For the second year in a row, a Hillden ewe has been named supreme exhibit at the NSW Dorset Championships in Cowra.
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Hillden's James Frost said the family would name the winning ewe Grace after Anthony and Kristen Frost's daughter, born on the Friday of the competition.
"We don't usually name our ewes but it just felt right to call her after the new addition," Mr Frost said.
He said the ewe was by the same ram that sired their supreme exhibit ewe last year.
"She's by Hillden 295, which we sold to Clint Westphal in Western Australia but we kept semen out of the ram," Mr Frost said.
"He's bred tremendously in the stud, he's just so correct, he's sired three supreme exhibits now."
Mr Frost said the ewe was a true Dorset type who stood up well in any context.
"She stands perfect all the time, she doesn't put a foot wrong, she just oozes class, even in the paddock at home," he said.
Judge, Daryl Dixon, Ashbank, Dubbo said he could not fault the Hillden ewe.
"She's got all the Poll Dorset characteristics that she should have, she stands up, she's looking around, she parades brilliantly," Mr Dixon said.
"She has a good top line, beautiful wool and carries right through with her hindquarters."
Mr Dixon said the ewe beat out strong competition from Armdale Park's grand champion ram to be named supreme exhibit.
"It's got to be a good ewe to beat the ram because it's probably a little easier to breed better ewes but on the day I couldn't go past her," Mr Dixon.
"There wasn't a lot in it, the ram was an absolutely brilliant ram for the breed and a credit to the breeders."
Garry Armstrong said their grand champion ram was part of the first drop of lambs by one of their own sires, Armdale Park 520.
"He was reserve champion at the Gundagai show which was his first show of the year," Mr Armstrong said.
The one-year-old ram was named intermediate champion ram before he claimed the grand champion title.
Mr Dixon said the ram got up over the senior champion from Springwaters because he ticked all the boxes.
"He's got good length, good hind quarter, parades brilliantly and is a really good Dorset type," Mr Dixon said.
"The reserve ram had a fraction more muscling and depth but the champion had the style."
The junior champion ram was from Valley Vista, with the reserve junior champion from the Scott family's second stud, Valley Vista Park.
Hillden was the most successful exhibitor of the competition, while Armdale Park was awarded the best strike rate, winning nine of the 16 classes they entered.
- For a full report on the NSW Dorset Championships see this week's The Land.
Summary of Results
NSW Supreme Exhibit - Hillden Grace, Hillden, BA & LK Frost, Bannister.
Grand Champion Ewe - Hillden
Reserve Grand Champion Ewe - Armdale Park, G & C Armstrong, Marrar.
Grand Champion Ram - Armdale Park
Senior Champion Ram - Springwaters, DR, J & DA Rowley, Boorowa.
Reserve Senior Champion Ram - Armdale Park
Intermediate Champion Ram - Armdale Park
Reserve Intermediate Champion Ram - Abelene Park, MK & CM Douglas & Sons, Woolomin.
Junior Champion Ram - Valley Vista, AB & DL Scott, Coolac
Reserve Junior Champion Ram - Valley Vista Park, J, J & L Scott, Coolac
2019 Champion School - The Riverina Anglican College, College Park Poll Dorset Stud.
Most Successful Exhibitor - Hillden
Best Strike Rate - Armdale Park