Lamb Champs Bloemfontein Media Statement

Lamb Champs Bloemfontein crowns 2026 champions and confirms two more places in Team South Africa

Lamb Champs returned to Bloemfontein on Saturday, 29 August, as 61 family farmers competed at Toyota Stadium to determine whose lamb could claim the title of the tastiest in the region.

Around 3 000 people attended Lamb Champs Bloemfontein, combining South African agriculture, food, entertainment and sport in a day centred around the farmers who produce some of the country’s finest lamb.

At the end of the competition, Paul van Rooyen from Rouxville in the Free State, farming with Meatmaster sheep, was crowned the 2026 Lamb Champs Bloemfontein champion.

The victory also marked a first in Lamb Champs history, with Van Rooyen becoming the first previous Lamb Champs winner to win a Lamb Champs competition again.

Hendri Punt and Jess Kessel from Dewetsdorp in the Free State, farming with SAVM sheep, finished second, while Janri Brits from Winburg in the Free State, farming with Merino sheep, took third place.

Results:

1. Paul van Rooyen – Rouxville, Free State – Meatmaster
2. Hendri Punt and Jess Kessel – Dewetsdorp, Free State – SAVM
3. Janri Brits – Winburg, Free State – Merino
4. Ancois Potgieter – Tweeling, Free State – Merino
5. Danie Cilliers – Philippolis, Free State – Dorper

The result carried additional significance this year, with the first- and second-place finishers earning automatic selection for the South African team that will compete against Namibia in the inaugural Lamb Champs Invitational in Pretoria on 31 October 2026.

The Namibian team that will compete in the Lamb Champs Invitational will be officially announced in Windhoek on 18 September 2026, setting the stage for the first South Africa versus Namibia showdown later this year.

Hennie Jonker, the overall winner of Lamb Champs 2025, has already qualified for the South African team with his Hampshire Down.

Gerhard and Jani Lourens of Gauteng, farming with Persian sheep, and Daan and Tharin Malan of Bethal, Mpumalanga, farming with Dormers, secured their places through Lamb Champs Pretoria.

Gawie van Heerden has been appointed captain of the South African team.

The final ten-member South African team will consist of the 2025 national champion, the top two farmers from each of the Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Boland Lamb Champs competitions, as well as three captain’s selections.

Following the Bloemfontein results, the South African team currently includes:

Hennie Jonker – 2025 Lamb Champs national champion – Hampshire Down

Gerhard and Jani Lourens – Gauteng – Persian

Daan and Tharin Malan – Bethal, Mpumalanga – Dormer

Paul van Rooyen – Rouxville, Free State – Meatmaster

Hendri Punt and Jess Kessel – Dewetsdorp, Free State – SAVM

The remaining two automatic qualifying places will be determined at Lamb Champs Boland, after which Van Heerden’s three captain’s selections will complete the South African team.

Saai CEO and Lamb Champs founder Francois Rossouw said the Bloemfontein competition demonstrated exactly why the concept continues to grow.

“Lamb Champs starts with a very simple question: which farmer produces the tastiest lamb? But around that question we have been able to build a platform where family farmers can put their products directly in front of thousands of consumers.

“With 60 farmers competing and around 3 000 people attending in Bloemfontein, it shows that people want to know who produces their food and they want to support the farmers behind it.

“This year there is also something much bigger at stake. Our first- and second-place farmers are not only leaving Bloemfontein with a Lamb Champs result; they have earned the opportunity to represent South Africa against Namibia on 31 October. That adds an entirely new dimension to the competition.”

Tessa Chamberlain, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Pick n Pay, said the retailer’s involvement in Lamb Champs is centred on supporting family farmers and creating opportunities for them to access the market.

“Our involvement in Lamb Champs comes down to supporting family farmers and giving them direct access to market. These are the farmers we cannot afford to lose, because they are critical to South Africa's food security.

“Food security remains an intense focus for us as a business. We have deliberately selected key categories of food where we can make the biggest difference, and lamb is one of them, so that South Africans continue to have access to excellent quality food, produced by the farmers who know it best.”

Dallas Langman, Managing Executive of Pick n Pay's Retail Division, said the retailer's continued investment in Fresh foods has helped drive the success of the Lamb Champs programme, making it a standout example of quality, innovation and collaboration across the business.

“We have placed a significant focus on developing our Fresh foods ranges, and the Lamb Champs range is a direct result of that commitment,” said Langman.

“The success of this programme reflects the passion, expertise and dedication of our people, from our Fresh food specialists and store teams to our merchandising, buying and supply chain colleagues, as well as the strong partnerships we have built with our suppliers. Together, they have helped transform Lamb Champs into a platform that celebrates excellence, showcases innovation and delivers exceptional quality to our customers.

“It is a success story we are incredibly proud to be part of, and one that demonstrates the power of our people working together to bring the very best products to South African consumers.”

The competition formed part of a full day of activities at Toyota Stadium. Gates opened at 10:00, with entertainment throughout the day from Minki, Tino, Henru & Schwabie, Ichnus and Piesangskille.

At 13:30 the spits opened to the public, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy the lamb prepared at the event. The afternoon programme also included the popular skaapkop-eating competition, Pick n Pay’s “Spin & Win” activation and a live auction before the announcement of the Lamb Champs winners.

After the prizegiving, visitors remained at Toyota Stadium to watch the Springboks take on the All Blacks at 17:00.

Lamb Champs was established to create a consumer-facing platform for family farmers and to place the focus on the quality of the product they produce. Rather than judging animals on appearance, pedigree or traditional show criteria, Lamb Champs ultimately asks consumers and judges to focus on what matters when lamb reaches the plate: taste.

The competition has since developed into one of South Africa’s most recognisable agricultural food events, bringing farmers and consumers together while providing participating producers with an opportunity to build their brands and establish direct relationships with the market.

Attention now turns to the remaining Lamb Champs events and the completion of Team South Africa ahead of the Lamb Champs Invitational: South Africa vs Namibia, which takes place in Pretoria on 31 October 2026.

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