Mulloorie's Merino magic

Father and son duo Peter and Brett Meyer, Brinkworth, took out the supreme exhibit for the second year running, this time with Poll Merino ram Mulloorie Charlie.

Charlie, which tipped the scales at a massive 144 kilograms, was earlier sashed grand champion ram before going on to beat the grand champion ewe.

The Meyers had high hopes for their ram ahead of the Hay show, given it placed second in the Ram of the Year at the SA Stud Merino Field Days (SASMFD) held at Burra in March.

The two-year-old medium wool ram had a wool micron of 20.1 and a comfort factor (CF) of 99.8pc.

"He is a very good wool sheep," Peter Meyer said.

Charlie was by Mulloorie 50, a sire that had bred exceptionally well for the stud, and also sired the grand champion ram at Hay show last year.

Charlie had already been sold to a group of Western Australian stud breeders for $30,000, however, Mulloorie have retained a semen share.

The ram will head to the west following the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show next month, where Charlie and its sister will represent SA in the pairs competition following their win at the SASMFD.

First place winner of the sub-junior judging was Emily Gibson, 9, Croidon Station, Hay and her brother Jack, 11, placed third. First in the junior judging was Croidon Station jackeroo from France was Thomas van Melle. Click on this image to see more photos in our online gallery.

Up against Mulloorie Charlie for the top gong was the grand champion ewe from the Coddington family's Roseville Park Merino stud, Dubbo.

The two-year-old ewe Roseville Park 11-2301 was an embryo transfer lamb b RP 9-14.

RP 9-14 has bred high performing daughters for the Coddington family producing three different grand champion ewes to date - one at the NSW State Sheep Show at Dubbo, another at both the Queensland State Sheep Show and Sydney Royal, and the latest win at Hay.

RP 11-2301, measuring 17.7-micron with a 2.5-micron standard deviation, 14.1 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.7pc CF, had been shown previously at Sydney Royal in March where it was sashed champion fine/medium wool August-shorn ewe.

The prestigious and major drawcard for the Hay event is the Australian champion hogget ram of the year, which was fiercely contested by 39 entries this year from 25 studs.

It was Jerilderie Merino breeder Ross Wells, Willandra stud, who took out the top honour for his 18.7-micron Poll Merino ram that had a 100pc CF.

Mr Wells' odds were increased at taking out the $5000 prize as two of his Poll Merino rams were selected for the final line-up of four hogget rams.

The other two rams in the final line-up, also Poll Merinos, were from SA studs Collinsville and Radnor.

Judge Daryl Smith, Glenville Merinos, Eyre Peninsula, SA, said the champion hogget ram from Willandra was perfect on its feet with a "superb" top line.

"He has the type of wool everyone would like to see on their sheep," Mr Smith said.

The most successful exhibitor at the Hay Merino Sheep Show was Collinsville stud, Booborowie, SA - one of its major wins included the champion hogget Merino ewe from a line-up of 11 ewes from 11 studs.

The supreme champion pen of flock ewes was won by Daniel Dowling, "Merritop", Hay.

Champion unhoused ewe was contested by two studs and seven ewes, and won by Stephen and Carol Huggins, Woodpark Poll Merinos, Hay.

Single unhoused ram was won by Gavin Lieschke, Bundaleer Merinos, Walla Walla, from a field of seven rams from four studs.

Most successful exhibitor in the unhoused section was Woodpark Poll.

A field of 11 entrants from across NSW, Victoria, SA and WA raised a sweat in the Ian Munro Memorial Blade Shearing competition which was won for the first time by a Western Australian.

WA sheep classer Courtney Sutherland, Harrismith, took out this year's event for his four minutes and 20 seconds shearing effort.

The ewes for the blade shearing were provided by Burrabogie Pastoral Company, Hay.

The three senior judges at the show were medium wool judge Garry Cox, Langdene Merinos, Dunedoo; stud judge Daryl Smith, and flock judge Nick Wadlow, Old Ashrose Merinos, Hallett, SA.

Associate judges were Emma Bowman, "Nullabor", Hay, and Egelabra Merino stud jackearoos Tom Upton and Hugh McGrath, Warren.

Agricultural exchange student Thomas van Melle, from France, who has been jackarooing at the Gibson family's sheep station "Croidon" near Hay for the past 10 months, proved he had learnt plenty about Merinos after he beat five local entrants in the junior judging competition.

Nine-year-old Emily Gibson, "Croidon", Hay, placed first in the sub-junior judging in a field of eight entrants.

Hay Merino Sheep Show secretary Gabby Hurst confirmed there were 35 studs from three States competing.

There were 172 rams and 145 ewes entered.

Ms Hurst said flock entries were down slightly on last year, but all other sections were on par with last year, with possibly a few more interstate stud entries.

"There was a great turnout of spectators and about 270 people attended the event," she said.

Future farmers Archie Houston, 4, "Benduck", Hay, and Paddy Ryan, 6, "Curragh", Oxley. Click on this image to see more photos in our online gallery.

Father and son duo Daniel and Peter Rogers, Mount Yulong Poll Merino stud, Horsham, Victoria, competed in the blade shearing for the third year running. Click on this image to see more photos in our online gallery.