TOP SIRE 2026–2027 NSW SHOW AND SALE RESULTS Sydney Royal Sheep and Fleece Show Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 April 2026 | Olympic Park, Sydney SUPREME EXHIBIT It was a unanimous decision by the 2026 judges to award the Supreme Exhibit of the Sydney Royal Sheep and Fleece Show to fine wool ram Merrignee 21539, exhibited by C.T. Merriman and Son, Merrignee, Boorowa. The ram claimed the top spot from a strong field of more than 165 sheep entered in this year’s event. Owner Charlie Merriman recalled the last time Merrignee won the Supreme Exhibit was in 1999, when the Wallabies had just won the Rugby World Cup. “We know he’s a good sheep because we can tell, we can see, but it’s just terrific the way he has come through his classes and then onwards and ever onwards,” Charlie said. “The judges have just been referring to him time and time again regarding what a good sheep he is.” Merrignee 21539, named “Brocky 2”, had collected several broad ribbons at previous outings, including Reserve Grand Champion at the Great Southern Supreme Merino Show (GSSM) at Bathurst in February 2026. Behind the decision were judges Trevor Mibus, Glenara, Dunkeld, VIC (ultrafine), Jack Carlon, Shalimar Park, Walcha (superfine), Will Miller, Glenpaen, Brimpaen, VIC (fine), Claire McGauchie, Terrick West, Prairie, VIC (fine/medium), and Andy Maclean, Walgett (medium and strong). When sashing the ram, Andy pointed out the “beautiful wool down to his toes”. He said, “This was a unanimous decision. He holds himself really well.” The 16.5-micron ram was sired by Merrignee 27355, “Brocky”, which was named the Supreme Exhibit at the GSSM in 2023. Up against the ram was the Supreme Merino Ewe exhibit from the Davis family’s Demondrille stud, Murrumburrah. The young ewe, Demondrille 21119, had just cut four teeth and presented with an 18.4-micron fleece. She won her way through the fine/medium wool classes under the scrutiny of judge Claire McGauchie. When awarding the supreme ewe broad ribbon, Claire described the sheep as “a really beautiful, productive ewe. She stands very correctly and has a bulk of wool.” SUPREME JUNIOR MERINO The scale of Merryville 21219 impressed judges at the Sydney Royal Sheep and Fleece Show, earning it the Tom Culley prize for Supreme Junior Merino of the show. The ram outcompeted a classy offering of Merino and Poll Merino two-tooths to claim the coveted prize, with judge Andy Maclean noting the size of the ram had caught their eye. “We chose him just for his scale,” he said. “We were very happy with his wool. He holds himself well and he is a good, safe ram.” Merryville 21219 came through the fine/medium wool classes, standing as Reserve Grand Champion Fine/Medium Wool Merino Ram to a six-tooth ram from the Davis family’s Demondrille stud, Murrumburrah. The 19.2-micron ram was one of four in the event sired by Grand Monarch 44, which won supreme champion at Sydney in 2013. Other junior champion contenders included the August shorn Merino ram and August shorn Poll Merino ewe, both fine wool exhibits from the Cox family’s Langdene stud, Dunedoo. The McLaren family, Nerstane, Woolbrook, were represented with the August shorn Poll Merino ram and the March shorn Merino ewe, both fine/medium exhibits. The August shorn Merino ewe was represented by a medium wool ewe from the Alcock family, Greenland, Bungarby, while the March shorn Poll Merino ewe was a superfine exhibit from Peter and Jayne Lette’s Conrayn stud, Berridale. Merryville’s fine wool March shorn Poll Merino ram was also included in the lineup. NATIONAL PAIR OF THE YEAR A “well-typed” pair from Berridale will go on to represent NSW at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo, in July 2026 after winning the National Pair of the Year. Exhibited by the Lette family of Conrayn, the August shorn pair had limited outings in the lead up to Sydney but stood out among the 18 other teams in the lineup. “We couldn’t find too many faults,” Andy Maclean said. “It was the scale of the first team that got them there. They are a well-typed, good pair of sheep.” In second place was a team from the Rayner family’s Grathlyn stud, Hargraves, while in third was a Poll Merino team from Alfoxton, Armidale. Langdene, Dunedoo, placed fourth with the Lette family’s second Conrayn entry in fifth. – 86 –
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