Canberra Royal 2025: 'Powerful' ewe takes supreme title in interbreed comp

The "extra impressive" Poll Dorset entry from the Armdale stud, Marrar, has picked up the title of interbreed supreme champion at the Royal Canberra Show.

The ewe, first came out of a competitive Poll Dorset judging to claim the Poll Dorset champion ewe title, then Poll Dorset supreme exhibit, before going on to win champion shortwool ewe and supreme shortwool exhibit in the interbreed.

Judge Brayden Gilmore, Baringa, Oberon, said the entry was a "powerful" ewe that stood out among the judging.

"The Poll Dorset entry was extra impressive and will go on to success," he said.

"There was a lot of width through the spring, very structurally sound.

"It was a hard ewe to go past."

Exhibitor Sam Armstrong bought the Armdale stud started by his grandfather, with his wife Maddy, two years ago.

As a fifth-generation sheep breeder, he said there was something special about continuing his family's legacy of quality sheep.

"It's a very big effort to come to such a prestigious show and exhibit such quality sheep and we're very happy with the results," he said.

Mr Armstrong said this was the ewe's first big win.

"I've liked this ewe ever since she's been a ewe lamb, she's always been a standout," he said.

"She's just a beautiful ewe really."

Armdale also won the supreme group of the show with its shortwool group entry of Poll Dorsets.

The shortwool ram of the show went to the White Suffolk entry from Avoca stud, Gulgong.

Mr Gilmore said while there had been limited numbers in the White Suffolk judging, the quality had been high with this ram a good example.

The longwool interbreed competition was all about the Border Leicesters with the supreme a Border Leicester ram from Talkook stud, Crookwell, while Avoca stud's sold Border Leicester entry claimed the longwool champion ewe sash.

The supreme longwool group also went to the Border Leicesters for the three from Normanhurst stud, Boorowa.

Judge Ben Simmons, Talbragar, Dunedoo, said there had been a good standard of competition.

"The ram that won had scale, structural correctness and carcase," he said.

"The young ewe had very good carcase width through the loin and hindquarter.

"She was pretty hard to go past."

In the shedding sheep interbreed, it was the White Dorpers that claimed top honours.

The White Dorper ram from Harewood stud, Cowra, claimed the shedding sheep ram title, before winning supreme, while a young ewe from Cowra High School took the champion ewe title.

Judge Thomas Youlden, Youlden Valley, Tomingley, said the ram stood out as a well-balanced animal.

"He was structurally correct and carried a lot of muscle," he said.

"The ewe, while still young, is a ewe with a lot of potential."