Canberra Royal 2025: Junior competitors put hands-on skills to test

Students got hands-on with the sheep during the junior competitions in the sheep ring at the Royal Canberra Show.

There were 30 entries in the junior judging and 35 in the junior handlers, with a pee wee division also added this year.

In the handlers class, competitors looked over Border Leicesters and Poll Dorsets, under the watchful eyes of overjudges Gordon Close and Charlotte Close, Closeup stud, Finley.

Overall and senior winner was Tom Bradley, Trinity Catholic College, Goulburn.

Junior winner was Imogen McGuire, St Pauls College, Walla Walla, and pee wee winner was eight-year-old Ruby Maher, Quebon Coloured Sheep, Young.

Year 10 student Martha McGrath, St Pauls College, took out the overall win in the handlers class.

She was also the senior winner, while the junior win went to Steph Robinson, Kiah Kilbinbin, Bairnsdale, Vic, and the peewee contest to Ruby Maher.

Winner Martha said she had been around sheep her whole life but had only been showing them the past two years, quickly developing a love for the practice.

"Showing is a different side than commercial - you meet more people and see the stud industry," she said.

"It's a good way to see more top lines of sheep and get into the industry."

Martha had been showing her ram, a two-year-old White Suffolk, at several shows and said they had a good partnership, although the ram could be a "drama queen" at times.

Judge Sam Armstrong, Armdale, Marrar, said Martha had kept her calm, even as her sheep sometimes made parading more difficult.

"She kept her composure the whole time," he said.

"She was engaged with the judge, followed instructions well, was well presented and had beautiful manners."

Mr Armstrong said generally the strength of the competition had grown in the years since he had competed.

"It's fantastic that all these school teachers have encouraged these kids into ag," he said.

"They were all well-presented, keen and enthusiastic.

"And that's all we can ask for in ag is a good attitude and willing to have a go."