for the team. Teagan Chapman represented the College as our School Parader. After winning her class, she went on to compete in the Champion Class and was awarded Champion Parader — an incredible accomplishment that filled us with pride.
Many other students also excelled, making it through to the State Final — a remarkable feat. Congratulations to:
- Marcus Wythes – 2nd place
- Grace Moore – 3rd place
- Matilda Penfold – 3rd place
- Fraser Gill – 3rd place
Friday – Purebred Judging and Steer Auction Highlights
Friday was the main judging day for purebred cattle, and we entered 28 animals. We were proud to take home three major broad ribbons:
- Reserve Champion School Steer – bred by the Kirk Family, prepared by Fraser Gill
- Reserve Champion Lightweight – bred by the Kirk Family, paraded by Milly Nevill
- Reserve Champion Middleweight – home-bred by the College, prepared by Fraser Wythes
The steer auction followed judging, and we celebrated several major highlights. The lightweight steer, led by Milly Nevill, topped the auction at $20.00/kg. Our College-bred steer, led by Fraser Wythes, followed closely with the second-highest price at $15.90/kg. Out of 250 steers, four Scots All Saints College cattle ranked in the top 10 for prices achieved — a phenomenal result.
Saturday – Trade Steer Judging
Only one steer competed in the Trade Steer section this year. Marcus Stanley led the steer, bred by the Kirk Family, to an admirable 8th place in a very competitive class.
Sunday – Farewell and Final Results
Our team was up early Sunday morning, loading steers onto trucks between 4:30 am and 6:30 am for their journey to the abattoirs. With everything packed and cleaned, our team headed home after an exceptional week of competition.
Our carcass results were again extremely rewarding, including several medals, multiple first places, and the Eve Cullen Memorial Trophy for the Most Successful School — a trophy the College has proudly retained for many years.
Thank You
We are deeply grateful to the families and supporters who made this incredible opportunity possible:
- Summit Livestock – Hayden and Jasmine Green
- The Mawhood Family
- Mass Genetics – Sam Parish and Family
- Kirk Family
- Coolibah Simmentals
Your outstanding cattle and ongoing support mean so much to us.
A special thank you to Bruce Inwood for his tireless support and guidance throughout the event. We are truly fortunate to have him on our team.
Mrs Libby Dawes, Director of Agricultural Studies and Equestrian
