An upstanding four-tooth August shorn ram bred by the Chapman family of Hinesville stud, Delegate, NSW, was named the grand champion ram in the medium wool judging.
Named ‘Two-Up’, he is by Glendonald 214 and out of a ewe that was part of the champion pen of ewe hoggets at Hay three years ago. His grand dam was champion in Adelaide five years ago.
Stud principal Drew Chapman said his main asset would be his flawless structure.
“He has beautifully square feet, he is a long symmetrical ram as well as being a lovely natured ram with a good disposition,” he said.
He said this was Two-Ups first show as they wanted to wait and present him as a full wool.
The big ram, with his 150 millimetre staple, had fleece measurements of 18.4-micron fibre diameter, 2.8 standard deviation (SD), 15.2 per cent coefficient of variation (CV) and a comfort factor (CF) of 99.8pc.
Judge Michael Gough, from Argentina, commended the ram’s wool type all over.
“It’s pure white wool doesn’t change wherever you look,” he said.
“He has a very long staple and he is very good underneath.”
Two-Up will be the lead sale ram in the Hinesville team for Dubbo National at the end of August.
Reserve grand champion medium wool ram went to Rob and Lee-ann Mullan of Eastville Park stud, Wickepin, WA, with their champion medium wool poll ram.
He first won his six-tooth August shorn poll ram class before reaching champion medium poll ram status.
The grand champion medium wool ewe title was this year earned by a four-tooth August shorn ewe bred by the Kopp family of Towalba Merino stud, Peak Hill, NSW. (Pictured right is Garry Kopp, of Towalba, with the grand champion ewe).
She is from a syndicate of sons of Towalba Calendar (on both her father and dams side), a ram that has bred on incredibly well for the stud.
The 116 kilogram structurally correct ewe was described by judge Michael Gough from Argentina as “a massive ewe, a huge amount of soft and long stapled wool.”
“She is a magnificent ewe, a big ewe with good quality wool,” Mr Gough said.
Her medium wool fleece measured 21.4-micron fibre diameter, 3 SD, 14pc CV and 99.6pc CF.
It was her second broad ribbon, with a champion medium wool ewe gong at Sydney Royal in March this year.
Her next stop will be Dubbo National in August.
Reserve grand champion went to Robert Sullivan of Greenfields stud, Hallett, SA with a four-tooth August shorn ewe that followed the Towalba ewe in second place right through the stages to eventually be sashed with the reserve grand ribbon.
Champion medium wool poll ewe went to Panorama, Borung with reserve to Nyowee, Balakalava, SA.
Towalba also won the junior champion medium wool ram with a two-tooth and the junior champion ewe was won by Tamaleuca, Ouyen, with a two-tooth poll ram.
The most successful medium wool exhibitor was taken home to Peak Hill, by the Towalba team.
Garry Kopp, of Towalba, said their show was exceptional.
“It was the best result we have ever had a Bendigo,” he said.
