TWELVE teams from across NSW took part in the interschool competition at the NSW State Sheep Show yesterday, but it was one Campbelltown school that was triumphant taking out the event.
A team of Corriedales from the St Gregory's College Badgally Corriedale stud was awarded the Goongunyah Shield donated by the Tink family for first place.
Judged by Deva Weitman of Blue Rock Suffolk stud, Romsey, Victoria, the competition is judged on the students' knowledge of their breed of sheep, and the preparation, feeding and breeding program involved at that individual school, along with presentation of themselves and the sheep.
The champion team from winning school was made up a ram and two ewes handled by Ben Kelly, year 9, Angus Herbert, year 11, and Conlan West, year 11.
Badgally Corriedale stud was established by the St Gregory's College in 1988, and over the years they have won this title five times, the last being in 2012.
The students in the team said the breeding program was focused on improving the fleeces and carcase characteristics of the sheep, while retaining the fundamentals of structure and fertility as part of their breeding objective.
Taking part in the Corriedale feature show, the Badgally stud was successful in winning grand champion ewe with their champion woolly ewe, Badgally 1518.
She went on to be the champion long wool interbreed ewe during the interbreed championships following the interschools competition.
However, this top ewe was not found within the St Gregory's team during the interschool competition as they believe her extra frame meant she didn't match the ram and other ewe as well as the reserve champion woolly Corriedale ewe, Badgally 1709.
Badgally 1709 teamed up with Badgally 1706 to win the stud first in the pair of two ewes in the Corriedale section.
Competing at the Royal Canberra Show in February, the Badgally 1709 ewe was the supreme champion ewe of the show.
Judge Deva Weitman of Blue Rock Suffolk stud, Romsey, Victoria, commended all the teams involved for their grasp of knowledge on their individual breeds as well as their school's breeding program.
Second place in the interschool competition was Macarthur Anglican School, Cobbity, with students Meagan Baker, Della Reinke, and Sarah Peck helping to lead their White Suffolk team into a top three finish.
Third place went to the Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Tamworth, with their team of White Suffolks. Representative students of the school were Lachie Smith, Jack Teague and Hugh Shadwell.
Farrer was also third in the White Suffolk Keith McIntosh Memorial Shield sire's progeny group of three during judging on Friday.