There is remarkable size, length of body and barrel in these sheep, was judge Kim Hendersons comment when deliberating on the quality of the March and August shorn fine wool sheep paraded before him.
Mr Henderson, Grogansworth Merinos, Bowning, awarded the ram grand championship to one which had graduated from the six tooth, March shorn class, bred and exhibited by Wal and George Merriman, Merryville Merinos, Boorowa.
He is a powerful ram with quite exceptional commercial fleece and depth of body, Mr Henderson said.
To see a sheep of this calibre in the eastern states is most gratifying.
The Merryville ram, carrying a 19.5-micron fleece is the grandson of the supreme ram shown during the 2010 Royal, and had been judged supreme ram at the 2017 Great Southern Supreme Merinos.
Murray Power, Airlie Merinos, Walcha, was awarded the reserve grand championship for his six-tooth March shorn ram. The grand champion ewe was also awarded to the Merryville stud, for their winner of six tooth March shorn class.
She has superb constitution with a tremendous barrel and is a great wool producer, Mr Henderson said. After all, it is a commercial reality to fill wool packs.
Andrew and Patrick Davis, Demondrille Merinos, Harden were awarded the reserve grand championship for their ewe which had come first in the March shorn, not more than four teeth class.
In the August-shorn fine wool classes, Garry Cox, Langdene Merinos, Dunedoo, paraded the champion fine wool ram which had been successful in under four-tooth class. Mr Cox was also awarded the reserve championship for his two tooth ram.
Champion fine wool August shorn ewe was awarded to Garry Cox, Langdene Merinos, Dunedoo, for his ewe not showing more than two teeth, while Mr Cox also paraded the reserve champion fine wool August shorn ewe.
Mr Henderson said the August shorn winners showed outstanding potential. There is a lot of width and bone in these sheep with the ability to cut a lot of wool, he said.
