TOP SIRE 2026–2027 NSW SHOW AND SALE RESULTS Australian Sheep and Wool Show Friday 18 to Sunday July 20 2025 | Prince of Wales Showground, Bendigo The 2025 Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo proved to be a worthy journey for NSW Merino stud breeders who brought a swag of ribbons back across the border. It was the most successful Bendigo outing in a decade for the Rayner family, Grathlyn and Lynford Poll studs, Hargraves, who dominated the August-shorn ultrafine Merino classes, claiming both the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Augustshorn Ultrafine Ram as well as the Grand Champion August-shorn Ultrafine Ewe. “The ram that won was reserve to our other ram in Bathurst and at the Sydney Royal Show, so we had hoped we could make a champion out of him at Bendigo,” Andrew Rayner said. Judge James Collins, Mt Bute Poll Merino stud, Skipton, VIC, praised both Grathlyn exhibits, noting the champion ewe for the “fantastic quality and beautiful lustre” of its 14.8-micron fleece”, while commenting “the ram was beautifully structured and a really proud ram”. The Alcock family, Greenland, Bungarby, also made their mark in the March-shorn ultrafine classes, winning the Grand Champion March-shorn Ultrafine Ram title. In their second year competing at Bendigo, the Pittman family, Glenburnie, Walcha, took home a number of ribbons, including Champion March Superfine Wool Merino and Poll Merino Ram, Grand Champion March Superfine Wool Ram and Reserve Grand Champion March Superfine Wool Ewe of the show as well as Reserve Champion August-shorn Pair. In the show’s ultrafine wool section, Hillcreston, Bigga, were awarded the Most Successful Exhibitor, winning ribbons for Champion and Reserve Champion March-shorn Ultrafine Wool Poll Merino Ram as well as the Reserve Champion March-shorn Ultrafine Wool Poll Merino Ewe. The overall grand champion ribbons went to a strong wool ram exhibit from Collinsville stud, Hallett, SA, which won Supreme Champion Merino Sheep of the show after winning its way through the Augustshorn strong wool classes, while an August-shorn fine/medium ewe from Rangeview, Darkan, WA, won the Grand Champion Merino Ewe of the show. NSW studs also proved successful in the Australian Fleece Competition. The Green family, Boudjah, Cooma, claimed the Reserve Grand Champion Fleece, running second to Rosemary and John Humbert, Kedleston Park, Calivil, VIC, who scored 95.85 points out of a possible 100 for their 19.7-micron fleece. The Green’s fleece was a superfine Merino ewe fleece which scored 95.50 points and measured 18-micron. The Coddington’s, Roseville Park, Dubbo, won a champion ribbon and the most valuable fleece award in the Merino Performance class with a fleece weighing 7.6kg and fibre diameter of 19-micron. It was valued at $74.50 for six months’ growth. NSW studs also performed well in the annual Australian Sheep and Wool Show Merino Ram Sale which topped at $16,000. The second highest-priced ram of the sale was sold for $15,000 on behalf of the McLaren family, Nerstane, Woolbrook. It was an August 2022-drop Poll Merino ram, sired by GP382, purchased by Peter and Louise Capel, Bungulla, Manilla. Overall, 62 sheep sold from 87 offered to average $5023. Outside of the auction, a NSW stud achieved a solid private sale result. Gavin Swords, Laraben Poll, Mudgee, sold a Poll Merino ram for $40,000 to Banavie Merino and Poll Merino stud, Marnoo. The April 2024-drop ram was sired by Banavie 220004 and carried a 17.9-micron fleece. 1– – 66 –
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