

In conjunction with GLENALLA + SNOWFED Farms & SPRINGOAKS Holsteins
FRIDAY 28 TH MARCH 2025
ON FARM, TAI TAPU, CANTERBURY
In conjunction with GLENALLA + SNOWFED Farms & SPRINGOAKS Holsteins
FRIDAY 28 TH MARCH 2025
ON FARM, TAI TAPU, CANTERBURY
NAME
TAHORA SIDEKICK LEGACY
TAHORA BULLSEYE PRIMULA
SNOWFED CHIEF BONNY
SPRINGOAKS LAMBDA LYDIA
TAHORA PHARO ABRIANA
TAHORA LAMBDA ADRIANA
TAHORA PHARO LEYMA
TAHORA CRUSHABUL LASSIE
TAHORA ALLIGATOR TONIANA
TAHORA HASITALL PARIS
SNOWFED SC JESSICA
SNOWFED CHIEF JESSICA
GLENALLA CHANGEUP KIKI
GLENALLA LEMON V SWEET
GLENALLA CHROME COMET
GLENALLA ROULETTE COMET
TAHORA CHIPS VANESSA
TAHORA PARFECT LEGACY
TAHORA CHIEF ABRIANNA
TAHORA TATOO CHANCERY
TAHORA CADILLAC CIANNA S3F
TAHORA SUPERHERO LARK
TAHORA TROPIC LARKSPUR
TAHORA CHIEF AMANDA
SPRINGOAKS KINGBOY FAY
GLENALLA SIDEKICK VEDETTE
GLENALLA PARFECT VIERRA
GLENALLA CASINO FAVOURITE
GLENALLA OLIVER FRISKY PP
GLENALLA CASINO BELLAGIO
GLENALLA TEKASHI BELLE
TAHORA CHIEF JENNY
TAHORA HANSKE JENALDA
TAHORA LARK ROSE
TAHORA RENEGADE ROSE
TAHORA IMPRESSION JEAN
TAHORA LEGMAN JANIE
TAHORA SIDEKICK B LEYMA
TAHORA SIDEKICK ALANA
NAME
TAHORA TATOO TONIANNE
TAHORA LEGMAN TORISSA
GLENALLA REYNOLDS DAHLIA
SNOWFED ATR FINELLA S2B
GLENALLA VANAHLEM GOLD
GLENALLA VICTORIOUS CASH
GLENALLA CASINO ELLE
GLENALLA AIR MAGGIE
TAHORA PARFECT ROSALINE
TAHORA DOWNTOWN ROSLYN
TAHORA UNIX NICOLE
TAHORA SOLARPOWER LECY
TAHORA MIRAND PETAL
TAHORA PARFECT PETAL
TAHORA LEGMAN TANIA
TAHORA ACTIONMAN TONIMAY
TAHORA MOOVIN CONNIE
TAHORA CHIEF CONNIE
TAHORA DOC JAZALLE
TAHORA BARDO JAZELLE
TAHORA DROPBOX LALAMBA
TAHORA RENEGADE LAKOTA
GLENALLA CASINO ALEXIA
GLENALLA VICTORIOUS ZARA
GLENALLA FIRST GALA
GLENALLA SKYCLASS JESS
GLENALLA SIDEKICK ADEEN
SPRINGOAKS EYECANDY KARLA
TAHORA CHIEF PARADISE
TAHORA HANSKE PARADISE RIKKI ‘POLO PONY’
SELLING AGENTS RURAL LIVESTOCK
Bob Davidson 0274 730 806 (e) bob.davidson@rll.co.nz Hayden McCarthy 0274 730 802
LIVESTOCK Luke Gilbert 027 849 2112
2% COMMISSION TO OUTSIDE COMPANIES
BRIAN LESLIE OAM | Australia +61 418 365 934
AGENTS
See page 87 for further information
Duncan Pipe 027 264 9527 Tim Barclay 027 484 7356 Dean Geddes 027 492 5500
Josh Norton 022 176 2940 Peter Gilbert 027 435 6334 Nick Gilbert 027 404 4404 Michael Gilbert 027 251 3353
SALE FITTERS
Ryan Barker +61 487 008 379
Corey Ferguson 021 0810 2958
INSURANCE AGENTS
FMG Rural Financial Services for your transit and stock insurance needs. Ph: 0800 366 466
Canterbury Rural Manager
Braden Forest 027 240 5034. Web: https//www.fmg.co.nz
TERMS
Generous terms are available for approved purchasers.
