Supreme Merino exhibit: Melrose
Grand champion ram: Glenpaen
Reserve grand champion ram: Glenpaen
Grand champion ewe: Melrose
Reserve grand champion ewe: Glenpaen
MELROSE Merino stud principal Warren Russell, Nurrabiel, says he has received a huge boost by winning the Supreme Merino ribbon at this year's Balmoral Show.
Mr Russell won with his four tooth superfine Poll Merino ewe, 17BN312.
"I finally got a supreme and it's not easy to do," Mr Russell said.
"It seems someone is always just ahead of me, so it's good to get one."
Mr Russell said the ewe took out the grand champion shorn ribbon at last year's Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, as a lamb.
"It was a terrific achievement and another first for Melrose," Mr Russell said.
"She's is a big, modern superfine ewe with a big barrel and excellent style, long staple wool with good lock structure.
"She's terrifically square, with a strong proud feminine presence."
He said the ewe's test results last year were Australian Sheep Breeding Values of a 16.7 micron fleece, a 2.6 per cent standard deviation and 15.6pc co-efficient of variation.
The ewe was sired by Bundaleer Poll Locky 130966, while the dam's grandsires went back to Roseville Park Poll 064113 and Coromandel Poll 030420.
Mr Russell said Balmoral was a yardstick for the show year.
"You might not necessarily win, but you can see where you are, in comparison with the rest of the field," he said.
"It's the first big show of the year and everyone likes to come along to see how they compare."
He said it was likely he would continue to show the ewe.
"She'll stay in the sheds and I look forward to taking her to Bendigo, and hopefully doing well there with her," he said.
He said the win had given him confidence to find a ram, so both animals could be entered in the Victorian pairs.
"It's another thing that's been on my to do list, for a long time," he said.
"We did win the pair at Balmoral as well, so that bodes well for our standing."
Melrose also won the Kurra Wirra trophy for champion pair in 2005.
WISS champion superfine wool exhibitor was won by Glenara and the WISS champion fine ribbon by Coryule, while Kerrilyn took out the WISS champion medium and strong wool sections.
Mount Yulong won the group of three, one ram and two ewes.
Kerrilyn was the most successful exhibitor.