
UNE’s champion team – Georgie Laurie, Emma-Rae Shaw, Jonty Hemmingway and Rowan Vallance
The 2023 Intercollegiate Meat Judging competition national competition wrapped up in Wagga Wagga over the weekend, with Jonty Hemmingway from the University of New England taking out the title of Australian meat judging individual champion.
Jonty finished 18 points ahead of Sarah Hamblin from the University of Queensland, with a total score of 1178 out of a possible 1250 points, one of the highest scores ever achieved.
Sarah’s stellar performance also helped UNE secure victory as 2023 Champion team overall, ahead of the University of Queensland which finished runner-up for the second year in a row. UNE were last champions in 2006.
This year’s competition also included industry participants for the first time.
More than 130 participants from eight Australian universities and eight private meat companies attended the event as well as a team of nine students from the University of Wyoming in the United States.
Signature Beef’s Megan Bauman top scored in the overall industry category while Emily Lavis from Mort and Co finished runner-up.
ICMJ President Dr Peter McGilchrist said the spirit of competition was alive and well during this year’s event and the training students had put in in the lead up to the contest was evident in the results on the day.
“I was very proud to see the UNE team take home the win this year, but I was impressed by of all of this year’s contestants for putting in such an outstanding effort across the two-days of competition,” he said.
“It can be quite daunting for many first timers to step into the chillers with the pressure of the clock and the number of classes they have to judge, but they all did a fantastic job.
“The best advice we can give them is: don’t overthink it, judge it as you see it and have fun.”
The top 15 individuals in the competition were narrowed down to a team of ten, who will go on to another ICMJ event in September where they will take part in further professional development opportunities and industry tours.
That group will be joined by a second contingent of students called the Coaches XI, selected for their leadership skills, dedication and their potential to have a positive impact on the red meat industry.
From that group, five will be chosen in the Australian ICMJ team to tour the United States in January next year and compete on the US meat judging circuit at the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
The meat judging competition was the final component of the ICMJ National Conference hosted annually by Charles Sturt University and Teys Australia, Wagga Wagga, before winners were announced at Saturday’s Gala Awards Dinner.
The five-day conference program also included seminars and presentations from industry leaders, Q&A panels, interactive carcase workshops, a careers expo and social events.
ICMJ activities are supported by foundation partners Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC).
It is also supported by conference partners including Teys Australia, Coles, JBS, Australian Pork Limited, Australian Poll Dorset Association, AACo, Australian Meat Group, AusMeat, Fulton Market Group, Angus Australia, Kilcoy Global Foods, Rimfire Resources, Fletcher International Exports, Charles Sturt University, Gundagai Lamb, Rivalea Australia, Beef Central and AllFlex.
More than 3000 people have taken part in the ICMJ program over its 33-year history.
Full competition results:
Beef Judging – sponsored by Teys Australia
Individual Runner Up: Mitchell Lollback Marcus Oldham College
Individual Champion: Jonty Hemmingway University of New England
Runner Up Team: University of Queensland (Shania Gough, Sarah Hamblin, Holly Johnson, Will Richards)
Champion Team: University of New England (Jonty Hemmingway, Georgie Laurie, Emma-Rae Shaw, Rowan Vallance)
Lamb Judging – sponsored by Australian Poll Dorset Association
Lamb carcases for the competition were sponsored by Gundagai Lamb
Individual Runner Up: Angus Bartter Charles Sturt University
Individual Champion: Bonnie Mitchell Charles Sturt University
Runner Up Team: Murdoch University (Anneke Borger, Karryn Buller, Kelly Giam, Rhiannon Heath)
Champion Team: University of Sydney (Callum Munter, Katherine Seymour, Emma-Jane Tuck, Lingxuan (Shelly) Xiao)
Pork Judging – sponsored by Australian Pork Limited
Pork carcases for the competition were sponsored by Rivalea Australia
Individual Runner Up: Angus Bartter Charles Sturt University
Individual Champion: Sarah Hamblin University of Queensland
Runner Up Team: University of Adelaide (Deanna Blesing, Jessica Meldrum, Sophie Nuske, Kelly Will)
Champion Team: University of Queensland (Shania Gough, Sarah Hamblin, Holly Johnson, Will Richards)
Retail Cut & Saleable Items Identification – sponsored by Coles
Individual Runner Up: Sarah Hamblin University of Queensland
Individual Champion: Jonty Hemmingway University of New England
Runner Up Team: Charles Sturt University (Angus Bartter, Stephanie Lezaich, Mon McKinley, Bonnie Mitchell)
Champion Team: University of Queensland (Shania Gough, Sarah Hamblin, Holly Johnson, Will Richards)
Commercial Evaluation – sponsored by JBS
Individual Runner Up: Kara Reynolds University of Wyoming
Individual Champion: Maya Robertson University of Sydney
Runner Up Team: Charles Sturt University (Angus Bartter, Stephanie Lezaich, Mon McKinley, Bonnie Mitchell)
Champion Team: University of New England (Jonty Hemmingway, Georgie Laurie, Emma-Rae Shaw, Rowan Vallance)
Overall Placings – sponsored by CSU Wagga
Presented by ICMJ Life Member, Professor Peter Wynn, Charles Sturt University
Individual Runner Up: Jonty Hemmingway University of New England
Individual Champion: Sarah Hamblin University of Queensland
Runner Up Team: University of Queensland (Sarah Hamblin, Shania Gough, Will Richards, Holly Johnson)
Champion Team: University of New England (Jonty Hemmingway, Georgie Laurie, Rowan Vallance, Emma-Rae Shaw)
Overall Questions – sponsored by Australian Agricultural Co.
Individual Overall Runner Up: Mitchell Lollback Marcus Oldham College
Individual Overall Champion: Jonty Hemmingway University of New England
Runner Up Team: University of Queensland (Sarah Hamblin, Shania Gough, Will Richards, Holly Johnson)
Champion Team: University of New England (Jonty Hemmingway, Georgie Laurie, Rowan Vallance, Emma-Rae Shaw)
Individual Industry
Presented by ICMJ Treasurer, Kiri Broad
Runner up individual – Industry: Emily Lavis, Mort and Co
Champion Individual – Industry: Megan Bauman, Signature Beef
Champion Individual Overall – John Carter Founders Buckle sponsored by AMPC Australia
Runner-Up Individual Overall: Sarah Hamblin, University of Queensland
Champion Individual Overall: Jonty Hemmingway, University of New England
Champion Team Overall – Roy McDonald Shield sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia
Runner-Up Team Overall: University of Queensland
Champion Team Overall: University of New England.
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