All the state sheep show results, as they happen

The state’s premier showcase of Merino sheep got underway on Friday morning.

At the end of day one, the first grand championship of the show had been decided, when the Jolly Jumbuck Poll Merino stud won the grand champion all-purpose Merino ribbon with their two tooth medium wool poll ram.

The ram had earlier won the champion medium wool poll ram trophy.

The other championships decided on Friday included champion medium wool Merino ram, which went to Towalba stud, Peak Hill, NSW; the champion fine wool poll ram (Jolly Jumbuck) and champion fine wool Merino ram (Mt Ascot).

As well as highlighting the resurgence of interest in sheep breeding in the central west, participants are helping celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Blackall, long regarded as the heart of Queensland’s wool industry.

Although numbers are down on previous years, with 67 entries lining up for competition on Friday and Saturday, Queensland Merino Stud Sheepbreeders Association president, Max Wilson said some of Queensland’s best genetics were on display.

“It’s a real showcase of our industry and gives people a chance to see what’s on offer,” he said.

Studs represented include Victoria Downs (poll and Merino), Mt Ascot (Merino) Jolly Jumbuck (poll), Towalba, NSW (poll and Merino), Roselea (poll and Merino), Wilgunyah (Merino), and Coban and Murrawondah from Cunnamulla.

Landmark’s southern NSW stud stock and sheep specialist, Ric Power, cast his expert eye over the production classes, giving an on-the-spot physical comparison using eye muscle measurements and combining them with wool attributes.

Judging the regular classes were AWI’s Stuart Hodgson and Rodney Kent, Kurrajong Park Merinos, Delungra, NSW.