Holstein Friesian excellence was front and centre at the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ Awards, held last night in Invercargill during this year’s HFNZ AGM & Conference.
More than 100 breeders, sponsors and supporters gathered at the Ascot Park Hotel to honour standout achievements across the breed — from production and progeny to youth involvement, photography and showring success.
The 2025 Valden Cow of the Year was awarded to Rivendell Sham Beatric-ET 4*ET EX3 SP, owned by Cummings Family Trust (Helen and Jock Cummings, Wyndham) and bred by Rivendell Holsteins (Owen and Cathy Copinga).
Chosen from six finalists, 2012-born Beatric was deemed to be the cow that had contributed the most to the Holstein Friesian breed on a continual basis.
“It has been a huge honour to have Beatric from Owen and Cathy Copinga,” Helen Cummings said. “Winning the Valden Cow of the Year was a huge surprise and an honour.”
Helen said Beatric was a much loved part of the herd.
“She is certainly one awesome cow – she is a strong minded and strong willed type of cow. Being awarded the Valden Cow of the Year is an honour and a privilege.”
The winner of the 2025 Mahoe Trophy was Busybrook Pokerface S3F, bred by Nathan and Amanda Bayne (Henley Farming Company Ltd, Oamaru).
The Mahoe Trophy is awarded to the New Zealand-bred Holstein Friesian sire whose sire proof, as at the April 2025 AE Run, earns the most points for traits, daughter production, conformation and management.
D & J Gloyn (Deborah and Jeremy Gloyn, Rongotea) were the junior team winners of the 2025 HFNZ-Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Progeny Competition, with S-S-I PR Renegade-ET on 331 points.
S & J Ray (Stephen and Judith Ray, Balcutha) won the senior team with Seagull-Bay Supersire-ET on 484 points.
These awards are presented to the Junior and Senior Progeny teams with the highest points for classification based on the 2024/25 seasons inspections, scores for udder overall and final score, production worth and protein BV.
CView Trust (Stefan Buehler, Hawera) was the overall winner of the 2025 Nutritech Performance Awards with $6,136.21.
This prize is awarded to the herd owner with the highest dollar earning herd average for their region based on the Fonterra A+B-C payment system for the 2023/24 season.
In the Black & White Youth Awards, Rylee Parkes of Blenheim won the Kingsland Trophy, awarded to the Senior Black & White Youth Member who earned the most points in the 2024 All NZ Calf Class Competition. Rylee was also the overall winner of the 2024 All NZ Black & White Youth Calf Class Competition.
Waihi’s Jacoba Gread was the winner of the 2025 Pitcairns Trophy, and the 2025 Frank Pfister Award for the second year running, which is awarded to the highest scoring youth member at an official Holstein Friesian NZ Judging School.
In the 2025 Black & White Youth Photo Competition, Margaret Russell (Ashburton) placed first in the Junior section and Riley Taylor (Opunake) placed first in the Senior section. The winners were judged on calf conformation, background, presentation of animal and presentation of handler by 2025 judges Holly Powell and Joshua Norton.
Three Distinguished Service Awards were also presented at the awards dinner, recognising the dedication and passion of HFNZ members Katy Button, Judith Ray and Helen Cummings.
This award recognises individuals who have made a lasting impact through their dedication, leadership, and service to the Holstein Friesian community.
2025 HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN NZ AWARDS RESULTS
BLACK & WHITE YOUTH AWARDS
- Arapeta Trophy: Zoe Vanderdrift, Hamilton
- Kingsland Trophy: Rylee Parkes, Blenheim
- All NZ Calf Class Competition: Rylee Parkes, Blenheim
- Paramount Cup: Zara Williams, Palmerston North
- Dennis Terry Memorial Trophy: Nishaan Bindra, Morrinsville
- McDonald Family Trophy: Lucy O’Reilly, Tirau
- Top Junior Handler: Elyse Horgan, Feilding
- Top Senior Handler: Zara Williams, Palmerston North
- Pitcairns Trophy: Jacoba Gread, Waihi
- Frank Pfister Award: Jacoba Gread, Waihi
- Black & White Youth Photo Competition – Junior: Margaret Russell, Ashburton
- Black & White Youth Photo Competition – Senior: Riley Taylor, Opunake
- Aitken Family Senior Youth Heifer Competition: Isabella Moffitt, Warea with Trilogy Alcove Bea VG86
PRODUCTION AWARDS
- Boehringer Ingelheim Progeny Competition Senior Team: S & J Ray, Balclutha with Seagull-Bay Supersire-ET
- Boehringer Ingelheim Progeny Competition Junior Team: D & J Gloyn, Rongotea with S-S-I PR Renegade-ET
- Valden Cow of the Year: Rivendell Sham Beatric-ET 4*ET EX3 SP, Cummings Family Trust, Wyndham
- Mahoe Trophy: Busybrook Pokerface S3F, Henley Farming Co Ltd, Nathan and Amanda Bayne, Oamaru
- Overall Nutritech Performance Award: CView Trust, Stefan Buehler, Hawera , $6,136.21
- Snowline Trophy: Lawwal FME Miss S1F VG88 (K & MK Singh Farms Ltd, Hamilton) with $7110.05
- World Wide Sires Protein Awards: Overall winner Penoak Beam Mandy S2F, CView Trust (Stefan Buehler, Hawera) with 503kg protein
- Tokaora Trophy: Woodcote Alcove Larah S3F VG89 (Gateway Partnership Ltd, Andrew Fullerton, Te Awamutu) with 160 points
- Sherriff Memorial Trophy: Terpstra Farming Ltd (Michael Terpstra, Morrinsville) with an average score of 84.35
- Withers Trophy: Meander Mason April-ET S2F GP84 (Meander Holsteins, Robert and Ann Marie Bruin, Otautau)
SHOW AND PHOTO COMPETITION AWARDS
- Lenslea Trophy: Kate Woolley, Tuamarina
- Virtual Autumn Heifer Competition: Crossroads Jboy Vicky (A & N Harvey Family Trust, Dargaville)
- 2024/25 North Island Champion and NZ DairyEvent Junior Champion: Charbelle Hero Popcorn S3F (Charbelle Holsteins, Annabelle and Stephen Scherer, Morrinsville)
- 2024/25 North Island Supreme Champion: Tahora Sidekick Legacy2-ET VG89 (Tahora Farms, Geddes family, Christchurch)
- 2024/25 South Island Junior Champion: Belbrook Jagger Candace-ET (Belbrook Farming Ltd, John and Robbie Wakelin, Rangiora)
- 2024/25 South Island Supreme Champion: Belbrook Speed Marjorie EX (Belbrook Farming Ltd, John and Robbie Wakelin, Rangiora)
- Promotional Photo Competition: Renae Martin, Stirling
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 1: Cresslands Peter Maggie EX – Cresslands Farms Ltd
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 2: Tahora Lambda Lala VG88
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 3: Belbrook Ferraro Jess – Belbrook Farming Ltd
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 4: Cresslands Tonio Maggie – Cresslands Farms Ltd
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 5: Belbrook Dropbox Louisa – Belbrook Farming Ltd
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS
- Katy Button
- Judith Ray
- Helen Cummings
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