'Brilliant' New England ram claims top honours at Great Southern Supreme Merino

A New England superfine ram at his second show outing has been sashed the supreme exhibit at the Great Southern Supreme Merino at Bathurst.

The three-day event had 268 exhibits across the wool types, but it was Airlie 20065, exhibited by Airlie stud, Walcha, who rose through the March-shorn superfine classes to take the overall title.

The ram tested 17.4 micron with 2.4 micron standard deviation, 13.6 per cent coefficient of variation and 100pc comfort factor.

The judges were Phil Hartwich, Mt Challicum Merinos, Ballyrogen, Vic, in the ultrafine and superfine ring; James Ballinger, Waverly Downs, Delungra, in the fine ring; Craig Trickey, Coryule Merinos, Willowvale, Vic, in the fine/medium; Will Roberts, Victoria Downs Merinos, Morven, Qld, in the medium/strong; and associate judge Angus Campbell, Yarrawonga, Harden.

Mr Campbell said it was a terrific lineup of sheep but the Airlie ram was particularly hard to fault.

"We loved his wool right down, beautiful pure muzzle, and just his correctness," he said.

"He's a brilliant sheep."

Grand champions at the 2025 GSSM at Bathurst

Pictures by Rebecca Nadge.

Murray Power, Airlie, said the ram was the supreme exhibit at the recent Tenterfield show and GSSM was his second outing.

He came from Airlie's horned stud and was by a Glenburnie hogget ram Mr Power purchased.

"The Glenburnie stud is a client of ours and they use a lot of our genetics," he said.

"He goes back three generations to our bloodline but with a little bit of infusion of the Glenburnie sheep.

"That's where his wonderful underline comes from - it's from those Glenburnie sheep."

Mr Power said he had received some offers for the ram but planned to retain a share and use him in the stud.

He is entered for the Sydney Royal Show.

"It's just his purity and his scale for a superfine. He's got wonderful figures - very low CV and SD," he said.

"There's not a blemish on him, his belly wool's as good as the wool on top.

"He's just got that presence."

The ram had earlier been sashed the AWTA grand champion Merino ram.

Grand champion Merino ewe went to Towonga 21037, exhibited by Towonga, Peak Hill.

She rose up through the March-shorn fine/medium classes, and recorded 19.2 micron with 3.6 micron SD, 19pc CV and 99.25pc CF.

In the polled section, Hillcreston, Bigga, claimed grand champion Poll Merino ram with Hillcreston 21660.

The 13.4-micron ram won his way through the March-shorn ultrafine classes and measured 2.2 micron SD, 16.4 CV and 99.87pc CF.

Merrignee, Boorowa, was sashed the grand champion Poll Merino ewe with Merrignee 21223.

She came through the March-shorn superfine ring and measured 16.7 micron with 2.8 micron SD, 16.9pc CV and 99.75pc CF.