Dec 14, 2023
With the majority of the 2023/24 competitions complete, here is a rundown of how they went and the winners.
Hawkes Bay >>
South Canterbury/North Otago>>
North Island >>
Nelson/Marlborough >>
Nationals >>
Don't forget to support the remaining competitions in early 2024 - Elk Wapiti Society (2/3 February) and Rising Stars (9 March).
Hawkes Bay Competition
Grant Charteris with Champion of Champions trophy
Almost 80 Hawkes Bay farmers and guests enjoyed the local competition and dinner in mid-November. After a very challenging year, everyone enjoyed their night off the farm and the branch was able subsidise the meal.
Class 1 Champion Red Velvet – HBF Dalgety Trophy: Forest Road Farm (1b) 13.94kgs
Class 2. Five Year Red Velvet – Vet Services HB Ltd Trophy: Longbrook (5) 9.91 kgs
Class 3.Three Year Red Velvet – Wrightson Trophy: Temco Ag Ltd (15a) 8.56kgs
Class 4. Four Year Red Velvet – National Livestock Trophy: Forest Road Farm (1a) 9.10 kgs
Class 5. BEST 3 HEADS – Maranoa Trophy: Temco Ag Ltd (15) – 33.15kgs
Class 6. PROVELCO DOUBLE: Ohurakura Deer (4a)
Class 7. BEST LOCAL RED VELVET – Don Robinson Memorial Trophy: Longbrook (5) 3yr 7.35kgs
Class 8. The Fugly: Waipapa
Class 9. SUPER HEAVY 10+ KGS Non-Traditional Velvet – Williams Family Trophy: Ohurakura Deer (4a) 16.03 kgs
Class 10. CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS – OVERALL WINNER OF ALL CLASSES: Forest Road Farm (9.10kg)
Class 11. The Pretty Boy – Phil Irwin Trophy: Waipapa (11)
Class 12. The Meat Head – FirstLight: Caroline Smith (9)
For the full results, click here >>
South Canterbury North Otago Competition
On behalf of the South Canterbury North Otago DFA committee, we would like to thank all the local members for their support. Once again was a well supported event with over 100 velvet and hard antler entries and 110+ people for the dinner evening. Was great seeing the life members come along as well.
We would like to thank all the class sponsors that back our annual competition.
Also thanks to Tony Pearse for mentoring the velvet judges again and congratulations on becoming a life member for the SCNODFA, it was a honour having you along.
Thanks to all involved.
Brad Travers (competition organiser)
Downlands Deer - Farmers Pick: Chris Petersen
Provelco Supreme Champion Velvet: 34 Emirates, James Hudson
Fraser Deer Supreme Champion Hard Antler: 103 YR6978, Whyte Farming
For the full results, click here >>
North Island Competition
North Island Velvet Competition (NIVC) a Roaring Success.
NIVC has been running for 29 years and we thank all the ongoing support of sponsors and entrants. A stunning line up of velvet and hard antler was presented this year with eight entries going to the National Velvet Competition. F.J. Ramsey took out Champion of Champions and the People’s Choice awards. This year we had some new names in our winning classes which is always good to see. Well done for believing in yourself and the product you are producing.
It was great to have Innes Moffat come along to the awards presentation to talk about the current state of play with velvet and the changes to exporting to China.
Next year's 30th North Island Velvet Competition will be held in Napier late November.
To check out all category winners go to: deernz.org/results-velvet-and-ha-antler-comps and also check out the winners and winning heads photos in this magazine insert >>
Judges for 2023 velvet were Tom Loveridge & Rhys Griffiths, Commercial Line best 5 heads Grahame Walker-Cudby and hard antler Brent Moody.
Huge thanks to the NIVC Committee who run this competition tirelessly year after year: Ross Moore, Steve Borland, Grant Charteris, Robbie Bruce, Alex & Angela McIntyre, Craig, Chrissy & Victoria Hocken. Thank you for supporting the industry and keeping velvet competition top of mind when cutting your heads each year.
Nelson/Marlborough Competition
2023 Results
- Red Spiker – A and F Fishburn 1st , 2nd and 3rd
- Red 2 Year Old – Kinzett Farm 1st, T Peacock 2nd, Phil Moore 3rd
- Red 3 Year Old – Kinzett Farm 1st, 2nd and 3rd
- Red 4 Year Old – Tony Peacock 1st, K and J Rowe 2nd and Greg Webb 3rd
- Red Open – A and F Fishburn 1st, Kinzett Farm 2nd and Greg Webb 3rd
- Hybrid – Tony Peacock 1st
- Commercial (3 heads) – Greg Webb 1st, A and F Fishburn 2nd, J and R Stevens 3rd
National Competition
The 41st National Velvet and Trophy Antler Competition was held over the 6th and 7th of December at the Ascot Park Hotel, with over 65 entries, across all sections. A good amount of entries but the committee would always like to see more.
140 people attended the awards where the Southland Branch renamed the Trophy Antler Champion Cup the "Sir Tim Wallis Memorial Cup", with the blessing of the Wallis Family. This was won by Whyte Farming - Odd Fellow.
Sir Tim Wallis Memorial Cup
The Branch held an auction to raise funds for the Southland Charity Hospital and the Branch. $22,950 was raised, with 20% going to the charity. Thank you to all who donated.
It was great to see so many of Winston Day's family, first and second generation attend the evening, something he would be proud of. They all played a part in picking the Winston Day Memorial winner, Raincliff Deer, 730-19 - David Morgan, learning off other experts in the room.
Winston Day's family members.
David Morgan winner Winston Day trophy with Kees and Brittney (grandchildren)
Next year's date should be announced in early February so watch out for that. We would love to have more come down and enjoy the awards night we put on. Accommodation is right at the function. So roll on 2024, more entries, "Give it a go", and more attending the celebration of the industry on the Friday.
Contact Jane Campbell - Velvet and Trophy Antler Event Coordinator - southlanddeerbranch@gmail.com
SUPREME WINNERS:
People's Choice: Netherdale Red Deer - 20183 (Chosen by the attendees)
Reserve Champion: Netherdale Red Deer - 20183
Champion: Br255 - FJ Ramsey Investments
Click here to view the full results >>
