It was an all South Australian affair in the South African Meat Merino judging at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show but it was the stud that had travelled the furthest that enjoyed the most success.
Eyre Peninsula based stud, Lawral Park, Ungarra, made the 1200 kilometre trip worth it when it took out the supreme exhibit with a massive May 2018 drop ram ,Lawral Park 8040.
This 130 kilogram ram had come through from the milk tooth class and was also the junior and grand champion ram.
Its half brother, also by WA ram Royston Big Al 151306, which is stamping its mark on the Lawral Park stud flock, was reserve champion ram.
Bendigo has been a great prelude to the stud's annual on-property sale and the champion and reserve champion will be Lot 3 and Lot 2 in the sale to be held on August 12.
The other four animals in Lawral Park's show team will also be in the sale.
Judge and Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn breeder Rob Grieve, Clarkes Hill, said the SAMM breed had come a long way since he last judged them.
He was particularly impressed with his champion ram among the 20 sheep being judged.
"It has been a winner all day and is full of meat, stands up correct and is really fault free," he said.
The champion had a 21.8 micron fleece with an eye muscle depth scan of 48.6mm and fat depth of 10.3mm.
It was one of the most successful showings at Bendigo for Lawral Park which last claimed supreme exhibit at the ASWS in 2016 with one of its ewes.
"It was good to see good animals get rewarded today," Mr Lawrie said.
"We are aiming to breed a meat sheep with a Merino grade fleece.
"Our opinion is they are a prime lamb sire with white wool that does well in all environments."
The Gale family, Galaxy Park stud, Tintinara, took out the champion and reserve champion ewe but it was their winner of the under 1.5 year old class which took the top ribbon.
"Both ewes had good body weights and good wools but it just came down to one little fault that the reserve had," Mr Grieve said.
Galaxy Park also won champion SAMM wool ram with a ram which will be offered at the Hamilton Sheepvention sale next month.
Galaxy Park was also the most successful exhibitor.