Thomas Ritchie, aged 14, with Allambie Aristocrat in the handlers' classes at Dubbo Show

Australian Lowlines. The thrill of achievement

Making the grade with Australian Lowlines

A report from Thomas Ritchie, Yeovil, NSW, on his recent crowded schedule

20th March to 2nd April 2008,Sydney Royal Show

At the 2008 Sydney Royal Easter Show I joined the Allambie Stud show team
on the 30th of March. We took a total of 11 head including three bulls,
two cows and calves and four heifers.

Our successes included Junior Champion Female with Allambie Venus, Reserve Senior Champion Female with Allambie Jazzmont with calf at foot (Allambie Jazzlyn), Reserve Senior Champion Bull with Allambie Aristocrat and Most Successful Australian Lowline Exhibitor. So we had a great show overall. After the judging we got all our ribbons on our cattle and headed out in the grand parade, which was very exciting.

The next day the Sydney Royal Heifer Show Junior Judging was held. I got chosen in the top five and I got fifth.

The next day the Heifers got judged in the Heifer Show and I had two heifers exhibited in my name, Allambie Perfect Princess, owned by Casablanca Lowlines in New Zealand, and Allambie Cinnamont. I led Perfect Princess and a mate led Cinnamont. Perfect Princess got third and Cinnamont got fifth.

Overall I had a great show and I would like to thank Tammy Breuer for the great experience.

April School Holidays 2008

In this years school holidays I spent nearly two weeks at Tammy Breuer and Robert and Peter Miller's place on Trealmont, Allambie Stud. We had to break in four heifers to take to Dubbo Show. Tammy had entered three animals in my name to show at Dubbo so of the four heifers we had to break-in, I had two of them and also had Allambie Aristocrat exhibited in my name.

25th to 27th of April 2008. Dubbo Show

We packed the gooseneck and headed into Dubbo on the Thursday 24th April. We got in there about 6:00 pm and unloaded the cattle and got everything off the ute. On Friday we washed all our cattle to get them ready for Lowline judging the next day.

Saturday was an early morning start. The bull (Allambie Aristocrat)that was exhibited in my name won senior champion bull, the heifer got second in her class of six. Allambie Stud also won Junior Champion Heifer, Junior and Senior Champion Female, Grand Champion Bull and Female, Two Females under 24 months,Two Bulls under 24 months, Sires progeny group and Breeders group. My little sister Rebecca Ritchie got Reserve Junior Champion Female with Casablanca Stud's Perfect Princess.

That afternoon we went in the grand parade and I led Aristocrat, the Senior Champion Bull. The next day was Paraders and Junior judging. I got Reserve Intermediate Paraders Champion out of 30 kids. I even got my sister to go in it as well, Theresa-Jane Ritchie. My little sister Rebecca Ritchie got Reserve Junior Champion Parader. In the Junior Judging I got third in the 14yrs and under 16yrs. I had a great show and I would like to thank Tammy Breuer for everything the last month. Thank you.

Thomas Ritchie, 14 years old, Yeoval, NSW.