Polwarth placings dominated by two families

It was a fitting return on the massive investment each family made simply reaching the green carpeted floor of the Australian Sheep & Wool Show.

The Walkers sailed from their stud, Riverview, near New Norfolk in Tasmania, on Tuesday, while the McArdles had traveled from Kangaroo Island.

Riverview walked away with supreme champion sheep, champion senior ram and the Uruguayan ribbon, as well as claiming the title for champion Polwarth ewe fleece and most valuable commercial fleece.

The Walkers' Riverview stud is a real family affair.

Wayne and Maxine Walker have been breeding Polwarth sheep for 22 years and daughter Charlotte has inherited her father's passion for the dual-purpose breed.

"When Wayne and I got married, he said he wanted to build a house by 30 and have a Polwarth stud," Maxine Walker said.

"Now, Wayne and Charlotte argue about sheep all the time."

The battles are generally about showing, according to Charlotte.

"Generally, Dad wants to take different sheep to shows," she said.

"Usually, he gets his way but sometimes I can twist his arm."

Mr Walker won the battle for Bendigo, bringing three ewes and four rams in the back of the ute - the perfect number to allow all the sheep to lie down and rest.

Their 3.5-year-old, 106-kilogram ram, "Buddy", rewarded the family by taking out supreme champion sheep.

Judge Martin Paterson said Buddy was "the type of ram studs need to use" and praised the sheep for its fleece.

Riverview's ewes average an 8kg fleece, while its rams produce 10-12kg on average, Mr Walker said.

"Merino breeders are buying our rams to improve the density of their fleeces," Maxine Walker said.

For Charlotte, the allure of the breed is more personal.

"I want to have my own Polwarth stud so I can compete against Dad," she laughed.

"They're also very quiet, so quiet, you can do anything with them.

"We don't halter train them before showing, just pop the halter on and try to get them to walk with it.

"Yes, it's difficult at first but they learn as they go from one show to another.

"Buddy's my favourite, he's such a sweet natured thing, he's like a puppy, you can lie down with him."

Invited by the Polwarth Sheep Breeders Association to perform as an associate judge at the show, Ms Walker said she found the perspectives of different judges interesting.

"Martin, today's judge, is from New Zealand and likes a thicker wool with a more open face," she said.

"Preferences tend to vary from state to state, with Victorians favouring plain, flat wool and others a really crimpy wool.

"One of the benefits of showing is that you get to see lots of other styles of Polwarths."

Jared McArdle of Taljar Polwarths from Kangaroo Island was also pleased with his stud's showing, taking the inaugural performance class title for the breed, with a score of 86.3 points.

Mr McArdle said he had been scanning Taljar sheep for five years to better understand their musculature.

"The numbers help people compare Polwarths - a very underrated breed - with other sheep, like Border Leicesters," he said.

"Polwarths are very hardy and do as well in high rainfall zones as they do in the dry.

"They are great mothers, too, for excellent prime lambs.

"People have a visual of old Polwarths weighing 80-90kg but they're larger now.

"A ram of ours, Tiny Tim, was the heaviest ever weighed at 153kg, which was at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2015."

Taljar took out the junior champion ram, reserve champion senior ram, grand champion ewe, and senior and junior champion ewe.

Mr McArdle said he was pleased the breed was so well represented at the ASWS this year.

"It was great to see young handlers, three new flocks planning to become studs and such a good line-up here today," he said.

"There are normally around 35 Polwarths at the show but around 70 are here this year.

"The future's bright for the Polwarth breed."