The 2020 Royal Canberra Show attracted a very strong contingent of Poll Dorsets and judge Tim Ferguson, Mallee Park Poll Dorsets, Hopetoun, Victoria and associate Callum Burrell, Canterbury, NZ had a very enjoyable time working their way through the various classes.
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Coming out of the pairs class, they gave the nod for breed championship to the young ram exhibited by James Frost, Hillden Poll Dorsets, Crookwell.
"We had already picked him out in the pairs," Mr Ferguson said.
"With his growth, bone structure and overall finish, he is a credit to the breed and the breeders.
"He has terrific sire appeal, correctness of structure and complete carcass shape."
Mr Frost was presented with the Bob Ramm Memorial trophy for 2020 Poll Dorset champion ram.
The reserve champion ram was shown by Andrew Scott, Valley Vista Poll Dorsets, Coolac.
"He is a good ram with a great topline but just doesn't have the sire appeal of the champion although he has tremendous structure and is correct," Mr Ferguson said.
In the ewe section, competition was once again strong with judges awarding the championship ribbon to the woolly milk tooth ewe exhibited by Charlotte Close, Closeup, Finley.
Ms Close was awarded the Hillden trophy for champion ewe.
Mr Ferguson said it was very tight judging the ewes because of the evenness of each entrant but he and Mr Burrell thought the entrant from Closeup had the edge when it came to production potential.
"There is a lot of potential for such a young ewe," Mr Ferguson said.
"Going forward she is going to be a cracker."
Co-studmaster Gordon Close said the champion ewe was a daughter of Graythorn 101-15 whom he bought in the dispersal sale of the Graythorn stud, which had celebrated 50 years of breeding in 2015.
Mr Close said the ram stood out for him during the dispersal sale and he had bred very well in the Closeup stud.
The champion ewe was named Helen in honour of Helen Gray who dispersed the Graythorn stud after the disappearance of her husband in 2015.
"I text Helen with the results during the show and she was ecstatic with our success," Mr Close said.
"For a May drop ewe, she is the first to be eligible for entry to the Australasian Dorset Champions of Champions to be held in Bendigo in August."
The reserve champion ewe was shown by James Frost, Hillden, Crookwell and had graduated from the pairs class.
"She is nice balanced ewe, well muscled and correct," Mr Ferguson said.
