Both the shortwool and longwool groups of the Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association’s breeds interbreed competition at the Royal Melbourne Show were taken out by first time winners of the tricoloured ribbons.
Graeme Dehnert’s Fernhill Southdown stud, Ballan, took out the shortwool group.
New Zealand judge Kim Ridgen, who was bought out to judge the Hampshire Down feature show, spoke on behalf of the judging panel.
“All four of them are so even,” she said of the Southdown team.
“It’s an outstanding group, chock full of meat.”
Making their Royal Melbourne Show debut, Talkook Border Leicester stud, Crookwell, NSW, took out the longwool group.
Judge Ian Starritt, Womboota Pastoral sheep studs, Womboota, NSW, said the group was “very, very even”.
“With their quality of wool and carcase, and the way they stand on their legs, it was easy to place,” Mr Starritt said.
