Canberra Royal 2025: Asher topples Arnie in sibling contest of colour fleece

Little sister Asher has toppled older brother Arnie to take the supreme title in the Black & Coloured judging at the Royal Canberra Show.

The full brother and sister, a three-year-old and two-year-old respectively, silver speckled Poll Merinos picked up the grand champion ram and ewe sashes during the judging, with the ewe, Werona Park Asher, claiming the overall honours ahead of Werona Park Arnie.

The two had already picked up champion sashes, awarded champion ultra/superfine ram and champion finewool ewe.

Judge Helen Wright, Kan-B-Colours, Glenlofty, Vic, said the grand champion ram ticked all the boxes.

"He has beautiful, soft-handling, even fleece," she said.

"But we still look at the conformation and he stands well."

The supreme ewe also stood out.

"She has great stature and a beautiful, distinct, finewool fleece," she said.

Werona Park principal Anne Barnes showed seven Merinos all up, having returned to Canberra every showing since 2014.

Grand champion Arnie has picked up several accolades in his three years, including two champions at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show and a champion at the Melbourne Royal.

Ms Barnes said the ram already had a couple of lambs in the 47-head flock at home.

"I like his colour and personality," she said.

She said breeding coloured sheep appealed because of the individuality of the animals.

"If you were to spin (Arnie's) fleece, you would get two to three different colours from him," she said.

"You could make a very interesting jumper."

Grand champion ultra/superfine ram went to the Poll Merinos of Werona Park, with champion ewe and reserve champion ewe also to Werona Park.

It was the same story in the finewool, with champion ram, champion ewe and reserve champion ewe all to Werona Park.

For the mediumwool classes, champion and reserve champion rams each went to Corriedale stud Quebon, Young.

Champion mediumwool ram also went to Quebon, with reserve champion to a Corriedale from Oviston, Murrumbateman.

Downs champion ram and reserve champion ram went to Babydolls from Roogulli Farms, Bungendore.

Roogulli Farms also claimed downs champion ewe and reserve champion ewe.

Ms Wright said all the champions were good examples of their relevant types.

"It has been a pleasure to judge," she said.

"The quality of the young sheep in particular that are coming up to replace the mature ones - they've got a good future."