GEOFF and Margaret Croker from Meadow Drive, Taralga, have claimed three top titles during the Taralga Show over the weekend, including first place in the ANZ Agribusiness Taralga Region Flock Ewe Competition.
A back-to-back win for the Crokers, who also took out the winning spot last year, their flock was described as a "magnificent line of extremely well presented sheep" by return judge Ben Patrick from Yarrawonga Merino stud, Harden, and David Zouch from Hollow Mount Merino stud, Bigga.
The Croker's Winyar-blood flock classed by Alan Dawson, Winyar Merinos, Canowindra, came out on top of the 10 strong entries from across the Tarlo, Mrytleville, Taralga and Golspie areas.
Crediting the evenness of the flock, Mr Zouch said they had more nourishment in the wools compared to some others.
"They have good conformation, and are well-nourished; with good-crimping and heavy cutting, very stylish well-covered wools," he said.
"They are magnificent sheep that are structurally near faultless. You would have to go a long way to find better than these ewes."
Mr Patrick said the well presented ewes were well balanced and extremely profitable.
"These are extremely profitable animals," Mr Patrick said. "They cut $124 worth of wool per head doing the sums off last week's market."
Mr Croker, together with his wife Margaret, have entered the competition for the last 16 years, placing first in three of the last four competitions.
Overall, he is encouraged with the direction of the flock and said they are getting a better frame about them, and producing more wool.
"We have been on the same line for a long time now. These really suit our country that is a bit lighter," he said.
“They are cutting a kilogram more these days and maintaining the micron.
"We cut 6.8 kilograms of wool at 18.8 average micron in the same sheep last year."
Mr Croker wants to be up around the 19.5 micron mark and to cut more wool, the main line of sheep is currently producing around six kilograms.
The Croker's flock was fed for eight of the past 12 months on sheep nuts but still have good wool for a tough year.
Along with the top-spot in the flock ewe competition, Mr Croker was named the winner of the People's Choice Award and the recipient of the Joe Croker Memorial that is calculated on a most accumulated points basis from the Taralga Flock Ewe Competition and three events held at the Taralga Show.
The Croker's Taralga flock will now compete against the winning flocks from the Crookwell, Gunning and Boorowa flock ewe competitions, in the 4th annual Southern Tablelands Flock Ewe Championships on Friday.
Runner-up in the Taralga competition went to Steve Mills from Seamens, Golspie, with his ewes of Stillbrook bloodlines classed by Pat McNeill. Mr Mills also received the best pen of three at the Taralga Show.
John Corby from Hilltop, Mrytleville, received third place with his Grassy Creek and Carrabungla blood ewes classed by himself.
The best individual ewes went to Chris and Stephanie Croker, Ayrston, Golspie, with their Thalabah-blood ewes classed by Jim Williams.
