The broad ribbons went all over Australia during the first day of Merino judging at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo.
WA, NSW, Victorian, South Australian, Queensland and Tasmanian studs all shone at times during the day as the judges picked their way separately through the Merino and Poll Merino classes.
The Miller family's Glenpaen stud, Brimpaen, kept the Victorian flag flying, winning the August shorn fine/medium Poll Merino ram and the August shorn fine wool ram awards.
Other Victorian studs to do well were the Walton family's Wurrook stud, Rokewood, whose wins included champion August shorn superfine ewe (and the reserve) and champion August shorn superfine Poll ram.
Mt Challicum stud, Ballyrogan, competed strongly taking the champion August shorn ultrafine Poll Merino ram ribbon.
Bennmann stud, Upper Everton, picked up the March shorn medium Poll Merino ewe ribbon, while the Humbert family's Kedleston Park, Calivil, won the March shorn finewool Poll Merino ewe award.
NSW studs featured strongly on the first day with the Rayner family's Grathlyn stud, Mudgee, picking up both the champion August shorn ultrafine Merino ram and ewe ribbons and the March shorn superfine Poll Merino ewe award.
Michael Corkhill, Grassy Creek stud, Reids Flat, scored the champion March-shorn fine wool Merino ewe award.
The Clonan family's Allfoxton stud, Armidale, NSW, had a competitive day with a bag of ribbons including the August shorn fine/medium Merino ewe.
The McLaren family, Nerstane stud, Woolbrook, NSW, won the August shorn fine wool Poll Merino ewe.
WA's strong presence at the show has been headed by Coromandel stud, Gairdner, which has so far picked up champion August shorn medium Poll Merino ram and ewe ribbons.
South Australian struds have also been to the fore with the Ashby family's North Ashrose stud, Bundaleer, taking the August shorn medium wool ram award while the Brooks family's East Bungaree stud, Hallett, took the August shorn Merino ewe ribbon.
Georgina Wallace, Trefusis stud, Ross, Tasmania, took the August shorn superfine Merino ram ribbon.
The Brumpton family's Mount Ascot stud, Mitchell, has kept the Queensland flag flying with several major wins.