THE cattle parader competition was strong at the Sydney Royal, with competitors from all over the country looking to win a national title.
NSW representative Briony Jonkers, Cowra, won the open paraders' competition and went on to be selected for the Federal Council of Agricultural Societies (FCAS) National Beef Paraders' Young Paraders Championship.
Miss Jonkers was up against the best competitors from New Zealand, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.
Competitors were judged by Andrew Bassingthwaighte, Yarrawonga Santa Gertrudis stud, Wallumbilla, Qld, who tested the paraders ability to work with cattle in different circumstances.
Mr Bassingthwaighte had the competitors swap animals so he could see their ability to parade different types of cattle and also had them handle their cattle without a show cane.
Miss Jonkers has been parading cattle for about 10 years, and has had a strong involvement in the cattle industry through work and her upbringing.
For the past few years, Miss Jonkers has been working on a cattle station as a contract musterer in the Northern Territory.
Her sister also manages Longreach Limousins, Marulan, and Miss Jonkers is always helping at the stud when she's home.
Although receiving positive comments from the judge, Ms Jonkers didn't place in the competition, which was taken out by Nicole Muller, Victoria.
Reserve champion was awarded to Western Australia's Laurena Parks and third place went to Tasmanian, Dayna Gray.
Miss Muller said she'd been showing cattle ever since she could walk, a passion that's stemmed from growing up with a Simmental stud, as well as a strong commercial cattle herd.
The 18 year old is no stranger to show success and said she'd been winning parading competitions at shows all through school.
Miss Muller said junior parading has been beneficial as it's helped her public speaking skills significantly.
It's also been a great social activity that has introduced her to plenty of people within the beef industry.
