Supreme champion: Fernhill, Ballan
Champion ewe: Fernhill
Reserve: Romale, Ballan
Champion ram: Johnos, Eurack
Reserve: Lyntree, Invermay
It was an unexpected result for Fernhill Southdown stud, whose three year-old ewe won supreme Southdown exhibit at the Royal Melbourne Show.
The ewe was not shy in the show ring, having won ribbons at Geelong and Melbourne before, but it was her first supreme exhibit title.
But Roslyn Ireland, who represented the Ballan stud on behalf of Graeme Dehnert who could not attend, said she was a good example of the Southdown breed.
“She stands up well, and has a lamb that’s taken a bit out of her, but she’s still maintained condition,” Ms Ireland said.
And judge Richard Archer, Quamby Plains, Hagley, Tasmania, agreed, saying she was doing a great job with her lamb-at-foot.
Mr Archer said she would continue to do a great job, and represent the Southdown breed well.
He said the champion ram, exhibited by Johno's Southdown stud, Eurack, was a nice, muscly ram, with a lovely top line.
“He’s a very good, strong ram,” he said.