Back-to-back blue ribbons for impressive sheep Numbla Vale shearer Adam Walters achieved backto-back wins at the 96th annual Berridale Agricultural Bureau Monaro Merino Ewe Competition, held on the first weekend in May. Overseeing the competition was returning judge Garry Kopp, Towonga, Peak Hill, who was joined by Sam Picker, Hillcreston, Bigga, as well as associate judge Tom Alcock, Greenland, Bungarby. Twelve teams from Berridale, Rocky Plains, Cootralantra, Adaminaby, Numbla Vale, Numeralla, Cooma and Rock Flat competed in the 2026 Monaro event, with judges commenting that the top teams were worthy of fitting into any stud operation. “There are ewes here that would stand up in stud operations,” Sam said. “They are very impressive sheep.” Adam had a small run of Avonside / Yarrawonga-blood maiden ewes on display, having joined 215 ewes in 2024 and retaining 75 from that drop. Mirroring the previous year, his hogget ewes won the Cottage Park Trophy for first place in the medium/strong wool category and overall champion. He also won first place in the under 500 ewes category, claiming the Bindaree Trophy. When giving feedback, Sam said they were awarded the blue ribbon for their scale and size, along with their long, white, deep-stapling fibre and overall consistency throughout the flock. First place in the fine wool section was Robert Hain who runs Egelabra-blood ewes at “Gunyah”, Cootralantra. Robert had a second flock entered in the competition from his Rocky Plain property, “Glengyle”, where the flock is based on Main Range genetics. Richard Maguire, “Greenvale”, Adaminaby, had another successful day out with his Langdene / Cottage Park-blood hoggets. For the second year in a row, he was awarded the Mildon Trophy for first place in the hogget category, while also picking up both of the People’s Choice awards, being the John Coy People’s Choice for overall spectators’ favourite and the Gary Thompson Memorial People’s Choice Ewe Hoggets. New entrants, Coonerang Estate, “Coonerang”, Rock Flat, had a run of Boudjah-blood ewes on display, which were awarded the Greg McGufficke Trophy for first place in the novice category. 95th Berridale Ag Bureau Monaro Merino Ewe Competition Friday 1 May and Saturday 2 May 2026 Photo captions. 1– Judges Sam Picker, Hillcreston, Bigga, and Garry Kopp, Towonga, Peak Hill, with winner Adam Walters, Numbla Vale, and Will Dixon, Monaro Livestock and Property, who presented the Cottage Park trophy. 2– The winning ewes at Adam Walters’ Numbla Vale property. 3– Main Range-blood ewes on display at Neil and Vicki Lynch’s property, “McCarthy’s”, Cootralantra, which won the Snowy Plains Trophy for most improved. (Photos: Berridale Agricultural Bureau and Stacey Brincau) 3– 1– 2– – 131 –
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