Hatari Claims Double Grand Championship At 2026 Dormer National Show
Hatari Farming claimed both Grand Champion titles at the 2026 Dormer National Show, leading a strong showing in which several studs distinguished themselves across the age divisions.
Held on Friday, 9 October, at the Royal Agricultural Show's new showgrounds at Tweedie, Howick, the Dormer National Championship was a significant occasion in the Royal Agricultural Society of Natal's 175th anniversary year.
The competition brought together Dormer breeders to compete for national honours, with the results highlighting the quality of animals presented in the individual classes, group competitions and championship judging.
Hatari Sets the Pace
Marius Eksteen's Hatari Farming emerged as the leading exhibitor, winning both Grand Champion Dormer Ram and Grand Champion Dormer Ewe, together with the Senior Champion titles in both divisions and Junior Champion Ewe.
The achievement became even more significant when both Dormer Grand Champions went on to claim the Standard Bank RAS Gold Cup titles of Supreme Champion Ram and Supreme Champion Ewe on Show. With both supreme honours awarded to Dormers in the interbreed judging, it was an exceptional result for Hatari Farming and a particularly proud moment for the Dormer breed.
Hatari claimed five of the eight Champion titles awarded at the Dormer National Show, supported by 11 first places across the 23 individual and group classes. The stud also accounted for 30 of the 69 recorded top-three placings.
Its success was particularly evident among the mature animals, with victories in the individual ram classes for animals aged 24–36 months and 36 months and older, and the ewe classes for animals aged 18–24 months and 36 months and older.
Hatari also won both senior group classes and the breeding group comprising two ewes and a ram.
This consistency across individual animals, age groups and both sexes was a defining feature of the stud's performance.
2026 Dormer National Championship Results
RAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Champion Ram Lamb: Gras Karoo Dormers
Reserve: VredesigJunior Champion Ram: Twee Broers Dormers
Reserve: VredesigSenior Champion Ram: Hatari Dormers
Reserve: Twee Broers DormersGrand Champion Dormer Ram: Hatari Dormers
Reserve Grand Champion Dormer Ram: Twee Broers Dormers
EWE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Champion Ewe Lamb: Vredesig
Reserve: Gras Karoo DormersJunior Champion Ewe: Hatari Dormers
Reserve: Hatari DormersSenior Champion Ewe: Hatari Dormers
Reserve: Gras Karoo DormersGrand Champion Dormer Ewe: Hatari Dormers
Reserve Grand Champion Dormer Ewe: Gras Karoo Dormers
Strong Performances Across the Studs
While Hatari secured the two highest honours, the results also reflected strong performances by several other exhibitors.
Gras Karoo Dormers enjoyed an excellent National Show, claiming Champion Ram Lamb, Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb, Reserve Senior Champion Ewe and Reserve Grand Champion Dormer Ewe.
The stud achieved a clean sweep of first, second and third places in both the 3–6-month individual ram and ewe classes, and won both under-nine-month group classes. A further victory in the individual 24–36-month ewe class brought its tally to five class wins and 17 top-three placings.
Twee Broers Dormers distinguished itself in the ram division, claiming Junior Champion Ram, Reserve Senior Champion Ram and Reserve Grand Champion Dormer Ram.
The stud also won the individual ram class for animals aged 15–18 months and the group class for three rams aged 9–18 months, rounding off a strong showing among its developing and mature rams.
Vredesig performed particularly well in the younger age divisions, claiming Champion Ewe Lamb, Reserve Champion Ram Lamb and Reserve Junior Champion Ram.
The stud recorded five class victories and 15 top-three placings. These included wins in the individual ram classes for animals aged 12–15 months and 18–24 months, together with the group class for three ewes aged 9–18 months.
Vredesig also achieved a clean sweep of first, second and third places in both the 6–9-month ram and ewe classes.
Young Animals Provide a Highlight
One of the most interesting features of the National Championship was the distribution of results among the younger animals.
Three different studs each secured all three placings in both the ram and ewe individual classes, in successive age categories:
3–6 months: Gras Karoo Dormers
6–9 months: Vredesig
9–12 months: Hatari Dormers
This remarkable sequence highlighted the quality of young animals presented by the different breeding programmes, with each stud excelling in a particular age division.
The group judging told a similarly interesting story. Gras Karoo won both under-nine-month groups, Twee Broers and Vredesig secured the respective 9–18-month ram and ewe groups, while Hatari took the senior group honours.
Together, these results offered a broader picture of the competition beyond the individual championship titles. While Hatari's double Grand Championship was the outstanding achievement of the National Show, the class and group results demonstrated the depth of quality among the participating studs.
A National Show to Remember
For the Royal Agricultural Society of Natal, it was an honour to host the Dormer Society of South Africa's 2026 National Show at its new Tweedie showgrounds.
The Society extends its sincere appreciation to Dormer SA for entrusting the Royal Show with this prestigious event. Hosting the National Championship during the Society's 175th anniversary year was especially meaningful, and the opportunity to welcome the Dormer breeding community to its new home was greatly valued.
The Society also extends its warm thanks to judge Henri Naude, assisted by Clark Rattray, for their expertise and commitment to the judging, and to ring steward Jovaan Cloete for his important contribution to proceedings in the ring.
Special appreciation goes to Emmie Barnard, the RAS Sheep Secretary, whose hard work and careful organisation kept the day's proceedings running smoothly, and to Mala Forbes for her valued assistance and support.
The Society also thanks the Dormer SA officials, exhibitors and everyone who contributed to the successful presentation of the National Show.
Above all, congratulations go to every breeder who participated and to the prizewinners whose achievements made the 2026 Dormer National Championship a memorable occasion.
The Royal Agricultural Society looks forward to continuing its valued relationship with Dormer SA and the wider sheep-breeding community.
Marius Eksteen, President of the Dormer Sheep Breeders’ Society of South Africa.
