Towalba Merino stud scooped the pool taking out the coveted grand champion ram and ewe double in the battle of the studs at the recent Peak Hill Show.
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The little town with a heart of gold is most likely unique in that it boasts four Merino studs within a radius of a few kilometres of each other and, despite the dreadful drought conditions in the area, all turned out to support their local show.
Towalba, Westray, Genanegie and Towonga studs vied for top honours in the show ring under the studious eye of judge and Parkes district sheep classer Ian Lovell.
Warick Kopp's Towalba stud was named most successful exhibitor taking out the coveted double of grand champion ram and ewe awards, the Gosper Cup for pen of three rams and two ewes, champion March-shorn medium wool ram and ewe, champion March-shorn strong wool ewe, champion August-shorn strong ram, champion August-shorn medium ram and ewe and reserve champion hogget ram.
Genanegie stud exhibited the champion hogget ram, which went on to be reserve grand ram of the show and also bagged the award for champion March-shorn strong ram.
Champion August-shorn strong wool ewe and reserve grand champion ewe went to Towonga stud.
Judge, Mr Lovell, was full of praise for Towalba's grand champion ram, which he said had a beautiful, long staple of sirey wool, an amazing underline and a great ability to cut wool.
Zeus, as he is known, was earlier judged champion August-shorn strong ram and is being retained at Towalba as a stud sire.
Stud principal Warick Kopp said the ram had created a lot of interest at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, Victoria, and would continue the stud's philosophy of breeding heavy-cutting sheep for both itself and its clients.
Genanegie's champion hogget ram was described by the judge as a good, bold wool sheep.
Warick Kopp applauded the Peak Hill Show Society for abandoning thoughts of having a 'display only' show with no judging.
"It was a very strong showing and I have always thought it very important to support our local show,'' he said.
"It brings the community together and we need that now more than ever. Once you stop something it is so hard to get it back and I take my hat off to everyone who has brought stock here today.
"The committee puts so much effort into our local show and it is vital we support it in any way we can.
"Times are really tough, but I firmly believe in the future of the wool industry and am certainly in it 110 per cent.''