Whisky is heavyweight stock champ at Royal Show in Hastings

Sheryl Pacey (left) with Dave Pacey, Karen Woolley and Bruce Woolley with Willow Creek Whiskey - the winner of Meat and Wool cup winner at the Hawke's Bay Show. Photo Paul Taylor

It was a giant tick for the bucket list North Auckland cattle breeders Karen Woolley and family claimed premier Royal Show agricultural prize the Meat and Wool Cup in Hastings yesterday.

Effectively the national championship of stock showing, it was won with a 1150kg, two-year-old behemoth and champion of the salers breed named Whisky.

It was icing on the cake for Mrs Woolley, husband Bruce, and her parents, Dave and Sheryl pacey, who had never been to the Hawke's Bay show, but in just making the 500km each-way, with 16 animals in tow, were realising a dream of Mr Pacey, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

The family claimed the Royal Easter Show Meat and Wool Cup in Auckland last year with another of the now celebrated herd, Willow Creeks Hercules.

"That was on the bucket list, and so was coming to Hastings," said Mrs Woolley, who must be one of the busiest cattle breeders around, helping run a stud and also running aquarobics classes as just part of the average day's work.

The Royal Show in Hastings was, however, just for the trip. "We didn't think we could win," she said.

Whisky's show wasn't over after the win, for today he lines up in the Grand Parade, a feature of the last day of the Hawke's Bay A and P Show, which was first held in 1863.

Among the others in the parade will be the comparative dwarf supreme champion of the dexter breed Matariki, of Awahuri Acres, near Feilding. "Just a baby," said breeder Julie Rush. "He's only 15 months old."