![Peter Baxter and Ian Menzies, “Moonbah”, Condobolin, with their Woodpark-blood maiden ewes. Peter Baxter and Ian Menzies, “Moonbah”, Condobolin, with their Woodpark-blood maiden ewes.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/2067547.jpg/r0_0_1024_683_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
THE environment across which the Merino industry spans were well represented in the Central Western Merino Ewe Competition, now in its 14th year.
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Organisers and followers alike regard this prestigious competition as a “grand final” from winners and runners-up of three maiden ewe competitions – Trundle’s Ted Little; Parkes Merino ewe fixture and Condobolin’s two-day Don Brown event.
What’s more, the growing conditions and environment of each are significantly different – Trundle and Parkes attract commercial flocks of mixed farming and cropping country as well as dedicated wool growers on the slopes while Condobolin district flocks are an important sideline to larger cereal cropping ventures.
However, what pulls these groups and breeding enthusiasts together is quality wool production, and that fact was borne out by 2012-drop maiden ewes of Ian and Jane Menzies, “Moonbah”, Condobolin, which won the Don Brown and went on to become the Central West champions.
The Menzies had won the Don Brown for the second consecutive year with their Woodpark blood flock which lambs in July/August and is shorn in August and with classing carried out by Michael Elmes, Narrandera.
Second placing went to the Ted Little competition winners Mat and Korina Aveyard for their 2012 drop maiden ewes which were bred at “Plevna West”, Trundle and are of Plevna blood.
The Aveyard flock lambs in July/August, are shorn in June and are classed by Mat’s brother, Boydie Aveyard, Trundle.
Winning the “runners-up” flock competition was the Helyar family’s Koyuna Pastoral Company, “Koyuna”, Tullibigeal, which was placed second in the Don Brown fixture.
The Koyuna flock of Belswick-blood lambs June/July and shearing is carried out in March with classing conducted by Allan Clarke, Dubbo.