US judge Perry Phend made no changes to the 2014 Victorian Winter Fair results when he placed last year’s defending Junior and Reserve Junior Champions one-two once again at the Victorian Winter Fair in Bendigo, Australia.
Last year Mike Deaver finished with Bluechip Finalcut Marion in Champion and Bluechip Windbrook Noni in Reserve. The only change this year was the reality that both heifers had developed for their co-owners, Dean and Dianna Malcolm. Finalcut Marion is also owned by Peter Hurley and Debbie Palmer.
The Honourable Mention, Bluechip Golddust Marion (owned in partnership with Averill Leslie, NZ), gave Bluechip Genetics a trifecta and another tick in their Marion family’s resume. She also topped the biggest class of the day, which featured 30 head. Bluechip Golddust Marion is the maternal sister of the Junior Champion and both are out of a EX90-1E Drake dam that traces her family tree back through a Ex93-3E Boss Iron – one of the foundation cows Dean and Dianna Malcolm bought out of Western Australia when they established their farm in 2006. Another Marion entry won her class – giving the Marion family three class winners.
The junior show was dominated by the Bluechip entries with the northern Victorian farm having 10 animals out for the Junior Championship at the conclusion of the first day’s judging.
Bluechip’s Dean Malcolm said the placings were gratifying for the work that was put in at home day in, day out. He gave credit to the talented team around Bluechip, including fitters Simon Tognola, Alberto Medina (Spain) and US friend and partner in a young cow that will be out today, Katie Kearns.
“It was amazing really to see the same two heifers win Junior and Reserve,” Dean said.” I’m not sure if that would have happened before.”
Both heifers are due in the spring.
“It’s nice to see our good cow families consistently in the mix and it hasn’t happened overnight, obviously. It is what it is, I guess. But having JC and Reserve back to back and having the Golddust win Honourable Mention was a really special moment for us.”
Dean also credited the small team of farmer-organisers for turning on a great show that was a pleasure to attend.
“The organisers are perfect. It may be a new show but they are doing a great job. They are so exhibitor friendly and this show really complements IDW.”