TOP SIRE 2026–2027 NSW SHOW AND SALE RESULTS RAS PAIR OF THE YEAR In the March shorn pairs, Patrick and Andrew of Demondrille, Murrumburrah, claimed the Riverina Stud Merino Field Days Association Perpetual Trophy for the RAS Pair of the Year. Judge Trevor Mibus said the pair had a great outlook, “They are productive and long, with really good wool”. The pair consisted of six-tooth ram, Demondrille 21110, and fourtooth ewe, Demondrille 21119, who both went on to win Grand Champion Fine/Medium Merino ribbons. The ewe went on to claim Supreme Merino Ewe. An ultrafine team from Geoff and Robyn Rayner’s Pomanara stud, Sallys Flat, placed second, followed by Glenburnie, Walcha, third and Greenland, Bungarby, in fourth. GROUP CHAMPIONS Dunedoo’s Langdene stud claimed a double in the group section, taking home both major awards with the same team. Garry and Kel Cox were awarded the Bruce Merriman Memorial Perpetual Trophy for the best exhibit of five Merino or Poll Merino August shorn sheep. It was the first time the Langdene stud had won the award with a Poll Merino team and principal Garry Cox said it was a solid reflection of the stud’s breeding program. “Four of the five in the group were 17-micron, which is what we’re aiming to produce – sheep with constitution and wool cut,” he said. Judge Claire McGauchie sashed the champion team, making note of their even type when delivering her comments. “We felt they were, overall, the most productive and even for wool type.” The success continued for Langdene, with their group bringing home a number of individual ribbons, including Grand Champion Fine/Medium Wool Poll Merino Ram, Reserve Champion Fine Wool August Shorn Poll Merino Ram, Reserve Grand Champion Fine Wool Poll Merino Ram, Grand Champion Fine Wool Poll Merino Ewe and Junior Champion August Shorn Poll Merino Ewe. Second place in the Bruce Merriman was awarded to Andrew and Brooke Rayner, Grathlyn, Hargraves, while the Lette’s Conrayn stud, Berridale, picked up third place. The Cox family, entering a Poll Merino group for the first time, picked up their second group champion ribbon, securing the Otway Falkiner Perpetual Cup with the same team. Judge Jack Carlon mirrored the previous comments, saying “They have consistency throughout the wool”. In second place was a team from Merryville, Boorowa, which Jack described as a “big, bulky group. They just didn’t quite make it above the Langdene group.” In third place was the Clonan family’s Alfoxton stud, Armidale. The Stonehaven Cup for best exhibit of five Merino March shorn sheep was won by Anthony and Kristen Frost, Thalabah, Laggan. Judge Will Miller said, Thalabah’s winning team would “cut wool all day. They’re very productive and very good on their feet.” In second place was a team from the Chalker family’s Lach River stud, Darbys Falls, while Conrayn picked up another third place. PRODUCTION CLASS Merrignee’s Supreme Exhibit proved its ability beyond the show ring by topping the table in the production class at the conclusion of the Sydney Royal Sheep and Fleece Show. Merrignee 21539 yielded 17.2kg of 16.5-micron wool, including skirtings and belly wool, which was valued at $329.94. The sixtooth ram recorded a body weight of 110kg and an eye muscle scan of 37cm2, tallying 601 points to claim bragging rights for the highest scoring ram. Stud principal Charlie Merriman said he was pleased to see the judges’ subjective assessment in the show ring was backed up by the objective results in the production class. “We knew that the ram was a heavy-cutting type with a very stylish wool on him,” he said. “To have him cut the weight he did, at that micron, it really balances the books into the real world of dollars and cents for your Merino.” The highest scoring ewe was shown by the Chalker family, Lach River, Darbys Falls, which recorded a score of 451.5 points. The winning ewe produced an 18.1-micron fleece with an estimated value of $188.44. The fleece weighed 10.9kg while the ewe weighed in at 80kg and scanned 37cm2 for eye muscle. It narrowly beat a second Lach River entry that scored 451 points. Judges for the production class were Brett Cooper and Jack Carlon. HUGH LYDIARD MEMORIAL TROPHY Three young men from leading Merino operations claimed the top spots in the RAS/AgShows NSW Merino Sheep Young Judges NSW State Final. Angus Knox, whose family has a Merino operation at Conargo, had his name etched onto the Hugh Lydiard Memorial Trophy and earned a spot at the national competition at the EKKA in August 2026, after placing first in the competition at Sydney. Angus spent the past two years working at Australian Food and Agriculture’s Boonoke and Wanganella studs. He credited the company’s leadership team for mentoring him when qualifying for the Sydney competition at Dubbo in 2025, He plans to manage his own sheep and cattle operation in the future. “My ambition is to spend time with other people and then go back home,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind running my own operation, especially (with) Merinos.” Reserve Champion was awarded to Paddy Lowe, Laggan, who is no stranger to the competition having won the same ribbon the previous year. Both Angus and Paddy represented NSW SMBA in Sydney after qualifying at the 2025 Rabobank National Merino Sheep Show in Dubbo. In third place was fellow future stud Merino breeder, Tom Alcock, Greenland stud, Bungarby, from Group 9 South Western. – 88 –
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1