Squiers’ studs blitz in Poll Dorset ring

When the champion ewe from its Dongadilling stud was sashed the supreme Poll Dorset exhibited, it marked four supreme wins in a row for the Squiers family.

Last year it won the supreme exhibit award with a ram from its Shirlee Downs stud, in 2014 it won it with a ram from Dongadilling and in 2013 it won with a Shirlee Downs ram.

The final result was a fitting reward for the Squiers, who had a stunning showing in the Poll Dorset classes, winning six out of the 11 ram classes and six of seven ewe classes, plus two of the three group classes, between the two studs.

It also claimed first five placings between the two studs in the prestigious shorn ram, under 1.5 years classes which attracted 16 entries, second largest in the judging.

Up against an outstanding line-up of 183 other Poll Dorsets, exhibited by 12 studs from around the State, the Dongadilling ewe, caught the eye early of judge Chris Marr, Gererdan Poll Dorset stud, Gooloogong, New South Wales and his associate judge Clint Westphal, Wilgarna Poll Dorset stud, Boyup Brook, as a standout exhibit

And it needed to be as the competition was strong given it was in the biggest class on the day with 17 entries.

This was the shorn ewe class for ewes under 1.5 years, born on or after April 1 and machine shorn showing no more than 1.5cm of wool.

From its class win the classy ewe went on to win the champion ewe ribbon against a terrific line-up of five other ewes, which fronted the judges in the ewe championship judging.

When sashing the Dongadilling ewe the supreme exhibit, Mr Marr said the ewe was a clear winner for the purple supreme.

"She is a cracking ewe and there was really no contest between her and the champion ram," Mr Marr said.

"She is a real powerhouse and stands up just as big as the ram.

"She stands up well, is well set up, has good length and depth and is square like a box.

"She also has a great topline and great muscling throughout.

"She didn't put a foot wrong all day and is hard to fault.

"She is absolute stunning ewe and the complete package."

The May 2015-drop ewe was sired by Shirlee Downs 20-09, which was the supreme exhibit at the 2010 Perth Royal Show and also the sire of the Shirlee Downs ram which was the supreme Poll Dorset exhibit last year.

Standing in reserve to the Dongadilling ewe and being sashed the reserve champion ewe was an exhibit from the family's Shirlee Downs stud.

Mr Marr said the Shirlee Downs ewe was another big, upstanding, long ewe.

"She is also another exceptional ewe and just unlucky to come up against such a powerful ewe," he said.

"She is square, has a good set up, is easy-doing and has meat in all the right spots.

"She is also a lovely feminine ewe.

"But in the end she just didn't quite have the capacity of the champion."

The ewe also finished second to the Dongadilling ewe in their initial class.

The May 2015-drop ET-bred ewe was also by Shirlee Downs 20-09.

Falling short of the Dongadilling ewe in the supreme race was a classy ram from the Shirlee Downs team after it was sashed the champion ram.

When sashing it the champion ram, Mr Marr said he couldn't go past the ram for the champion ribbon due to its style, presence and tremendous outlook.

"He is a big, long, upstanding ram with scale and good neck extension," Mr Marr said.

"He also parades well and stands up nice and square.

"In addition he also handles well and is beautifully smooth.

"He also has good muscling throughout including a good loin and great hindquarter."

The Shirlee Downs ram stood in the championship line-up after winning the shorn ram class for rams under 1.5 years, born on or after April 1 ahead of 15 other rams.

The May 2015-drop, 142kg ram was sired by Shirlee Downs 301-12.

Standing in reserve was another upstanding sire from Shirlee Downs.

The ram stood in the championship line-up after winning the Balmoral trophy class for rams under 1.5 years born on or after April 1 and machine shorn showing no more than 1.5cm of wool (judged subjectively and objectively using raw data for muscle, fat, length and weight) ahead of 12 other rams.

Mr Marr said the ram had beautiful balance and was a real carcase animal.

"He has length, great bone underneath, is smooth and easy doing," Mr Marr said.

"He also plenty of muscling and handles well."

In the ring the ram carried scan figures of 7.3mm fat, 45.3mm EMD, 855mm length and had a bodyweight of 139kg.

The May 2015-drop, ET-bred ram is by Shirlee Downs 20-09 and out of Gloroy 288-13.

The Shirlee Downs stud also exhibited the champion ram lamb and champion ewe lamb.

Mr Marr said the champion ram had a tremendous outlook, good growth for age and overall sire appeal.

Prior to being sashed the champion ram lamb it won its class for ram lambs born on or after April 1, weaned, wool and untrimmed against 10 other quality entries.

The May-drop ram lamb was ET-bred by Derrynock 52-12 and out Shirlee Downs 179-12.

When it came to the champion ewe lamb Mr Marr said it was the complete package with great fleshing down the back and spine, good neck extension and balance.

Prior to being sashed the champion ewe lamb it won its class for ewe lambs born on or after April 1, weaned and shorn in front of 13 other ewes.

The ET-bred lamb is by Ivadene 33-14 and out of Shirlee Downs 209-12.

Also part of the ram championship line-up was a sire from the Curlew Creek stud, Gnowangerup, which won the EBV ram class.

The Curlew Creek ram had LambPlan figures of 0.4 BWT, 9.7 WWT, 15 PWWT, -0.4 PFAT, 3.9 PEMD and indexes of 221.5 for CarcasePlus and 116.3 for Lamb2020.

Mr Marr said the ram was a long, muscley ram which was great through the front end and stood up well.

The Sandown stud, Perenjori, won the highly regarded Greyhome ram production class for two rams under 1.5 years which focuses strongly on commercial attributes.

The Sandown pairing, which were ET brothers by Curlew Creek 46-14, scored 209.9 points out of a possible 250, to finish ahead of two teams from the Tipperary stud, Walkaway, which finished in second and third place.

The Squiers family also dominated the group classes, winning two out of the three.

In the first group class decided, the breeders group for one ram and two ewes, Shirlee Downs finished in the number one position ahead of a team from its Dongadilling stud, while third went to the Brimfield stud, Kendenup.

Next up was the progeny group class and it was the Dongadilling stud that was a clear winner, with a team sired by Gloroy 628-13.

The final group class for a group of three rams under 1.5 years was won by the Brimfield stud when it stood in the number one position ahead of five other groups.

Second place in the class went to Willow Park stud, Mardella and third went to Dongadilling.