Our Ridgeline judging team last judged the Chatto creek tavern competition back in 2019 when Leslie Middlemas owned the pub. In the last three years along with covid Leslie had sold the pub to Fiona and Grant Sutherland who now wanted to reinstate their hunting comp, weigh in 17th july 2023. This competition was a first for Fiona and Grant so they were pleased to have our judging team there to help on the day.
The forecast for the day was wind and rain. While we did get a bit of wind early in the day the rain stayed away making for a great day.
There were eleven teams of four in the adult section where each team could only weigh in one animal in each category, red deer, fellow deer and boars. Eight of the teams weighed in all three animals. Included in the entry fee was a free lunch and there was a free BBQ going. Scrutineering and weighing the animals was Bill Westwood and Ants Brown with Janice Westwood recording all of the animals.
Each team that entered had to put one of the members forward for the pig carrying comp which was great to see the crowd enjoying this as much as the competitors.
The kids section had seven teams which had to get a goat, Possum, rabbit, Hare, duck, Wallaby and magpie. The kids also got to compete in the carrying competition with the smaller ones carrying a rabbit the bigger ones carrying a Hare and the biggest kids carrying a Wallaby. The kids absolutely loved this.
Also they had Angelo Georgalli, the game chef their with his three cook books so people could get a signed copy.
Results
Heaviest boar 96.8lb team Misses Brown’s boys Stephen Brown, Stephen Mosley, Matt Gordon, Jesse Porteo
Average weight Boar 71.4lb team Back Strap Boys Elliot Heckler, Jesse Porter, Cory Wlker, Bryan Park
Heaviest red deer 283lb team Hard Luck Hunting Club Ben Saunders, Shane Smith, Ben Reid
Average weight red deer 200.8lb Out Their Doing It Kevin McLeod, Sam Rouden, Kevin Meehan Clinton Meehan
Heaviest Fellow 113.4lb team MSB Don Malcolm, Bridget Malcolm, Molly Malcolm, Kate Malcolm
Average weight Fellow 93.4lb team Back Strap Boys
Pig carrying comp winner was Nick Lanharn
Junior section
Heaviest Possum 7.56lb Highland Hunters Rico, Ridge, Jake, Bodie
Heaviest duck 4.8lb team Highland Hunters
Average weight Hare was a draw, Out Their Doing It Sophie Meehan, James Meehan, Max Dean’s, Isabel Dean’s and team Gone Hunting Sophie Groundwater, Charlie Groundwater, Harper Clouston.
Average weight Nanny goat team Backstrap Boys Hayden Heckler, Emily Heckler, Ben Shallard
Longest Wallaby team Gone Hunting
Most rabbits 19 team Highland Hunters
Most magpies 8 Sam Roxborough
Junior pig carrying comp
1st Lexi Brown
2nd Brodie Gee
3rd Dominic Laird