Valais Blacknose marks first year of individual breed judging at Sydney
A duo with international pedigrees rose to the top in the Valais Blacknose judging at Sydney Royal on April 15, marking the first year the breed has been judged individually.
A total of 25 exhibits went under inspection from judge Roger Wilkinson, Wangoom, Vic.
The grand champion ewe was awarded to Alora Prestige 232211 'Ultra Violet', exhibited by Alora Prestige Studs, Dubbo.
Mr Wilkinson said he thought the ewe would be a good ambassador from the breed come Friday morning in the interbreed judging.
"I really like the way the champion ewe stands up and announces herself," he said.
"I think her wool will surprise the judges come Friday morning. She's got lovely wool on her, and I just like the style of her."
Alora Prestige Studs principal Alicia McConnell said this was the young ewe's show debut, although her sisters had competed at the Royal Canberra Show earlier this year.
Ms McConnell said the ewe, by Hybridan Ego and out of Maverick Paula, was imported into the country and came from a rare bloodline.
The reasonably new stud was concentrating on building their flock numbers and developing the breed in Australia within their 40-ewe flock, she said.
"This will be our third lambing this year of our own lambs," Ms McConnell said.
The reserve champion ewe was awarded to the Malakai Valais Blacknose Sheep stud, Ballarat, with their ewe who was in the winning pair of ewes earlier in the day.
The grand champion ram was awarded to Farm Christoph, exhibited by Kim Biggin, Alphorn Valais, Yarra Valley, Vic.
Previously winning the ram over one year, any age class, Mr Wilkinson, there had to be a reason for the younger rams to beat the two older rams for the broadribbons.
"The older animals have done the growing, they've proved what they can do and these two older animals have certainly shown that with their scale and their condition and their wool," he said.
"I think when they come out in the interbreed championship on Friday morning, that the grand champion will best be the best of his breed for that."
The 2023-drop ram had previously won his class at the Victorian Sheep Show, as well as winning reserve champion ram at the Royal Melbourne Show while being less than one year old.
Ms Biggin said the ram was also sashed grand champion ram and overall best Valais exhibit at the Royal Geelong Show.
"We have been watching this ram since he was born and he has been a standout, I believe, since he was very little," she said.
"We only have a small stud but we pride ourselves on being small, but yet still breed good quality sheep."
The reserve champion ram, Alora Prestige 232207 'Ultra Ego', also exhibited by Alora Prestige Studs, also rose from the ram over one year, any age class and was a full sibling to the grand champion ewe.
