KEEN young Merino judge Kurt Wise lied to get into his first junior judging competition at the Perth Royal Show.
At age 15, after gaining eligibility at country shows he laid claim to one year more to get into the Perth competition and win the wool and the sheep junior judging.
It was the start of a winning streak that led him to the Royal Melbourne Show last week.
"This is what I do - I love judging," Kurt said.
"I wasn't going to wait another year (until he was 16 years-old)."
Kurt, now 20, of Woodanilling, won the National Merino Sheep Judging Competition in Melbourne, defeating Cameron Cox, 16, from Mudgee, NSW, and third placegetter Phillip Picone, 24, from Blackall, Queensland.
"It's bloody brilliant to win it," Kurt said.
Last year Kurt won the national wool judging competition and this year watched his older brother Rick, 21, win the event, to complete a WA double act.
Kurt attributed his judging skills to working with his father Clinton, grandfather Max and brother Rick, with their Wililoo Merino stud and with his Murray Grey stud.
"I like cattle better than sheep to tell you the truth," Kurt said.
"But if you can judge one animal you can judge the lot."
The young judge is also a keen Bantam breeder and said he learned how to compare quality within a breed standard by working with poultry.
Rick Wise said his win in the National Merino Fleece judging competition in Melbourne came after coming second in the State event three times, twice to his brother.
Rick had also placed third in the national Merino judging.
"The next step is the national Merino judging because he (Kurt) can't compete in it now," Rick said.
Rick said he was more of a sheep man than his brother.
Queensland's entry in the fleece judging Sam Selmos, 22, from Longreach was second, ahead of James Hoban, 24, from Culvernden, New Zealand.
