Jersey wins in Sydney

It was Mr Walsh’s first trip to the Sydney Royal and it was certainly a successful one.

His sole entry, Windy Ways Galaxies Dawn 7, owned in partnership with the Gavenlocks, was unanimously picked by judges as the Supreme Interbreeds Intermediate Champion.

Mr Walsh, who runs Windy Ways Jerseys with his grandson Thomas Walsh, said he was quietly confident heading into the show.

Windy Ways Galaxies Dawn 7 had already tasted plenty of success at this year’s International Dairy Week, including Intermediate Champion.

‘‘We thought we would do well — she is even better than she was at dairy week,’’ Mr Walsh said.

‘‘She’s really improved and stepped-up a whole lot.’’

The three-year-old was best in her class and also won Best Intermediate Jersey Udder and Best Intermediate Jersey.

Mr Walsh flew to Sydney last Tuesday to see her compete and celebrated with co-owners Brad and Jess Gavenlock, who led the cow to victory.

‘‘She’s only three years old and she’s only just getting started. She’s going to get better and better,’’ Mr Walsh said.

Set to calve in September, Mr Walsh said she would be ready to compete in next year’s International Dairy Week.

For the Gavenlocks it was a triumphant return to Sydney, with four of their five cows, including Windy Ways Galaxies Dawn 7, winning — three of them in championship categories.

Mr Gavenlock has been competing at the Sydney Royal for almost 25 years, four of those since the couple made the move to Tallygaroopna.

‘‘You never expect to win. This was probably as confident as I’d been heading into a show,’’ he said.

‘‘I think we focus on the one percenters, that really makes a difference ... we don’t leave any leaf unturned and it’s 100 per cent our sole focus.

‘‘(Since we moved to Tallygaroopna) we’ve won a supreme champion every year and even got two in the same year.’’

This year, Cherrylock Chassitys Innocence won Holstein Junior Champion Female and Panorama Blossom 2, co-owned by Annette Dorries, won Illawarra Junior Champion Female.

The pair also won Best Maintained Holstein Team, while heifer Cherrylock Be My Valentine won her class.