Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet Takes Double Gold at Boer Goat Regional Championship
Ilse Lombard and handler Jack Nkuta of Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet pose with the Gold Cups for both Supreme Champion Goat Ram and Supreme Champion Goat Ewe at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show at Tweedie.
The SA Boer Goat Regional Championship delivered a strong start to the livestock programme at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, with long-time Royal Show Boer Goat exhibitor Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet claiming the Gold Cups for both the Supreme Champion Ram and Supreme Champion Ewe at Tweedie.
Held on Tuesday, 6 October, the regional championship brought together six Boer goat studs and a total entry of 53 goats. Snyman Boerbokstoet fielded the largest contingent with 19 goats, followed by Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet with 14, Gatsheni Boer Goat Stud with 10, Buffelsfontein Boerbokstoet and Roseline Boer Goat Stud with four each, and Asante Boer Goat Stud with two.
A dominant female championship for Ilse Lombard
One of the standout performances of the day came in the female section, where Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet completed a remarkable sweep of the championship honours.
The stud claimed both Junior Champion Ewe and Reserve Junior Champion Ewe, before repeating the achievement in the senior section with Senior Champion Ewe and Reserve Senior Champion Ewe.
That depth carried through to the final judging, with Ilse Lombard taking both Grand and Supreme Champion Ewe and Reserve Grand and Supreme Champion Ewe, earning both Gold Cup honours in the female section.
The stud was particularly strong through the ewe lamb classes. Ilse Lombard secured all three placings in the 20–30 kg ewe lamb class, first and second in the 30–40 kg class, and first and third in the 40–50 kg class.
Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet’s Grand Champion Ram was named Supreme Champion Gold Cup Ram, while Snyman Boerbokstoet was named Reserve Supreme Champion Gold Cup Ram.
Strong competition in the ram classes
The ram championships produced a close contest between Ilse Lombard and Snyman Boerbokstoet.
Snyman Boerbokstoet took Junior Champion Ram, with Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet in reserve.
The positions were reversed in the senior championship, where Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet claimed Senior Champion Ram, with Snyman taking Reserve Senior Champion.
In the final championship judging, Ilse Lombard added the Grand and Supreme Champion Ram Gold Cup to its championship success, while Snyman Boerbokstoet was named Reserve Grand and Supreme Champion Ram.
The result gave Ilse Lombard the distinction of producing both Supreme Champions at the 2026 regional show.
Most Points honours for Snyman
While Ilse Lombard dominated the championship awards, Snyman Boerbokstoet finished the show with the most points, with Ilse Lombard Boerbokstoet placed second.
Snyman produced a particularly consistent spread of results across both the male and female classes. Among its successes were first place in the 25–40 kg ram lamb class, first in the 55–70 kg ram lamb class, and a clean sweep of the placings in the 50–60 kg ewe lamb class.
Roseline Boer Goat Stud also featured among the placings, including third in the 25–40 kg ram lamb class and second in both the eight-tooth ram and six-tooth ewe classes.
The Boer Goat Regional Championship formed part of the agricultural programme surrounding the opening of the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show at its new home at the Royal Showgrounds at Tweedie, Howick.
With quality animals, strong competition and championship honours shared between two of the leading exhibitors, the regional show provided an impressive showcase of Boer goat breeding in KwaZulu-Natal — and a fitting agricultural start to this milestone year for the Royal Agricultural Society.
Congratulations to all the breeders and exhibitors who took part in a fine showcase of the Boer goat breed.
Our sincere thanks go to the South African Boer Goat Breeders' Association for facilitating this show and assisting, and to judge Jaco van der Merwe for his time, effort and expertise.
We are also grateful to RPO KZN, Voermol Feeds SA and the Royal Agricultural Society for sponsoring the 2026 Royal Show Goats section.
