Tintern’s Romney clean sweep

The ram, known as Hugo, was exhibited as a lamb with its dam at Melbourne in 2016, where she took out supreme exhibit for the second year in a row.

Exhibiting by itself last year, the ram was against tough competition, coming second in its class, losing to the ram that eventually won supreme exhibit.

But Ashlea and Olivia Cross, from the Ringwood East school, said in the last year, he has developed significantly, and is now one of the best sheep they have ever bred.

Judge Hugh Taylor, Doughboy Romney stud, Kaikoura, New Zealand, said the ram had good carcase attributes and an outstanding fleece.

The ram was actually an artificial insemination (AI) son of Doughboy 227, bred by Mr Taylor.

Champion ewe was also won by Tintern, another two year-old exhibit, who had a four week-old lamb at foot.

Olivia Cross said the ewe had done well, maintaining her condition even with the lamb.