A strong wool ram from Hollow Mount, Bigga has become the first August-shorn supreme exhibit in 199 years of the Sydney Royal, with the four-tooth ram going all the way to the top spot on Sunday.
The ram, Hollow Mount A22764, was the only Merino strong wool ram to be presented this year and therefore was automatically named grand champion strong wool ram.
But, the competition soon got much tougher and the May 2019-drop ram had to beat out a fine wool ewe from Merryville, Boorowa to eventually be named supreme exhibit.
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"Unbelievable" was the word used by Hollow Mount stud manager David Zouch to describe the win, while owner Ken Wolf said he was sure his late wife was looking down on them.
"I'm on top of the world, we never imagined this would happen," Mr Wolf said.
Hollow Mount was only established as a stud three years ago but they began building up their genetics long before they were registered.
Mr Zouch said the ram was out of a ewe with pure Langdene genetics, while his sire was a Yarrawonga ram they bought for $60,000 in 2018.
He had a micron of 21.4, standard deviation of 3.4, coefficient of variation of 15.9 and comfort factor of 99.1.
Strong wool judge Garry Kopp, Towonga, Peak Hill said it was impossible to fault the ram.
"His structure is absolutely brilliant, his feet are great, he has so much finish and a great underline," Mr Kopp said.
"But it's the skin that he's carrying is what I love the most, he has real loose skin that's oozing with richness and wool cutting ability."
The other four judges included Graham Coddington, Coddington Uardry Poll, Gulgong, Rodger Matthews, Borambil, Corowa, Phillip Carlon, Queenlee, Uralla and Tim Bower, Stanley Vale, Uralla.
The supreme exhibit was first recognised in the pair competition, part of the team named national pair of the year, making them eligible for the national final to be held during the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo in July.
It was far from the only exhibit to receive accolades from the judges on the day with the supreme Merino ewe from Merryville described as an example of a "true fine wool Merino."
The six-tooth, March-shorn ewe, Merryville M25526, beat out a two-tooth March-shorn from Thalabah, Laggan to be named grand champion fine wool ewe before competing for the supreme.
Merryville stud principal Wal Merriman said the ewe had prestigious genetics, her sire named Supreme exhibit of Sydney Royal in 2016, while she was out of a ewe by renowned sire Merryville Giant Test who was grand champion fine wool ram at Sydney Royal in 2015 and cut 16 kilograms of wool.
Fine wool judge, Mr Coddington said the ewe had the depth, capacity and top line to be the best ewe in the line up.
"I can guarantee this ewe will breed a champion, she has the capacity to do anything," Mr Coddington said.
The August 2018-drop ewe had a micron of 19.5, SD of 2.7, CV of 13.8 and CF of 99.9.
SUPREME
Supreme ram: Hollow Mount, Bigga
Supreme ewe: Merryville, Boorowa
AUGUST-SHORN CHAMPIONS
Champion August-shorn Merino or Poll Merino ram: Hollow Mount, Bigga
Champion August-shorn Merino or Poll Merino ewe: Grathlyn, Hargraves
ULTRAFINE
Merinos
Grand champion ultrafine ram: Bocoble, Mudgee
Reserve grand champion ultrafine ram: Grathlyn, Mudgee
Grand champion ultrafine ewe: Grathlyn, Mudgee
Reserve grand champion ultrafine ewe: Merryville, Boorowa
Poll Merinos
Grand champion ultrafine ram: Hillcreston, Bigga
Reserve grand champion ultrafine ram: Glenburnie, Walcha
SUPERFINE
Merinos
Grand champion superfine ram: Merryville, Boorowa
Reserve grand champion superfine ram: Merryville, Boorowa
Grand champion superfine ewe: Nerstane, Woolbrook
Poll Merinos
Grand champion superfine ram: Bocoble, Mudgee
Reserve grand champion superfine ram: Merryville, Boorowa
Grand champion superfine ewe: Merryville, Boorowa
Reserve grand champion superfine ewe: Bocoble, Mudgee
FINE
Merinos
Grand champion fine ram: Merryville, Boorowa
Reserve grand champion fine ram: Greenland, Bungarby
Grand champion fine ewe: Merryville, Boorowa
Reserve grand champion fine ewe: Thalabah, Laggan
Poll Merinos
Grand champion fine ram: Merryville, Boorowa
Reserve grand champion fine ram: Greenland, Bungarby
Grand champion fine ewe: Merryville, Boorowa
Reserve grand champion fine ewe: Merryville, Boorowa
FINE MEDIUM
Merinos
Grand champion fine medium ram: Langdene, Dunedoo
Reserve grand champion fine medium ram: Thalabah, Laggan
Grand champion fine medium ewe: Thalabah, Laggan
Reserve grand champion fine medium ewe: Nerstane, Walcha
Poll Merinos
Grand champion fine medium ram: Merryville, Boorowa
Reserve grand champion fine medium ram: Nerstane, Walcha
Grand champion fine medium ewe: Nerstane, Walcha
Reserve grand champion fine medium ewe: Alfoxton, Armidale
MEDIUM
Merinos
Grand champion medium ram: Nerstane, Walcha
Reserve grand champion medium ram: Hollow Mount, Bigga
Grand champion medium ewe: Thalabah, Laggan
Reserve grand champion medium ewe: Hollow Mount, Bigga
Poll Merinos
Grand champion medium ram: Wongara, Old Junee
Reserve grand champion medium ram: Alfoxton, Armidale
Grand champion medium ewe: Alfoxton, Armidale
Reserve grand champion medium ewe: Nerstane, Walcha
STRONG
Merinos
Grand champion strong ram: Hollow Mount, Bigga
Grand champion strong ewe: Hollow Mount, Bigga
Reserve grand champion strong ewe: Hollow Mount, Bigga
Poll Merinos
Grand champion strong ram: Alfoxton, Armidale
Grand champion strong ewe: Wongara, Old Junee
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Stephen Burns
Jackaroo on Merino sheep studs in the Riverina, a lifetime working on the land with sheep, cropping and cattle. Graduate Charles Sturt Uni with degree in Business and a Dean's Certificate. Graduate C.B. Alexander Agricultural College
Jackaroo on Merino sheep studs in the Riverina, a lifetime working on the land with sheep, cropping and cattle. Graduate Charles Sturt Uni with degree in Business and a Dean's Certificate. Graduate C.B. Alexander Agricultural College
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Olivia Calver
Journalist for The Land
Journalist for The Land