BASIC TERMS ARE 50% DOWN – 50% October 20, 2025. Or 25% down quarterly, with last payment to be made March 20, 2026
Conditions apply – please speak with the team at Rural Livestock.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Addington Stadium Motel
Addington Court Motel
Disclaimer:
FRIDAY
2.30pm Live & Online
Tahora Farms, Tai Tapu, 203 Gilmours Rd, Tai Tapu 21km from Christchurch Airport
FROM 10.30AM - HERD VIEWING
(a selection of animals chosen by Dean and Josh)
MIDDAY – POLO MATCH.
This will take just over an hour, and refreshments will be served at the polo club during the game.
FROM 1.15PM – PRE-SALE VIEWING At Tahora Farms in the marquee.
2.30PM – PARTY AT THE POLO SALE BEGINS
33 cows
(every show cow that is pregnant or fresh is included) 27 R2s
(scanned in calf to AI. The majority of animals are in calf to sexed semen) 16 Yearlings/R1s (The cream of the crop)
All Lepto vaccinated/C10 Accredited Herd
SCAN TO FOLLOW THE LATEST SALE INFORMATION
SIGNATURE GRAPHICS & DESIGN Hayley Boyd (p) +61 428 765 767 (e) signaturegraphics24@gmail.com
COVER: DEAN AND ABRIANA | LOCHLAN AND RICKI PHOTOS - FRONT & BACK COVERS: BY SHELLA SUNBORG
L-R: Jo, Dean, Judith and Jim Geddes.
For those who were listening back in 2022, Tahora’s Party at the Pub sale was - in Dean’s words -“our last ever sale”. It was intended to be his final swansong before he semi-retired to drink beer in the Sounds and watch cattle shows from the safety of his computer (but only after his kids have shown him how to find the link).
But here we are, doing it all over again, and we can honestly say we’re pretty excited about the animals in this auction, in particular the red-headed beauty that is Lot 69.
Of course, in spite of the name, it’s the cows that are the focus of Party at the Polo, and every animal we have on offer is the culmination of generations of carefullyselected genetics. As always, the T, L, and A families feature prominently, in particular, TAHORA SIDEKICK LEGACY2 89MAX - Supreme Champion Holstein at the 2025 NZ Dairy Event, and TAHORA PHARO ABRIANA - Supreme Champion Dairy Cow at Christchurch Show 2024.
When Peter suggested that the Gilbert and Geddes families hold a cattle sale together, we didn’t have to think twice. The quality of the cows that have come out of Snowfed and Glenalla over the last two decades is second to none, and our families have been enjoying each other’s company on the show circuit for 50-odd years, particularly on the Thursday night of Cup and Show Week once the judging is finished.
We hope that you make the most of this sale-with-adifference, and take the time to watch what will be a very competitive game of polo from some of the top players in the South Island, all while enjoying complimentary champagne at next door’s Port Hills Polo Club.
At the completion of the match, attendees will wander through to the marquee to view the cows prior to the auction, which is when the fun really begins. We have 77 lots selling, and with such a huge variety of genetics across the board, we are pretty confident that there will be something for everyone.
And of course we can’t talk about the catalogue without mentioning Lot 69. RIKKI , a six-year-old chestnut mare, is a promising up and coming polo pony who was born and
bred here at Tahora. RIKKI boasts an impressive lineage that harks all the way back to Australia, Argentina, and the UK, and she is the granddaughter of our well-known stallion Benaud, who was sold to a buyer in England for a hard-to-turn-down $120K, back in 2013.
Fearless, super chill, and blessed with the kind of natural ability that only comes from generations of selective breeding, Rikki is the real deal, and the best part? We haven’t put a reserve on her, so there’s a real chance that a local bidder will be taking her home at the end of the evening.
A final word from Dean
I would like to thank Jo, Sophie, and Tom for all their support. Jo has always been incredible, and she has been such a massive help through the sale preparations. I’d also like to acknowledge Mum, Dad, James, Mandy and their families. Mum and Dad – in particular – have always been completely unwavering in their support, no matter what I do. Mum still turns up at the dairy at 6.30am every morning and Dad continues to run errands and fix things for us.
Mention should be made too of Duncan Pipe, who has been an amazing wingman for me over many years. Dunc has helped me maintain my interest and focus within the breed and I couldn’t have done it without his passion and enthusiasm.
I would like to thank Sheila Sundborg for her amazing videography and photography work, Hayley for patiently putting up with all the last-minute changes to the catalogue, and a special thanks must go to my cousin, Di Malcolm, for everything she does for us.
Lastly, a big thank you to Josh, Chelsea, and family. I’ve loved having a fellow stud enthusiast to bounce ideas off, and Josh’s idea to take Legacy2 to NZ Dairy week was, as it turns out, pretty inspired! I hope you enjoy the selection of cattle we have on offer at the sale. I for one know I’m looking forward to having a beer with you all once it’s over.
