Complete-package ewe brings home victory for school's stud in Corriedale judging

A Corriedale ewe that is the "whole package" has brought home the glory for it breeders - a collection of students and teachers - at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on April 16.

The older ewe, out of the two-years and older class, was exhibited by the Badgally stud of St Gregory's College, Campbelltown.

Judge, former Australian Sheep Breeders Association president and former Loddon Park Corriedale studmaster Peter Baker, Baringhup, Vic, and associate judge, 20-year-old Megan Baker, Orangeville, selected the ewe out of a large Corriedale showing.

Ms Baker said the older ewe had realised its potential.

"The ewe on top is the most complete, the whole package," she said.

St Gregory's College agriculture teacher Georgia Smith said the August 2021-drop ewe was highly thought of within their program.

"She was our pick for our best exhibit in the show," she said.

The ewe was sired by a homebred ewe from the school's own stud and a Gambierview ram.

Ms Smith said the school had been running the Badgally stud for more than 60 years, thanks to the support of significant breeders.

"We're generally very pleased to have done as well as we have during the show," she said.

"It is fantastic to see the students and staff rewarded for their hard work."

Ms Smith said the students were very involved in the management and care the sheep.

The reserve champion ewe, exhibited by Roseville Corriedales, Kingsvale, in the milk-tooth class, was lauded for the quality of her fleece.

"She's got character and that wool is perfect for the market value at the moment," Ms Baker said.

"She's such an amazing ewe with her wool.

"We opened it up and it's so white and fine, and that's what the market wants at the moment.

"I definitely want to take her home."

In the ram judging, it was a commercially-relevant ram with "muscle in all the right areas" that claimed the champion ribbon.

Coming out of the shorn, milk-tooth class, the ram, from Roseville Corriedales, was described by Mr Baker as a well developed, lovely, soft ram.

"He stands well on his feet, with a good Corriedale head," he said.

"He's got the great loin we look for and when you're talking loin, you've got commerciability."

Ms Baker agreed, saying the ram was "all muscle in the right areas".

The reserve champion ram also went to a Roseville entry, this time from the one to two-year-old class.

"He's a big, bold Corriedale ram and has a beautiful white fleece," Mr Baker said.

Tony Manchester, Roseville Corriedales, Kingsvale, said the eight-month-old champion was from a good pedigree, by sire Roseville 22085.

But he had a particular fondness for the reserve champion ram, saying his grandsire was an "exceptional ram" that had won a lot of shows for the stud.

He said the grandsire cut 11.5 kilograms out of the paddock at 23.4 microns, with a coefficient of variation of 15.3 per cent, standard deviation of 3.5 micron and 99 per cent comfort factor.

"Those are exceptional figures and the reserve champion goes back to that and has also got beautiful wool on him," he said.

"He's somewhere in the right direction of the perfect ram."