TOP SIRE 2025–2026 NSW FLOCK EWE COMPETITIONS Photo caption. Davo and Sam Weir, “Idlemere”, Bookham, and Mal Peake, Bogo, Cootamundra, with Sam and Row Weir’s winning flock of Bogo-blood, January-shorn ewes. Photo: The Land. Ewes with good balance of body and fleece secure the win Seven flocks from producers across Bookham, Jugiong and Binalong areas were presented for judging at the annual Bookham Agricultural Bureau Merino Ewe Competition. Long-time supporters Sam and Row Weir, “Idlemere”, Bookham, came out on top, taking home the Elders Award for Best Ewe Flock and the Gordon Litchfield Wool Award. They put up a line of Bogo-blood ewes before judges Pat Drew, Eurongilly, and Mitch Rubie, Lachlan Merinos, Forbes, who said they were a credit to the family. “You drive in and straight away you can see the depth of the body and the depth in the flank,” Mitch said. “They are a really good balance of body and fleece.” The Weir family runs 400 ewes, averaging 17.6-micron with a GFW of 5.9kg. Sam said the local area gets pretty wet in some seasons with fogs that hang around all day, so he wanted sheep that could dry quickly. “We just want to keep improving, increase our micron, put weight on where we can and keep working on the conformation of the sheep,” he said. First-time entrant Graham Elliot, Binalong, secured second place with a run of 300 Tallawong and Yarrawonga-blood ewes, averaging 17-micron. The Bogo Merino Stud Encouragement Award was given to Grassy Creek-blood ewes presented by Max and Zoe Giles, Binalong, who entered the competition for the second time. When offering judging comments, Mitch said the entrants were a passionate group of breeders all working for the same goal of “breeding Merinos that are profitable”. “There has been a bit of different variation in types but, overall, there was a really good productive group of sheep that are a credit to all of you.” Bookham Agricultural Bureau Merino Ewe Competition | Tuesday 12 November 2024 – 114 –
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