IN AN impressive Sydney Royal debut, Nomuula Dorper stud, Moonbi via Tamworth, claimed two of the four broad ribbons ups for grabs in this year's showring with a show team of just three sheep.
Stud principal, Cherilyn Lowe, exhibited just three sheep at Sydney - an April-May 2014-drop ewe which was grand champion; a June-July 2014-drop ram which was the reserve grand ram, and a second ewe, June-July 2014-drop which placed second in her class.
All three sheep were sired by Dell Jumbo, an $11,000 ram Ms Lowe bought from Dell Dorpers in September 2013 but unfortunately the ram died from pneumonia about six months after the purchase.
Jumbo's genetic legacy was also recognised in the three sheep combing to win the sire's progeny class for Nomuula.
Judge, Andrea van Neikerk, Dell Dorpers, Moama, described Nomuula's top ewe as stunning - "very good on her legs and feet, very long and very feminine".
While the top ewe wasn't placed up against the top Dorper ram, exhibited by the Gett family's Whynotdorpers, Narrabri, she certainly made an impression on Ms van Neikerk.
"If the two were put up against each other, the Nomuula ewe would be hard to beat," she said.
This was the third year Whynot Dorpers, had exhibited at Sydney, and stud spokesman Mark Gett said the result had been "on par" with previous years.
"Last year we exhibited the grand ram and ewe bred along similar genetics as this latest champion - all have an infusion of South African Dorsland blood which we've been using for the past three years."
Mr Gett said this had been a showring debut for the stud's 20-month-old top ram.
"He's done well, considering we only pulled him out of the paddock a month ago, and we've been battling some tough seasonal conditions for some time," he said.
"We aim to breed functional sheep."
Ms van Neikerk described Whynot's top ram as a "great muscled, well balanced example of the breed".
The ram was expected to head to Dubbo State Sheep Show in May.
Ms van Neikerk said there had been little between Whynot's top ram and the reserve ram from Nomuula.
"The well-balanced Nomuula reserve ram gave the grand Whynot ram a run for his money," she said.
Ms Lowe said her reserve ram's dam was one of the first stud ewes she had bought from Amarula Dorpers, Gravesend via Moree, three years ago.
The reserve grand ewe was exhibited by Terry and Karen Balla, Merling Dorpers, Attunga, which was sired by one of the stud's own rams, Thor, a Sydney Royal grand champion two years ago, and widely used within the stud today
Just over 20 head of Dorpers were exhibited at Sydney this year.