See you at the polo!
From the Auctioneer
It is with much pleasure we invite you to the ‘Tahora Party at the Polo Sale 2025’
As expected our vendors have pulled all stops out and are offering an amazing line up of the very best of their respective ‘Breeding Programs’
As you study this catalogue you will see incredible depth of pedigree. Tahora indeed has been a household name within the Holstein World and at all times have been prepared to sell their best, this you will see throughout this offering.
Show Champions of the highest order, deep pedigrees featuring many decades of famed proven Tahora breeding along with those introduced down through the years.
Invited vendors, the Gilbert Family have gone all out to celebrate this sale and are complimenting the catalogue with tremendous Jerseys, Holsteins, an Ayrshire and a Swiss.
We are also honoured to have Dean sell one of his ‘Elite’ Polo Horses.
Yes, no matter what you’re in search of it’s on offer at the ‘Tahora Party at the Polo Sale 2025’
It has been my privilege to sell for todays vendors over many years and know they stand behind their product.
We do hope you can join us at Tahora, however if not live bidding is at Bidr.co.nz
Hope to see you at the Party.
Brian Leslie OAM Auctioneer
The Gilbert Family is very honoured to have been asked to put forward cattle for “The Party at the Polo” Sale, along with Tahora and Springoaks.
We have had approximately 50-year association with the Geddes family. We would like to thank them very much for inviting us to be part of this exciting event.
Our family started milking Jersey cows in 1900 and began registering them in the 1930s. Nick, Michael and Luke are now the fifth generation involved in the stud. We have always strived to breed high-producing cows with good type and longevity. In more recent years we have introduced other breeds and imported cow families into the herd.
The cattle we have selected for the sale are from our best cow families, both homebred and imported. As an example, we have direct descendants of Duncan Belle and Huronia Centurion Veronica in the Jerseys. The Jessicas and Adeens are represented in the Holsteins for sale. We are offering a direct daughter of Pukekaraka Elle Delila as our only Ayrshire entry and also a Brown Swiss calf.
We feel this is the best we can offer.
Remembering one of Australasia’s top cowmen.
As many of you know, Matt Templeton passed away in February of this year after a hard-fought battle against cancer. Mattie has been a an important part of Tahora’s showing legacy for a very long time now.
He had an incredible eye for diamonds in the rough and once pulled a rather unprepossessing cow out of the paddock just three days before we were due to head into the Canterbury A&P Show. After a crash course in being led, she very memorably went on to win Grand Champion.
His use of old remedies to get the best out of the show cows drew upon knowledge that had been handed down from the old timers, and we’ll never forget the way he dedicated himself to bathing Goldywn Toni’s udder three times a day with epsom salts to reduce an edema just before the Canterbury Show. Toni was one of his favourite cows of all time, and he told us before he died that every time he inseminated a cow, his goal was to breed an animal that would eventually grow up to be her equal.
The sheer force of will required for Matt to win Supreme Champion Holstein, alongside judging the Jersey classes at IDW during the last few weeks of his illness, was truly inspiring.
Our thoughts are with Nicola, Geri, Harlie, Bruce, Jan, and the rest of the family as they navigate their new life without him.
She completed her 2yr lactation with over 8000L and 560MS and this year she as a 3yr old she is currently at 8600L in 220 and will give 11000L a real nudge!
To top it off she classified VG88 @3yrs! Sidekick legacy is also VG86 @2yrs”
Nathan Bayne - Busybrook Holsteins
Partnerships that stand the test of time
Our support doesn’t end when the truck drives out the gate.
“Our family has thoroughly enjoyed buying our cows from Tahora Farms - great genetics, type, temperament and they have produced on average over 800kg MS for us. Tahora Farms have been fantastic to deal with, providing great follow- up and support. The highlight was breeding the NZ Dairy Event Junior Interbreed Champion and Junior Holstein Friesian Champion - Glenidol Lambda Cookie out of Tahora Octane Cookie! Many thanks from Glen Idol Holsteins”
Foundation dams that stand the test of time
“Tahora cattle have shifted and performed exceptionally well over the years. Whether we have purchased them at the Party at the Pub sale, or they’ve joined us through buying lines of cattle, they have bred on magnificently for us.
Cows such as Tahora Shottle Legache EX2, Tahora Windbrook Toni-C ET EX, Tahora Atwood Legacy VG88, and more recently, Tahora MMcCutchen Alicia EX, have become one of the foundations of our breeding programme.”
