The 970 kilometre trip to the New England paid off for Berridale Merino breeders the Lette family when their ultra superfine ram was sashed supreme exhibit at the Armidale Merino Ram Show on Tuesday.
Judges Greg Alcock, Greeland Merinos, Bungarby, and Felicity Brumpton, Jolly Jumbuck Merinos, Mitchell, Qld, combed through the 72 nominated rams from 24 different studs but they faced a difficult deliberation when splitting the top two rams from Conrayn and the eventual reserve grand champion from the Carlon family, Queenlee Merinos, Uralla.
While Mr Alcock and many in the crowd were drawn to the superfine Queenlee ram for his structure and presence, nobody could deny the win to Conrayn after opening up his fleece.
"He has just got the beautiful ultrafine wool and it carries right down underneath; he has got the same wool underneath on the belly wool," Mr Alcock said.
"Good long body, good make and shape and the wool to go with it.
"The reserve supreme has got the make and the shape and the width and correctness and sirey head but the ultrafine just carries himself a little bit better underneath, that's what it came down to at the end."
Sired by 2016 Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show champion in Conrayn Ford, the 15.1 micron ram (Tag M21484) had a standard deviation of 2.94, co-efficient variation of 19.47, comfort factor of 100 and a body weight of 108 kilograms.
He was no stranger to show success himself.
The ram was named champion superfine ram at the Sydney Royal Show last year as a two tooth where he was shorn and later secured the short wool ultrafine champion title at Bendigo in July.
Owner Peter Lette said there was a lot to like about the ram, which was also named ultra superfine wool champion at Armidale.
"He has got a lovely soft handle to him but he is just punching out a beautiful style and he has got a magnificent underline for an ultrafine," he said.
"You don't get many ultras with a lovely stretch in the body and plenty of depth. He is a big boy for a 15 micron ram, he is as big as the fine medium fellas."
It was almost the ultimate fairytale finish for the Carlon family of Queenlee Merinos who were one ribbon away from claiming the top honours with their only exhibit at the event.
Their 17.4 micron ram was sired by an Alfoxton ram who was purchased through the Armidale Merino Ram Show and Sale about three or four years ago.
The ram had a 2.59 SD, 14.89 CV, 100 CF, and a body weight of 114 kilograms and is one of a team of Alfoxton sired rams the stud will show or sell this year.
"We weren't expecting that, that's for sure," Joe Carlon said.
"We've just got the one here so that's a pretty good strike rate."
Show results
Champion ultra superfine ram: Conrayn. Reserve: Hillcreston Park.
Champion superfine wool ram: Queenlee. Reserve: Demondrille.
Champion fine wool ram: Kurrajong Park. Reserve: Nerstane.
Champion finemedium wool ram: Merryville. Reserve: Airlie.
Champion August shorn ram: Lynford. Reserve: Lynford.
Champion Poll ram: Lynford. Reserve: Airlie.
Champion pen of three rams: Merryville.
Cattle girl shows her sheep judging skills
Kentucky teenager Isabel Hine may currently have 120 head of Limousin and Angus cattle running on her family's property but it didn't stop her from dominating the junior judging at the Armidale Merino Ram Show and Sale.
The 15-year-old claimed the dual titles of champion fleece junior judge and Merino junior judge ahead of a strong field of 84 students.
With a research scientist father who also has wool classing expertise, Ms Hine not only learnt skills from within her own household but began sheep judging through her school, O'Connor Catholic College, about four years ago.
She had previously qualified to compete at the Sydney Royal Show but her win in Armidale gave her a debut appearance on the judging mat for the supreme exhibit of the show.
Ms Hine hopes to study rural science and potentially become a research scientist too.
In the meantime, she plans to expand their sheep numbers at home.
"We did used to have Merino sheep but we had to destock with the dry," she said.
"We just bought a ram from Shalimar Park's sale the other day. We only have 20 wethers left but hopefully we can sell them and buy some ewes again."
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
