Hamish Mclaren, Nerstane Merino stud, Woolbrook, with the August-shorn fine champion ram at the National Merino Show and Sale at Dubbo.
The fine show ring at the Merino national show at Dubbo found surprise entrants reach the top of the sash titles.
Under judge Joe Van Eyk, Shalimar Park, Walcha, it was the August-shorn rams and ewes who presented true representations of the breed, with the fine champion ram sashed to Nerstane stud, Woolbrook.
Winning its six-tooth and over class, the ram carried a 19.1-micron fleece, 2.8-micron-standard deviation (SD), a 14.7 per cent coefficient of variation (CV) and a 99.7pc comfort factor (CF).
Judge Joe Van Eyk said the top ram presented well throughout judging, exhibiting thickness and good coverage.
The champion ewe went to Grathlyn, Mudgee, with their August-shorn entry.
