Westerdale, Claypans claim Poll honours

In the ram judging it was an upstanding sire with a superb wool quality from the Jackson family's Westerdale stud, McAlinden, which took out the top award, while the top ewe honour went to a smart ewe with a great frame and stretch from the Bolt family's Claypans stud, Corrigin.

The Westerdale ram was a standout all day for the judges because of its impressive bright, white wool quality and wool coverage.

When the ram was sashed the grand champion Poll Merino ram, judge Robert Plush, Kerrsville stud, Hamilton, Victoria, said it got the nod over the other rams in the line-up because of its superb wool.

"His wool can't be faulted it is bright, white and long," he said

"Along with his top wool, which is even all over, he has a good barrel and stands square.

"He is also a very well-balanced ram."

The Westerdale ram earned the right to compete for the grand champion ribbon after being sashed the champion fine-medium wool Poll Merino ram and winning its class for fine-medium wool rams, any age, ahead of four other rams.

The four-tooth sire, which was based on pure Westerdale breeding, went a couple of steps further than what it achieved at this year's Make Smoking History Wagin Woolorama, where it was sashed the reserve champion fine-medium wool Poll Merino ram.

Despite some tough competition from a number of other top polled sires, the Westerdale stud took out the quinella in the grand championship ram race when a fine wool ram from the stud was sashed the reserve grand champion Poll Merino ram.

Mr Plush said the reserve grand champion was another top woolled ram but just didn't quite have the barrel of the champion.

"His wool is yet again outstanding and his standout feature," he said.

"He is carrying an unbelievable long-staple wool, which is soft, well-nourished and varies very little from head to toe.

"He also has very good purity."

The classy four-tooth exhibit was by a Kamora Park ram and earned the right to compete in the grand championship race after it won its class for fine wool rams, any age and was sashed the champion fine wool Poll Merino ram.

The ram was also sashed the grand champion and champion fine wool ram at this year's Wagin Woolorama.

In the ewe championship it was an upstanding ewe from the Claypans stud, which caught the judges' eyes and was sashed the grand champion Poll Merino ewe.

When the ewe received its grand champion ribbon, judge Nathan Teakle, Walkindyer stud, North- ampton, said the ewe was outstanding.

"She has an excellent constitution and structure," he said.

"She has great stretch, a top frame and a good topline.

"She also has a pure, clean muzzle and is punching out a good open free growing wool all over.

"She is a safe, productive ewe."

Prior to being sashed the grand champion Poll Merino ewe, the Claypans exhibit was sashed the champion medium wool Poll Merino ewe when it won its class for medium wool ewes any age in front of five other ewes.

The four-tooth ewe, which was also sashed the grand champion and champion medium wool Poll Merino ewe at Woolorama, was by Moorundie Park N34.

Like the Westerdale stud did in the ram section, the Claypans stud took out the quinella, exhibiting the grand champion Poll Merino ewe and the reserve grand champion.

Mr Teakle said the reserve grand champion carried a really impressive wool.

"She has a beautiful fine-medium wool, which has softness, length of staple and brightness," he said.

"She is a good true-to-type fine-medium exhibit and is even all over.

"She also has good balance and structure and is going to be a very good breeding ewe."

The four-tooth ewe earned the right to compete in the grand championship race after it was sashed champion fine-medium wool Poll Merino ewe and won the fine-medium wool Poll ewe class for ewes any age ahead of four other ewes.

The ewe was by Claypans 754 and was sashed the champion fine-medium wool Poll Merino ewe at Woolorama.

In the superfine wool ram championship it was an exhibit from the Rangeview stud, Darkan, which had the red, white and blue champion ribbon placed on its back, when it was sashed the champion.

Mr Plush said the Rangeview ram was a very good sire and will be a top full wool exhibit.

"He has a long body and a very crimpy, soft, superfine wool," he said.

"He is a big, upstanding ram for his type."

The two-tooth ram was also the champion superfine wool Poll Merino ram at Woolorama and was by SP C155.

The Rangeview stud also took top honours in the fine wool ewe championship, when a ewe from the stud was sashed the champion fine wool Poll Merino ewe.

Mr Plush said the Rangeview ewe had a good spring of rib and a top fine wool.

The win made it back-to-back champion ribbons for the two-tooth ewe, as it was sashed the champion superfine wool Poll Merino ewe at Woolorama.

The four-tooth ewe was by Grassy Creek Percy.

Rangeview also exhibited the reserve champion fine wool Poll Merino ram, which Mr Plush said was a true fine wool type with a good barrel.

The reserve champion fine wool Poll Merino ewe was exhibited by the Tilba Tilba stud, Williams.

The two-tooth ewe, which was by an Alfoxton sire, was similar to the Rangeview champion but just lacked its finish according to Mr Plush.

The Westerdale stud rounded out a successful day in the judging ring, when it exhibited the reserve champion fine-medium wool Poll Merino ram.

Judge James Scanlon, Arthur River, said the Westerdale reserve champion was a large, beautifully built ram with a good constitution.

The four-tooth ram was by Coromandel 2 (Sir Thomas).

The reserve champion fine-medium wool Poll Merino ewe ribbon was awarded to an exhibit from the Rangeview stud.

Mr Scanlon said the four-tooth Rangeview ewe, which was by a Roseville Park syndicate, was a good productive ewe.

The champion ribbons in the medium wool section were shared between the Seymour Park stud, Highbury and the Claypans stud.

The Seymour Park stud exhibited the champion medium wool Poll Merino ram after it won its class for medium wool rams, any age, ahead of five other rams.

Mr Teakle said the Seymour Park ram was an upstanding ram with a beautiful, rich, soft, crimpy wool.

The four-tooth ram was from a syndicate mating of the stud's show rams.

The reserve champion ram ribbon went to a six-tooth Claypans sire which Mr Teakle said had the perfect body conformation.

The Seymour Park stud took home the reserve champion medium wool Poll Merino ewe ribbon after a ewe from the stud placed second to the Claypans grand champion ewe in their opening medium wool class.

Mr Teakle said the four-tooth Seymour Park ewe was carrying a beautiful rich wool but just lacked the frame of the Claypans champion.

The ewe was by Seymour Park George.

The strong wool classes were dominated by the Mullan family's Eastville Park stud, Wickepin, which took home three of the four champion ribbons including the champion strong wool Poll Merino ram and ewe titles.

Mr Teakle said the champion ram from Eastville Park was a big, long-bodied sire with a good strong wool, while its champion ewe had a good square behind and was carrying a good long-stapled, bold crimping, strong wool.

Both were four-tooth exihibits and earnt the champion ribbon after winning their respective strong wool classes, any age.

The ram, which was by Eastville Park 1275, beat eight other rams to the champion ribbon in the largest August shorn class of the day, while the ewe was by Eastville Park 1325 and won ahead of three others.

The stud also exhibited the reserve champion strong wool Poll Merino ewe, which Mr Teakle said was quite similar to the champion but just lacked a bit of its make and shape.

The fourth champion ribbon in the strong wool section - the reserve champion strong wool Poll Merino ram - was awarded to an exhibit from the Kamballie stud, Tammin, which was by Rhamily Benny.

Mr Teakle said the two-tooth ram was a massive sheep with a long, deep body.