In case you missed it: see the Merino grand champions from Sydney Royal

2025 Sydney Royal grand champions

Pictures by Rebecca Nadge

There were plenty of tough decisions for the judges in the Merino rings at this year's Sydney Royal, with various studs contesting events such as the pairs and groups, the Tom Culley, August-shorn broadribbon classes, the supreme ram and ewe, and the production class.

In the ultrafines, judge Joe Carlon, Queenlee, Salisbury Plains, selected Conrayn 22106, exhibited by Conrayn, Berridale, as the grand champion Merino ram.

The ram tested 16.3-micron fibre diameter, 2.5 micron standard deviation, 15.1 per cent coefficient of variation, and 99.8pc comfort factor.

Reserve was Greenland 22056, exhibited by Greenland, Maffra. The ram was 16.9 micron with 2.9 micron SD, 16.9pc CV, and 99.6pc CF.

Grand champion ultrafine ewe went to Conrayn 22128, at 15.3 micron, 2.1 micron SD, 13.5pc CV, and 99.9pc CF.

Reserve was Shalimar Park, Walcha, with Shalimar 20192. She measured 16.4 micron and 2.8 micron SD, 17.4pc CV, and 99.9pc CF.

In the Poll Merinos, Hillcreston, Bigga, claimed the grand champion and reserve in the rams.

The grand champion, Hillcreston 21660, measured 13.4 micron, 2.2 micron SD, 16.4pc CV, and 99.9pc CF.

In reserve was Hillcreston 21729, at 14.9 micron, 2.4 micron SD, 16.1pc CV, and 99.8pc CF.

Grand champion Poll Merino ewe went to Shalimar Park for catalogue number 176.

Reserve was Greenland 20429, at 15.4 micron, 2.7 micron SD, 17.5pc CV and 99.8pc CF.

Superfine

Under judge Warren Russell, Melrose, Nurrabiel, Vic, Merryville, Boorowa, was sashed the grand champion superfine Merino ram.

Merryville 21693 measured 18.3 micron, 2.6 micron SD, 13.9pc CV, and 99.9pc CF.

Reserve grand champion superfine ram went to Conrayn 22110, who tested 17.1 micron, 2.3 micron SD, 13.6pc CV, and 99.8pc CF.

Grand champion superfine Merino ewe was Conrayn 22129, at 15.4 micron and 2.7 micron SD, 17.5pc CV, and 99.9pc CF.

Reserve was Merryville 21461, measuring 18.4 micron, 2.4 micron SD, 13.1pc CV, and 100pc Cf.

Grand champion Poll Merino ram went to Airlie, Walcha, with Airlie 20065.

The ram was 17.4 micron with 2.4 micron SD, 13.6pc CV, and 100pc CF.

Reserve to went to Merrignee, Boorowa, with Merrignee 22446. He was 17.3 micron, 2.3 micron SD, 13.5pc CV, and 99.8pc CF.

Grand champion superfine polled ewe was Merryville 21677. She was 18.1 micron, 2.7 micron SD, 14.9pc CV, and 99.9pc CF.

Reserve went to Merrignee for catalogue number 191.

Fine

Under judge Kip Gray, Stockman, Melton Mowbray, Tas, the fine ring paved the way for both the eventual supreme champions.

The grand champion fine Merino ram was the supreme exhibit in Airlie 20066, exhibited by Airlie, Walcha. He measured 17.2 micron, 2.6 micron SD, 14.9pc CV and 99.8pc CF.

In reserve was Thalabah 21659, exhibited by Thalabah, Laggan. He was 18.8 micron with 2.5 micron SD, 13.3pc CV and 99.9pc CF.

Grand champion fine wool Merino ewe was the eventual supreme ewe, Merryville 21439, exhibited by Merryville, Boorowa.

She measured 17.8 micron, 2.5 micron SD, 14pc CV, and 99.6pc CF.

In the polls, grand champion ram went to Grasmere 20710, exhibited by Grasmere Poll Merinos, Bethungra.

He was 16.2 micron with 2.2 micron SD, 13.7pc CV and 99.8pc CF.

In reserve was Merryville 21470, measuring 18.5 micron, 3 micron SD, 16.2pc CV and 99.8pc CF.

Grand champion Poll Merino ewe went also went to Merryville, this time for Merryville 21468. She was 18.1 micron, with 3.2 micron SD, 17.8pc CV and 99.7pc CF.

Reserve was her stablemate, Merryville 21442, who tested 17.2 micron, 2.5 micron SD, 14.5pc CV and 99.9pc CF.

Fine/Medium

David Zouch, Crookwell, judged the fine/medium classes.

Grand champion fine/medium Merino ram went to Nerstane, Woolbrook, for Nerstane 2035.

He tested 18.9 micron, 2.6 micron SD, 13.7pc CV and 99.9pc CF.

Thalabah 21658, at 21.6 micron, 3.4 micron SD, 15.8pc CV and 98.9pc CF, was reserve.

Thalabah then claimed both grand champion and reserve in the fine/medium Merino ewes.

The 18-micron Thalabah 21838, testing 2.8 micron SD, 15.6pc CV, and 99.7pc CF, came out on top.

Thalabah 21844, the reserve, was 19.2 micron with 2.8 micron SD, 14.8pc CV, and 99.7pc CF.

In the polls, Alfoxton 20210 was grand champion ram. He tested 18.2 micron with 2.6 micron SD, 14.5pc CV and 99.9pc CF.

Reserve was Merryville 21448, at 17.6 micron, 3 micron SD, 17.pc CV and 99.8pc CF.

Grand champion Poll Merino ewe was Merryville 21684. She was 19.2 micron, 3.4 micron SD, 17.5pc CV and 99.2pc CF.

Reserve was Nerstane 20037, at 16.9 micron, 2.8 micron SD, 16.4pc CV and 99.7pc CF.

Medium/Strong

Henry Armstrong, Pemcaw, Dunedoo, judged the medium/strong classes.

In the mediums, Langdene, Dunedoo, exhibited the grand champion Merino ram in Langdene 20526.

He measured 18.2 micron with 2.7 micron SD, 15.1pc CV and 99.7pc CF.

Reserve was Thalabah 20634, measuring 20.8 micron, 3.5 micron SD, 16.6pc CV and 98.6pc CF.

Nerstane exhibited the grand champion Poll Merino ram in Nerstane 20016.

He tested 20.1 micron with 3.4 micron SD, 17.1pc CV and 99.3pc CF.

In reserve was Greenland 20423, exhibited by Greenland Merinos, Maffra.

Grand champion Poll Merino ewe went to Alfoxton, Armidale, for Alfoxton 20133. She was 17.6 micron, 3.1 micron SD, 17.5pc CV and 99.9pc CF.

Reserve was Greenland 20426, who tested 18.5 micron, 3.2 micron SD, 17.1pc CV and 99.6pc CF.

In the strong wool, Lach River, Darbys Falls, won grand champion Poll Merino ram with Lach River 21639.

The ram, which went on to achieve the highest score in the production class, measured 21.3 micron, 4.1 micron SD, 19.4pc CV and 97.1pc CF.

Lach River also claimed the grand champion Merino ewe with Lach River 21652. She measured 20.1 micron with 3.5 micron SD, 17.2pc CV and 98.9pc CF.