QUALITY rather than quantity would be the best way to sum up this year's Texel competition.
Dropping to two studs from last year's four didn't affect the quality of any of the 21 entries, as both the JimJan and Mirovi studs' experience in the show ring, coupled with their renowned breeding excellence, shined through to maintain an impeccable standard across the board.
In light of this, it seemed fitting when it came to the business end of the ram and ewe classes that judge Adrian Veitch, Kaya Dorper and White Dorper stud, Narrogin, split the two champion ribbons between the two worthy participants.
As Mr Veitch worked his way through the classes, it became apparent the Glover family's JimJan rams were ticking all the boxes for sire potential, while the Lange family's Mirovi ewes had curves and clout in all the right places.
Champion ram was awarded to the JimJan sire that initially made an impression in the ram under one year, showing milk teeth class, with the reserve champion ram also being awarded to the stud for one of its sires from the pair class, under one year.
Mr Veitch said both rams showed good length of body, with a long rump and sound in the legs which essentially created the ideal breeding package.
He said he prefers to lean towards safe, reliable animals with sound characteristics for breeding, rather than extremes such as excessive muscling, which he believes tends to break down more often.
JimJan stud principal Jim Glover, Boyup Brook, said the champion and reserve champion rams were sired by the same ram purchased from a Victorian stud in 2015 and dropped in June 2016.
They were selected for the show team based on their structural qualities and ability to carry the right amount of meat in the right areas.
It was then time for Rob and Braden Lange's Mirovi stud, Narrogin, to shine in the female section, with the champion and reserve champion ribbons going to two deserving ewes from their team.
Both were described by Mr Veitch as being very feminine, with an even spread of muscling and exceptional legs and forequarter.
So impressive was the Mirovi champion ewe, initially from the pair of ewes class, that Mr Veitch went against his own set of rules to choose the ewe over the ram for grand champion.
"I've broken all my own rules here and chosen the ewe as grand champion, as I normally don't believe ewes are quite as impressive as rams," Mr Veitch said.
"But the ram just doesn't quite have the same quality as the ewe, she is an excellent example of the breed."
The Mirovi grand champion ewe was the granddaughter of Mertex 92, a very muscly, very correct ram in every aspect according to Rob Lange.
