Another clean sweep for Shirlee Downs

Competing against two other studs, the Shirlee Downs' rams and ewes stood head and shoulders above the others to take home three of the four champion ribbons, as well as the first-placed blue ribbons in one of the two group classes.

While Shirlee Downs entries ended up the champion picks for judge Chris Marr, Gererdan Poll Dorset stud, Gooloogong, New South Wales, he was still full of praise for the other Prime SAMMs in the judging ring from the Sandown stud, Badgingarra and the Kaula Dale stud, Kojonup.

In the ram championship it was a solid, square ram from the Shirlee Downs stud which took the red, white and blue broad ribbon, when it was selected by Mr Marr for its eye appeal and muscling.

"He stands up well, has lovely neck extension and good structure," Mr Marr said.

"He has beautiful depth, softness and plenty of muscle including right down his hindquarters.

"He really has a tremendous carcase and good scans.

"He is the type of ram that will go into the commercial industry and do a really good job producing top lambs."

The ram earned the right to compete for the champion ribbon after it won the scan class for rams under 1.5 years showing no more than two permanent teeth in front of seven other rams.

The upstanding, June 2015-drop ram, which was sired by Shirlee Downs 799-13, which was the champion Prime SAMM ram at the 2011 Perth Royal Show, carried scan figures into the class of 47mm for EMD, 7mm for fat and weighed 128.5kg.

The reserve champion ram was exhibited by Sandown stud.

Mr Marr said it was a similar to the champion but it just didn't quite have the top line appeal as the champion.

"He has good length, muscling and bone," Mr Marr said.

"He also has good structure and balance as well as a softness.

"He is also another good ram for the commercial industry."

The ram was eligible for the reserve champion ribbon after finishing second to the champion in their initial scan class.

The June 2015-drop ram was sired by Sandown 118.

It carried scan figures of 45.5mm EMD, 7.9mm fat and weighed 127kg.

When it moved to the ewe classes, the Shirlee Downs stud claimed the championship double, exhibiting both the champion and reserve champion ewe.

Mr Marr said the champion ewe was a lovely feminine ewe with great presence and outlook.

"She has a tremendous carcase and stands up well," he said.

"She is a credit to the Prime SAMM breed."

The June 2015-drop ewe was by Lawral Park 3112.

The ewe earned the right to compete for the red, white and blue ribbon after winning its class for shorn ewe under 1.5 years showing no more than two permanent teeth, in front of four other ewes.

When it came to the reserve champion ewe exhibited by Shirlee Downs, Mr Marr said it was a difficult decision with nothing in it, and this ewe was just unlucky to come up against another really classy ewe from the stud.

"She is a beautiful ewe and just a fraction behind the champion," Mr Marr said.

"She is a feminine ewe with a beautiful carcase and good balance."

The July 2015-drop ewe was by Shirlee Downs 521-10 and made it into the championship line-up after placing second behind the champion in their initial class for ewes under 1.5 years showing no more than two permanent teeth.

After dominating the championships it was not surprising to see the Shirlee Downs stud also do well in the group classes.

It won the breeders group class for one ram and two ewes under 1.5 years and Mr Marr said they were an evenly matched team and were all good examples of the breed.

In the group class for three rams under 1.5 years the Sandown stud got one up on the Shirlee Downs stud when it took home the blue ribbon.

Mr Marr said the winning group of three rams from Sandown was an even group and all three rams were top examples of the breed.

"All three rams are tremendous sires - they are long, square and show good muscling," he said.