Not often achieved is the trifecta at the Merino judging at Sydney Royal, but Demondrille stud, Harden, has done it, winning supreme Merino ram, supreme Merino ewe and grand champion fleece of show.
The stud, steered by brothers Patrick and Andrew Davis, has stood the test of time over the years, holding its own in the show ring, and taking the coveted supreme sash in Sydney twice before, but 2017 may have just be its biggest year.
The brothers supreme ram climbed the ranks to superiority after it won its class fine/medium March shorn ram, not more than four teeth.
In almost a mirror image, their ewe graduated from the same class fine/medium March shorn ewe, not more than four teeth.
The ewe was first to be sashed queen of the sheep mats, before her show team mate was sashed king. They then went against each other for the ultimate accolade. It was the ram that held the attention of all seven judges.
The Demondrille 21-micron champion fleece originally won its skirted housed medium wool class with a total of 96 points.
And for other sheep breeders, 2017 became a memorable year.
In the meat and dual-purpose breeds Tattykeel stud, Oberon, won the esteemed Peter Taylor Memorial Perpetual Trophy for the third consecutive year. In the 34 years the class has been in place, Tattykeel has won the trophy 18 times a strike rate of 53 per cent.
Merryville stud, Boorowa, headed by brothers Wal and George Merriman, won the prestigious Stonehaven Cup for the 27th time.
In the 82 competitions since 1935 when the cup was donated by Lord Stonehaven, Merryville has been in the winners seat more than any other stud, and when the sums are done, it has won 33pc of trophies.
A hat trick was produced by Langdene stud, Dunedoo, when it won the August-shorn Bruce Merriman Memorial trophy for the third consecutive year. It also placed second in the class, having enough consistent type Merinos to enter two teams.
Maybe the most meaningful win this year though, came when Malcolm Cox and family of Bocoble stud, Mudgee, was announced winner of the Otway Falkiner Cup for the best group of five Poll Merinos for the second year. This was particularly special for family members after losing their beloved eldest son, Cameron, 22, earlier in the year.
This was special because this was Camerons team, Malcolm said.
For a comprehensive rundown of all the results at the Sydney Royal Show, turn to The Lands 64-page Sydney Royal Show report special publication inside this weeks edition.