NOEL and Liz Cook continued their winning affair with the Brisbane Ekka on Thursday, August 8, when they dominated the prime beef category.
Just as they did in 2018, the Cooks were successful claiming the ultimate prize, the Queensland Country Life grand champion pen.
Their six Charolais steers were presented with an aggregate weight of 3866 kilograms, or an average of 644.3kg.
A spokesman for the family said the victory came as a "bit of a surprise" despite their attention to detail.
"We knew we had good cattle," the spokesman said.
"But you never know what you are going to come up against once you get here to the Ekka.
"These cattle did well at the Moruya Feedlot where they spent 120 days on grain. They looked to be the right type for this competition.
"They all had good conformation, good flesh, weight-for-age and good bodies. The judge thought so, too."
Judge Steve Groom, JBS Brisbane, said it was impossible to discount the overall quality of the pen, which had also taken honours in the pen of six steers of heifers class.
Another Cook entry, also comprising Charolais-cross steers, was named reserve champion pen of six.
Mr Groom had high praise for the cattle presented in the pen of three category, eventually giving the nod to entrants from the Yarrawonga Cattle Company.
Yarrawonga took the broad ribbon for champion pen of three with Santa Gertrudis steers. They were presented with an average weight of 500kg on an aggregate of 1500kg.
"The champion pen of Santa steers were beautiful and even with length, softness and good form and you would be delighted to have them in the paddock," Mr Groom said.
The Queensland Country Life champion single steer went to Travis Luscombe, Toowoomba, with a 706kg Limousin, which also won the 601-720kg class.
"We picked him out early in the year when we saw him as a led steer. We liked his muscle pattern and his length and depth," Mr Luscombe said.
"For all intents and purposes he looked like he was going to make a really good bullock. A mate of mine was showing him and we bought the steer off him.
"We did a few shows with him and he really started to shape up. You have to have a really good calf to win here and this guy looked like he had a champion label on him."
The result completed a superb 24 hours for Mr Luscombe, who won middle weight, heavy weight and grand champion ribbons in the led steer class the day before.
It also continues his good Ekka form after previously winning the champion and reserve ribbons in the same class.
The Woolworths champion local trade weight ribbon went to Ben McMahon for a Santa Gertrudis-cross steer. He weighed 480kg.
Alan Welburn
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
