Circular Head Show and its 115-year history lives on

Having just given up shearing at age 87, it came as a surprise to no-one that former professional shearer and farmer and Circular Head Show committee member John Tatlow was hanging around the shearing shed keeping an eye on Max Flood of Launceston who was doing the shearing demonstration.

He was typical of the history and knowledge being passed on to another generation as children took in the sights and sounds of country life at the 115th Circular Head Show at Stanley on Saturday.

The show became the battleground for young beef cattle handlers as the Tasmanian State Young Paraders Champion of Champions was judged after a gruelling season of shows around the state.

Top honours went to Ruby Rayner (representing Burnie Show) followed by Charlton Skirving (Scottsdale Show), Hayden Harper (Hobart Show).

Circular Head Show Young Beef Parader winner was Amy Willey.

Not to be outdone the dairy cattle were also out in force, with Edward Dudfield of Somerset winning the state handler competition, followed by Adarie Bloomfield of Kimberley and Sarah Gardner of Henrietta.

The Highland cattle were head turners once again, with three breeders showcasing stunning heifers and bulls and joining the interbreed beef classes, holding their own against the Angus, Shorthorn, Murray Grey, Limousin, Simmental, Charolais and Herefords.

Yolla District High School ag teacher Julia Murray said that the students were excited to present their cattle at the show.

“We started the day off with first, second and third places in breed and pairs classes and the day just kept getting better,” she said.

It was a day of domination for Sheffield-based Taz Simmentals which took out Simmental senior bull and champion bull with Taz Simmental Vancouver and junior heifer and champion female with Taz Simmental Velvet, as well as having success in the senior female and group of three.

Vancouver went on to take out interbreed champion senior bull, grand champion bull  and supreme exhibit at the show and Velvet was awarded champion junior heifer and grand champion female.
The stud's team were also awarded Sire Progency and Group of Three in the interbreed classes - a testament to the hard work, breeding strategy, and passion of the Taz Simmental team. 

Circular Head Show secretary Sue Smedley said the committee is always mindful that it’s first and foremost an agricultural show and the focus is on showcasing the area’s magnificent produce, machinery and rural lifestyle.

“Families are happy to come and not have to outlay too much money but still find plenty to see and do,” she said.

“The sheep dog trials, shearing demonstration, dog jumping sheaf tossing and exhibition hall, which involved entries from every school in the district, were particularly popular.

The 43rd annual hoof and hook competition was well supported with 63 entries, a quality field of 24 yearling steers and heifers, and 39 heavy prime beef steers, providing arguably the best line-up of 100 percent grass-finished cattle in Australia.

Prizes this year totalled over $10,000 in value, giving plenty of incentive to beef producers.

The hoof judge this year was Thomas Febey, an experienced Elders livestock agent and cattle breeder who is also the number one assessor for Auctions Plus in Tasmania

Winners in the Yearling Class were the Charolais heifers entered by Milton and Gaylene De Jonge, winning the Rabobank trophy. Brett McGlone from Alcomie was second, and third was Michael and Wendy Bercheree.

The Prime Beef Steer class and the Fergus Medwin Memorial Trophy was won by Helen Brock’s Bayswater Red Angus. Second place went to local Stanley producers Western Plains Beef, with first-time entrant Bill Poke third. The Champion Show Group was also won by Bayswater Red Angus which gained the Cyril Wells Memorial Trophy.

In the sheep dog trials, a new event for the Circular Head Show, Martin Waddingham continued on his winning way with Nolans Digga, ahead of Carmen Blyth  with Somerville Spec and Adrian Carpenter with Wyanbah Monster.