It continues to be the year of the Wurrook and Glenpaen studs dominating the Merino grand champion broad-ribbons at Victorian shows.
Wurrook Merino stud, Rokewood, won the grand champion Merino ram of Sheepvention with a 23 month-old ram and a fellow western Victorian stud, Glenpaen Merino stud, Brimpaen, topped the females with the same rising two year-old ewe that won at Australian Sheep & Wool Show (ASWS) in Bendigo and Ballarat Show.
Judge Geoff Notman, Mt Widderin stud, Skipton, said Wurook's champion ram, that came through the fine wool section, had tremendous length of staple, soft wool and great coverage on a large-scale and correct frame. That was backed up by its measurements of 19.8-micron, 3.1 standard deviation (SD), 15.7 co-efficient of variation (CV), 100 per cent comfort factor (CF) and a curvature value of 59 degrees per millimetre.
The broad-ribbon is a fitting end to Wurrook's successful show season, having last month won supreme exhibit at both the Australian Sheep & Wool Show (ASWS) at Bendigo and at the Ballarat Show with a different ram.
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Wurrook principal Paul Walton said the fact that that two Wurrook rams topped major Victorian shows, and one of the stud's ewes was the grand champion ewe at Canberra, showed the operation's depth of breeding.
Sheepvention's top ram was of the Wurrook Uniform family, and its sire was a young ram that Paul and Kylie decided to use in the stud, and not show. The Waltons plan to shear down the ram and get it ready for next April's joining.
Wurrook also took home champion superfine/fine wool Poll Merino ewe and reserve champion fine wool ewe.
The grand champion ewe broad-ribbon made it four-in-a-row for the Miller family's Glenpaen stud, with the same ewe having won the same prize at the Campbell Town Show, Tasmania, the ASWS, Ballarat and now Sheepvention.
The four-judge panel decided on the top ewe quickly, and Pat Millear, Stud Park South, Willaura, said she was an "outstanding sheep" that was hugely productive thanks to her "massive staple" on a great, thick frame and that she "carries the wool right down her legs".
Mr Millear also highlighted the medium/fine wool ewe's clean face and her "pure white, crimpy wool", which boasted measurements of 18.7M, an SD of 2.8, CF of 99.8pc and a curvature value of 55 deg/mm.
"People have seen around at shows, and know that she is outstanding," the judge said.
"To use a football phrase because Tom Hawkins is presenting (the ribbon), 'Get around her boys' because she is an outstanding ewe, that combines very white, crimpy wool, with a terrific top-line and softness - she has all bases covered."
The two year-old ewe is by Roseville Park 14 and out of a Glenpaen stud ewe.
The Miller family plan to show her at Dubbo at the end of the month and then put her into an embryo transfer program.
The only other ewe that the Millers showed at Sheepvention was also in the supreme judging line-up after winning champion fine wool ewe.
