ALL broad-ribbon winning sheep were first-timers on the mat in the Australian White breed's section at Sydney Royal Show.
Five NSW studs exhibited 18 rams and 10 ewes before Bruce Hodgson, Ardene stud, Mt Torrens, South Australia, officiating at his first "Royal" fixture after his judging debut at the Dubbo State Sheep Show in 2017.
The Ardene stud runs 400 stud ewes and completes a couple of embryo transfer programs each year, Mr Hodgson said.
Oberon-based Tattykeel stud of Graham Gilmore and family, presented four class-winners in the line-up for grand champion ram, with Mr Hodgson selecting the under one-year (born April-May 2018) for his grand champion.
After further scrutiny the nine-to-10 month class-winner was selected as the reserve champion.
Mr Hodgson said the champion ram ticked all the boxes.
"He's beautiful hair pattern, his beautiful carcase, great structure and great feet," he said.
Mr Hodgson said if these two are examples of where this breed is going, we're going to a wonderful place."
The grand champion ram, Tattykeel 180204 Ruger is by Tattykeel Trump and from a ewe sired by the $38,000 Tattykeel Leader. Reserve champion is also by T Leader.
Ian Gilmore and family's Baringa stud, Oberon, exhibited the grand champion ewe after winning the April-May 2018 class while the runner-up in that class to become reserve grand champion came from Tattykeel stud.
The Baringa ewe is a daughter of Baringa 17A021, the reserve senior champion of the 2018 Australian White National while her dam is the mother of Baringa Brute, a sire retained in the stud in 2018.
Tattykeel's reserve is by T161252 a son of the $27,000 sire and from a ewe sired by 150833, a dominating ram within the flock.
Other placegetters in ram classes included Timor stud of Jason Barker, Parkes, a second and third place awards and Deep Creek stud of Alanna Armstrong, Oberon.