First year jackaroo, Jack Lawrence, says theres a bit of pressure on him to better his elder brothers young judging success this year at the Nationals competition to be held at Adelaide Royal Show in September.
He beat 15 other finalists to become champion of the 2018 Royal Agricultural Society/Agricultural Societies Council NSW state Merino young judges competition at the recent Sydney Royal Show.
His brother, George, won the Merino young judges state championship in 2008 and was runner-up in the national competition.
Jack took out the 2017 Rabobank Dubbo National Merino Sheep Show award last August after starting at Egelabra Merino stud, Warren, last April. He had some junior judging experience at Yass show and a Yanco show while studying at Yanco Agricultural High School, but sheep judging was left far behind while finishing his high school education at Ballarat Grammar from Year 9 to Y12, then a two-year stint rowing with Mercantile Rowing Club in Melbourne.
The Lawrence boys came from Amoilla, Hay, and George now manages one of the familys Merino breeding properties between Ivanhoe and Menindee.
Reserve champion, Joe Carlon, of Queenlee stud, Uralla, gained his opportunity at the Great Southern Supreme Merino Show at Canberra in January.
Ive grown up around Merinos and I love working with them, so my judging has progressed over the years, he said.
He is the second eldest in the family while his elder brother, Tom, also competed in the Sydney state final after success at the Great Southern fixture. Joe said he was successful in his earlier judging experiences, but was too young to advance until this year.
Placegetters were Mitchell Rubie, Lachlan Merinos, Bedgerabong, third; Bryce Johnston, Naradhan, fourth; and Emma Bennetts, Merrygoen, fifth, with Andy Maclean, Haddon Rig stud manager, Warren, the over-judge from Merino medium and strong wool classes.