Five finalists have been selected for a showdown in this year’s Taralga ANZ Agribusiness flock ewe competition with the winner to be announced at the Taralga Show on March 11.
The finalists, in no particular order, are Geoff Croker, “Meadow Drive”, Golspie (Winyar blood), Brian Corby, “Bunjie”, Taralga (Carrabungla blood), Chris Croker, “Ayrston”, Golspie (Thalaba blood), Steve Mills, “Seamans”, Golspie (Stillbrook blood) Estelle and David Roberts, “Eastleigh”, Golspie (Boudjah blood).
The judges, Ben Patrick, Yarrawonga stud, Cunningar, and George Merriman, Merryville stud, Boorowa, commented on the good presentation of the flocks and the difficulty they had selecting five finalists from the 11 flocks judged on-farm during the day.
About 100 people accompanied the judges on their property tour.
They said the sheep had held up well in the dry spell with a pleasing 80-100mm of rain two days before the judging.
A junior judging competition was held in conjunction with the flock ewe contest featuring students from Crookwell High and St Stanislaus College, Bathurst, and one independent competitor, Tyler Ferguson, Goulburn.
He will join Hugh Croker and Cameron Trengrove from Stannies and Ashleigh Landford and D’arcy Slater in the final which will be held during the Southern Tableland Regional Flock Ewe competition on March 16.
At Taralga they judged four of the 11 flocks and were required to give a written summary of their deliberations.
During the day they had the guidance of two mentors, Aaron Granger, Rogara stud, Goulburn, and Ben McIntosh, Carrabungla stud, Laggan.
In the final they will judge four of the eight flocks competing for bragging rights in the Southern Tablelands.
Last the year the Taralga flock ewe competition was won by the “Eastleigh” flock (Boudjah blood) with Brian Corby, “Bunjie”, Taralga (Carrabungla blood) in second place.
One of the organisers of this year’s competition and finalist, Chris Croker, thanked ANZ Agribusiness for its strong support of flock ewe competitions in the region.
Last year’s Southern Tablelands flock ewe compettion was won by Bill Hurley, “Killanear”, Boorowa for the second year in a row.
He is again a finalist in this year’s Boorowa competition.