Black and Coloured ewe that's 'like a coffee table' wins the breed's top ribbon

A ewe that's no stranger to showring success has been crowned the top Black and Coloured exhibit at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show.

A two-year-old ewe exhibited by Werowna Park stud principal Anne Barnes, Yass, NSW, beat the champion ram and champion lamb to take home supreme exhibit.

Ms Barnes said it was no easy feat making the 6.5-hour journey south to Bendigo, but the ribbon wins made it worthwhile.

"It's a big expense, it's four days away from home, motels and everything," she said.

"But the quality [of the other Black and Coloured exhibits] is certainly there, so it's well worth coming down for it."

She said her winning ewe had won supreme of the breed at the last seven or eight shows she'd been to, as well as interbreed champion at Holbrook, NSW, in May.

"She's a well-travelled ewe," she said.

Ms Barnes said she was a "special" ewe.

"She's lovely, absolutely lovely," she said.

"She stands absolutely amazingly, she's like a coffee table, four legs and a back.

"Her fleece is lovely too, it's even all over."

She said she was a very good example of a superfine Merino ewe.

"If she was a white ewe, she'd be just as lovely," she said.

Ms Barnes had a total of eight sheep at the ASWS.

New Zealand judge Will Gibson said the top ewe had "phenomenal" wool cover and was an "easy-to-handle" sheep.

"She's got plenty of size and plenty of structure," he said.

"And she has that beautiful, crimping wool.

"For a sheep of that size to still be carrying a phenomenal fibre is no easy feat."

Mr Gibson said he wouldn't say the ewe was an "absolute standout" given there were two other "extremely deserving" sheep in the line-up for supreme.

"The ewe just had the edge with her fibre quality and the sheer size of her," he said.

He said he rated the champion ram very highly.

"It could have gone either way," he said.

"That ram was really, really good quality."

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The champion ram was exhibited by Beylor Blacks stud principal Steph Bechaz, Mornington.

Ms Bechaz said the champion was an almost four-year-old coloured Corriedale ram.

"He's done quite well at our local shows and been to the ASWS previously where he did quite well, too," she said.

"He's got that presence about him.

"He's a nice, solid ram that cuts a nice, heavy fleece as well."

Ms Bechaz said she brought a team of 12 sheep to the show this year, which were predominantly lambs.

The ram that won champion ram was the oldest sheep she brought.

"We've been feeding out quite a bit," she said.