Rare and unusual breeds on display for judges, crowds

There was a big showing of the Dorset Horns, as part of the any other breeds section of the NSW State Sheep Show at Dubbo on Friday, May 30.

It was among the eight breeds under the Any Breed Not Named umbrella, which went under the scrutiny of judges Elizabeth Sutton, Wattle Farm, Temora, Christine Sutton, Wattle Farm, Temora, and Alanah Daniels, Tamworth.

In the Dorset Horns, placings were shared between Avoca, Gulgong, and Coolcappa, Coonabrabran, but it was Avoca that claimed the broadribbons.

Christine Sutton said the Avoca ram had a good, "masculine type".

"He was a ram with good coverage," she said.

The ewe was upstanding with good length and depth and a feminine head, she said.

In the Hampshire Downs, the champion ram prize went to a ram from the milk-tooth class, shown by Jurambula, Ryan, near Henty.

Elizabeth Sutton said the young ram stood well.

"He's going to grow into a very good ram," she said.

The ewe was from the two-tooth class, also from Jurambula.

"She stands up beautifully and carries her width right through the loin," Elizabeth said.

In the Lincoln judging, Elizabeth selected a milk-tooth entry from the Allaray Lincoln stud, Henty.

"He's a lovely upstanding ram, with very good definition of crimp throughout," she said.

"He's very even with a good length of loin and good breed characteristics."

For the ewes, it was a two-tooth or older entry from Allaray that got the nod.

"She's a lovely big ewe with an even fleece and consistent muscling," Elizabeth said.

In the Texels, interstate entry Mertex, Antwerp, Vic, is taking home the tricolour sash for its milk-tooth ram.

Ms Daniels said the ram was big and broad.

"This followed through the hindquarters, while it had a smooth topline," she said.

"He was a very well-structured sheep."

In the Southdowns, Cotties Run, Bathurst, claimed both champion ram and ewe.

The stud also picked up the double in the Aussiedowns judging.

Ms Daniels said both champions had good muscling and coverage, which flowed through the hindquarter and hindleg.

"They're both true to the breed," she said.

Windsong Wiltshires, Trewilga, exhibited the champion ram and ewe in the Wiltshire Horn judging.

Christine said the ewe was very balanced, while the ram had good length and depth.

An older ram, from the two-tooth class, took the win in the Valais Blacknose judging for Alora Prestige, Dubbo.

"He carries himself well, has a lovely fleece and good muscling and fat," Elizabeth said.

Alora Prestige also won the ewe judging.

"She has a great spring of rib, and you can feel the muscling underneath that coat, which has a lovely crimp," Elizabeth said.