Arjun Singh, Lawwal Holsteins
The arrival of a Tahora catalogue over the decades has always created excitement. Nothing has changed in more than 40-plus years since I first visited Tahora. You always find great cow families and marvellous individuals for type. Add to that the friendship we’ve enjoyed with the Geddes family – which has few parallels in the dairy industry – and you really have a great example of the heart of our association. The sheer success of the Tahora brand at Waipiri is powerful and well-documented. In essence, buying at Tahora has ultimately always been a tremendously rewarding investment for our business. Over the years, polo has also become common ground for us, and when you put the cattle and the polo together, you really do get the chance to gather a lot of wonderful memories. We wish Tahora all the very best for the ‘Party at the Polo’ sale.” – David, Pip, Alex, and Dean (Waipiri Agriculture, Hamilton)
If there is a single cow family associated with Tahora, it would be, without a doubt, the Toni bloodline.
In 1990 Judith travelled to International Dairy Week in Australia and while she was there Walkerbrae Triple T Toni EX was awarded Reserve Champion. Murray Sowter had imported the animal from Canada and was offering her ET Hanoverhill Inspiration daughter in the sale.
Jim was less than enthusiastic when Judith suggested they buy the heifer, but Judith was undeterred and Murribrook Inspiration Toni-ET was duly shipped to NZ. Judith worked for WWS at the time and remembers stumping up the money by using her wages and sharing the investment with close friend, the late Bruce Perkins.
The first Toni developed into a big-framed cow with lots of width and a great udder, and she eventually classified Excellent. Her first natural daughter classified VG85 at 2yrs and was milked for just two lactations. She was mated to several of the top North American bulls of the time; Starbuck, Prelude, Choice of Mark Adam and Blackstar.
The Starbuck made VG88, the others mid GP, including the five Blackstar ET daughters. Most of them were milked in son James’s herd where they made a moderate contribution, but by no means were they anything special. Up until this point, Jim could have been forgiven for uttering the words no wife wants to hear, “I told you so”.
It wasn’t until Inspiration Toni produced her last natural calf in January 1997 that the real foundation was laid for the now famous Tonio family at Tahora.
Tahora Romeo Tonio, sired by a young Blackstar son, turned out to be the dam of a lifetime. She was born with an attitude that she’s passed on to many of her descendants, they are big-framed, tough animals, but man do they breed on, generation after generation of superb type and production.
Tahora owes a great deal to Romeo Tonio, and we hope you have as much success with her family as we have.
TAHORA ROMEO TONIO EX
Ì All New Zealand Senior Cow 2005
Ì Royal Show Champion 2002 & 2004
Ì Dam of 14 EXC daughters
TAHORA B GOLDWYN TONI EX
Ì Champion All-Breeds Cow North Canterbury A&P Show 2009.
Ì Champion Cow Canterbury A&P Show 2011.
Ì All-NZ Senior Cow 2012.
TAHORA TALENT TONIO EX
Ì 1st Two-Year-Old Royal Show 2006.
Ì 1st Four-Year-Old Royal Show 2008.
Ì Reserve Campion Cow Canterbury A&P Show 2011.
TAHORA GOLDWYN TONI EX
Ì Supreme Holstein and All-Breeds Champion NZDE 2011.
Ì Supreme Champion & All-Breeds Champion Canterbury A&P Show 2010.
Ì Reserve Holstein & All Breeds, Intermediate Champion and BU NZDE 2009.
Ì Sister to TAHORA DOC JANALDA VG88 3yr - (Purchased by Busybrook Holsteins in 2022) - Completed her 2yr lactation with over 8000L and 560MS and this year she as a 3yr old she is currently at 8600L in 220 and will give 11,000L a real nudge!
Ì
All animals sold are subject to the New Zealand Stock and Station Agents Condition of Sale as posted in addition the following special conditions apply to this sale where applicable:
1. Every female shown as bred on a certain date, except any which may have been served within six weeks of sale, is guaranteed in-calf. This guarantee expires 28 days from the sale date.
2. Where a sale catalogue specifies a calving date and the resultant calf is not acceptable for registration by the MINDA service of the livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) or by the relevant Breed Society because the calf is born 11 days or more either side of the specified calving date and the paternity is not able to be verified the seller shall refund 25% of the purchase price plus GST direct to the buyer. This clause 2 does not apply if the sale catalogue states that a bull was pastured after AB ceased.
3. Where a veterinary certificate is supplied at the date of sale verifying the female as being in-calf, no further liability will fall on the seller subject to liability under the other clauses contained in the Conditions of Sale. The buyer has the right to retest at their own expense before delivery is made from the place o f sale.
