A NATIONAL Merino pair win at Sydney Royal Show has been a long-time coming for the Cox familys Langdene stud, Dunedoo, who have waited 10 years to secure the accolade.
Stud co-principal, Garry Cox said his stud had been knocking at the door for the past two Royals with second placings, but finally made it. We last won this honour to represent NSW at Bendigo 10 years ago, so its a wonderful win, Mr Cox said.
The team will head to the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo, Victoria, in July for the national titles of the Merino pair with judges agreeing they looked a productive pair.
Langdenes pair were of embryo transfer breeding with the ram sired by Langdene LD 110075 the fine-medium champion of Dubbo 2013, winning supreme award at Dunedoo show. He stood second in his four-tooth class in Sydney judging growing 17.9 micron wool.
Langdenes ewe is by One Oak 130351 and from a leading stud donor ewe, and was champion August-shorn ewe at Canberra Great Southern Supreme Merino fixture in January.
At Sydney judging the two-tooth was awarded champion fine wool August-shorn and reserve grand champion fine ewe with 20.7 micron wool.
This year 18 pairs from 13 studs contested the class under adjudication from all seven judges with Grathlyns pair from the Rayner family, Hargraves, placed second and the McLaren familys Nerstane stud, Woolbrook, third.
RAS March-shorn pair
Peter and Jayne Lette and family of Conrayn stud, Berridale, kicked-off a supreme effort at Sydney Royal with their March-shorn Merino pair winning the RAS Merino Pair of the Year.
This was with a six-tooth superfine wool ram going on to be crowned supreme Merino exhibit, and a six-tooth superfine ewe.
The ram, with a pedigree going back to Merryville Ringmaster 35, was supreme champion at the January Great Southern Supreme Merino fixture and followed with supreme award at Canberra Royal last month.
In Sydney growing 15.6 micron wool the ram took out superfine grand championship and went on to be supreme Merino ram and supreme exhibit. Conrayns ewe was champion superfine ewe at Cooma show and grand champion superfine ewe at Canberra Royal Show.
There were a pair each from 12 studs contesting this class with Shalimar Park stud of the van Eyk family, Walcha, placed second while West Vale stud of Leo Blanch and family, Wollan, stood third.
Judges ultrafine, Danny Picker, Hillcreston Park, Bigga; superfine, Aaran Granger, Rogara Poll, Goulburn; fine, Graham Privett, Glenleigh, Yass; fine-medium, Roger Polkinghorne, Charinga, Berrimal, Victoria; medium and strong, Andy Maclean, Haddon Rig, Warren, and Poll Merino judges, Sean Ballinger, Waverley Downs, Delungra, ultrafine, superfine and fine; and Tom Davidson, Moorundie Park, Gulnare, South Australia.