The interbreed group at the Canberra Royal is always a keenly contested event and this year's display was equal to any seen in the past.
Competing for the Fred Eldering Memorial sponsored by Jason and Vicki Barker, Timor studs, Parkes, eight groups representing some of the major prime lamb breeds in Australia paraded before judges, Chris Squiers, Shirlee Downs, Quairading, WA, Jarrod Alcorn, Jarroby White Suffolks, Yass, Peter Matus, Tara Texels, Rockley, and Keith Coble, Kei-vale Dorset Horn, Boorowa, who were assisted by associate judge Elizabeth Graham, Ardachy Texels, NZ, in determining the group worthy of taking the trophy.
After a long deliberation, the judges awarded the trophy to the team of Poll Dorsets entered by the Armstrong family, Armdale Poll Dorsets, Marrar, which was sashed by Jason Barker.
The lead ram who was sired by Armdale Kotzur, champion ram and supreme interbreed exhibit at the 2016 Canberra Royal, was placed first in shorn milk-tooth class before being judged reserve champion ram.
The first ewe had been judged first in milk-tooth woolly ewe class before going on to be judged champion Poll Dorset ewe and ultimately supreme prime lamb ewe of show.
The second ewe had been judged second in the milk-tooth woolly class.
Co-studmaster, Garry Armstrong, said his team were typical of the productive Poll Dorset sheep he and his family were breeding.
Judged by Chris Squiers, the Armstrong family also exhibited the champion Poll Dorset ram, which was awarded the Bob Ramm Memorial Trophy sponsored by Southern Tablelands Region APDA, and had graduated from the June 2017 drop class. Sired by Armdale 476, this was the first showing for the prospective sire.
Reserve champion ewe was awarded to Gordon Close and his daughter, Charlotte, Closeup Poll Dorset stud, Finley.
The Armstrong family were the most successful exhibitors in the Poll Dorset section.