4. Where a female is offered for sale as being in-calf, without a supporting veterinary certificate and the female is subsequently proved to be empty, the buyer has the right to return the female or carry out such disposal as the seller may instruct and the seller will refund direct to the buyer the purchase price plus the return transport costs.
5. Cows sold as not in-calf at the time of the sale, shall be sold with a guarantee to breed. The term breed shall constitute producing a calf, dead or alive. Should the cow fail to produce a calf by the 31 December 2025, the seller shall refund the full purchase price direct to the buyer.
6. Yearling heifers sold as unmated are sold with the guarantee to breed. The term breed shall be constituted producing a calf, dead or alive. Should the heifer fail to produce a calf by the 31 December 2025, the seller shall refund in full the purchase price direct to the buyer
7. Where females are sold not in-calf (including yearlings and calves) are flushed for embryo transfer, either with or without success, all guarantees to breed become null and void.
8. Where any female is sold as being in-calf proves to be carrying a mummified calf, no liability will fall on the seller.
9. Any animal which is sold as in-calf but subsequently aborts the foetus after delivery is the responsibility of the buyer and no liability will fall on the seller.
10. Any claim to the auctioneers must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate.
General Conditions
Delivery – Each lot shall, immediately on the fall of the hammer, be at the risk of the buyer.
Insurance – If transit of annual insurance is required, such cover can be arranged through the auctioneers
Instructions – Buyers must sign dockets before leaving the sale and leave full delivery instructions.
Transfers – Sellers are responsible for the completion of transfers. No buyers shall be entitled to withhold payments for stock pending deliver by the seller of the relevant breed society transfer certificate of LIC Animal Location Transfer
Certificate
Payment Terms – Only buyers with a current trading account with Rural Livestock Ltd or who have made prior arrangements to transfer the purchase to another company, will be eligible to purchase. Buyers with a current Rural Livestock Ltd trading account are required to pay within 14 days following the sale.
Special Conditions
1. 50% of the purchase price may be paid by 20th October 2025 to be arranged prior to the sale with Rural Livestock Ltd(conditions apply).
2. 25% of the of the purchase price may be paid quarterly with the final payment being made by the 20th March 2026 to be arranged prior to the sale with Rural Livestock Ltd (conditions apply)
Disclaimer
All details and descriptions as to stock referred to in this catalogue or other wise provided by the auctioneer or any other Rural Livestock Ltd employee or agent (‘sales information’) have been supplied by the seller and have not been independently verified by Rural Livestock Ltd. Rural Livestock Ltd, its employees and agents make no representation or warranties or acknowledgment of any kind whatsoever in relation to any part of the sales information (including , but not limited to the accuracy or completeness of details and descriptions of stock and other contents)
Buyers, advisors, and all other persons viewing or dealing with the stock must make their own assessment and judgement on the stock and sales information. Rural Livestock Ltd, its employees and agents are not responsible or liable in any way whatsoever, whether in contact, tort (including negligence), or otherwise, to any person for any loss or damage whatsoever arising directly from any information or representation included in or omitted from. Rikki will be sold under D L Geddes with the GST component being NIL.
Attention
Under health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, we wish to bring to your attention your responsibilities while attending this sale. You are in a multiple hazard area and are requested to observe the following rules:
1. All children under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied and under the supervision of any adult
2. You are not to enter the yards, pens, or races where stock is being moved or held.
3. Keep to the walkways or within the flagged areas provided.
4. Report any accident to the site office.
5. If you see anything unsafe, report it to the s ite office.
Agents
Hamish Loe (General Manager) 027 473 0551
Anothony Cox (Canterbury Regional Manager) 027 208 3071
Hayden McCarthy (Dairy/Vendor Agent) 027 473 0898
Bob Davidson (Vendor Agent) 027 473 0806
Robbie Reid (Auctioneer) 027 473 0868
Mick Withers (Canterbury Dairy/Auctioneer) 027 473 0817
Richard Leech (Canterbury Dairy) 027 691 8442
Quinten Botha (South Canterbury Dairy) 027 473 0885
Callum Stalker (North Otago Dairy) 027 473 0846
Barry Mathews (North Otago Dairy) 027 483 6050
Peter O’Neill (Otago Dairy) 027 434 7352
Mike Thompson (Central Otago Dairy) 027 479 9474
Rodger Eade (Southland Livestock Manager) 027 473 0816
Matt Brinsdon (Southland Dairy) 027 423 0425
Jamie Shepherd (Southland Dairy) 027 473 0800
Hamish Martin (Southland Dairy) 027 242 5589
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We wish everyone continued success with their purchases, and we look Safe travels home.