After stringent scientific testing at Carne Technologies the 158 entries have been whittled down to the top 20 in the hunt for the most tender and tasty lamb.
The finalists are:
Class 1: Best of Breed – Traditional
Fraser Briant, Gisborne (Coopworth) processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
Forbes Cameron, Ashhurst (Romney) processed at Alliance Dannevirke
Paul, Rachel and Mark Heslip, Balfour (Perendale/Romney) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Colin Lockhart, Lawrence (Romney) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Class 2: Best of Breed – Crossbreed
Warren Erickson, Gore (Coopworth Texel) processed at Silver Fern Farms Finegand
John and Wendy Knowles, Tuatapere (Romdale/Texel) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Roger and Alison Thomas, Tuatapere (Perendale Texel) processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane
Murray Wards, Gore (Textra) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Class 3: Best of Breed – Terminal-X
Lindsay and Judith Gerrard, Winton (Coopworth Texel/Texel) processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane
Don Morrison, Gore (Growbulk/Growbulk Charollais) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Pete Swinburn, Waipukurau (Kelso Composite/Suffolk) processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
Matt and Lynley Wyeth, Masterton (Highlander/Primera) processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
Class 4: Best of Breed – Open
Leon and Wendy Black, Riverton (Textra Texel Coopworth/Texel) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Robert Gardyne, Oturehua (Perendale/Poll Dorset Texel) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Lindsay and Judith Gerrard, Winton (Coopworth Texel/Texel) processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane
Danny Mickleson, Taihape (Textra Romney East Friesian/Textra Texel) processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
Class 5: Retail
Greytown Butchery, Greytown (Texel)
Progressive Enterprises (Countdown), North Island x3
The Grand Champion will be named at Wanaka’s Upper Clutha A&P Show on March 7 when a panel of judges will taste their way through samples of all 20 finalist lamb legs.
The competition, sponsored by Zoetis, is supported by processing plants across the country. They include AFFCO, Alliance Group, Ashburton Meat Processors, Auckland Meat Processors/Wilson Hellaby, Blue Sky Meats, Cabernet Foods/Kintyre Meats, CMP Canterbury, Harris Meats, Land Meat NZ, Lean Meats, Progressive Meats, Silver Fern Farms, Taylor Preston/Ken Wilson Meats.
