Canberra Royal 2025: 'Fantastic' Southdown ewe takes win against daughter

An "absolutely fantastic" Southdown exhibit has wowed the judge to claim the supreme title in the judging at the Royal Canberra Show.

The ewe from Cottie's Run stud, Bathurst, came from the two-tooth class, and caught the eye of judge Kelvin Cronk, Old Junee, from the start.

"She had everything going for her," he said.

"Well-proportioned, great meat and bone structure.

"She's absolutely fantastic."

In the judging of champion ewe, it was mother versus daughter, with the mother coming out on top against the milk-tooth class winner in reserve.

In the Southdown rams, it was a "magnificent" August-drop ram lamb that claimed the tricolour ribbon.

"For a ram lamb, he's got terrific meat structure," Mr Cronk said.

"Not too much fat - no fat on the ribs.

"He has great style and length and stands well."

Exhibitors Ross and Janet Wilson, Cotties Run, said despite the late lambing in 2024, they were pleased with how the champion ram was growing.

"He's got pretty good scale for age," Dr Wilson said.

The ram had quite good pedigree, as the offspring of a Sydney Royal Show champion.

Of the mother and daughter in the ewe judging, they are optimistic about the future of the reserve champion ewe.

"The daughter, I think, has got more potential, but the mother has grown out to be a very nice ewe," he said.