South Australia and Queensland dominate Merino National August-shorn ring

South Australian and Queensland exhibitors held their own in the August shorn ring at Merino Nationals in Dubbo, taking home the top honours.

The five judges were George Merriman, Merryville, Boorowa, for the superfines, James Ballinger, Waverly Downs, Delungra, in the fine ring, for the fine/mediums, Richard Beggs, Nareeb Nareeb, Nareeb, Victoria, in the medium ring, Alan Harris, Koole Vale, Costerfield, Vic, and Joe Dahlitz, Roemahkita, Cummins, South Australia, for the strong.

It was a clean sweep in the ram category for Collinsville, Hallett, SA, with Collinsville Emperor 333 and Collinsville Emperor 307, both sired by Collinsville Emperor 395, sashed grand champion and reserve grand champion, respectively.

The fine/medium Poll Merino champion ram, Collinsville Emperor 333 recorded a fibre diameter of 18.9 micron, 3 micron standard deviation, 16.1 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.4pc comfort factor.

In an excellent lineup of rams, judge Richard Beggs said the grand champion was well put together.

"He's got plenty of barrel, length, depth of body, is beautiful through his flank and carries that wool right down underneath," he said.

While Mr Beggs said the reserve grand champion ram wasn't as pure in some spots, he thought he was a magnificent sheep.

Collinsville Emperor 307 rose through the strong Poll Merino class and had 19.7 micron, 3.5 micron SD, 18pc CV and 99pc CF.

Bocoble, Eumungerie, exhibited the superfine Poll Merino champion ram.

Airlie, Walcha, claimed fine Poll Merino champion ram, while Jolly Jumbuck, Mitchell, Qld, won reserve champion.

Thalabah 20643, exhibited by Thalabah, Laggan, was sashed fine/medium Poll Merino reserve champion.

Medium Poll Merino champion ram went to Nerstane 20016, exhibited by Nerstane, Woolbrook, and reserve to Weealla 2038, exhibited by Weealla, Balladoran.

Strong Poll Merino reserve champion was Jolly Jumbuck 40072.

Merrignee 20310, exhibited by Merrignee, Boorowa, won superfine Merino champion, ahead of Bocoble 20368, exhibited by Bocoble, Eumungerie, in reserve.

Koonwarra, Boorowa, claimed fine Merino champion.

Fine/medium Merino champion went to Langdene 20526, exhibted by Landgene, Dunedoo, with Mount Ascot, Mitchell, Qld, in reserve.

Mount Ascot 40092 won medium Merino champion, while Weealla 20390 claimed reserve.

The strong Merino champion went to Mount Ascot 40093 and reserve was Coban 40023, exhibted by Coban, Cunnamulla, Qld.

In the ewes, Mt Ascot 40105 was sashed grand champion ewe.

The only fine/medium Merino ewe to enter the ring had 17.9 micron, 2.9 micron SD, 16.2pc CV and 99.8pc CF.

In a lineup of very productive ewes, judge James Ballinger said Mt Ascot was a standout.

"She's a very well-balanced and productive ewe with a very nice fleece," he said.

Fine Poll Merino ewe Airlie 20028, exhibited by Airlie, was the reserve grand champion ewe.

She was 17.7 micron, with 2.1 micron SD, 11.7pc CV and 99.92pc CF.

Mr Ballinger said Airlie was a well-balanced ewe with good production.

In the superfine Merino ewes, Bocoble 20378 was champion while reserve went to Bocoble 20380.

No fine or medium Merino ewes were exhibited.

The only Merino ewe to rise through the strong section, Mount Ascot 40113, won champion.

No superfine Poll Merino ewes were exhibited.

Behind reserve grand champion Airlie 20028, Tambua, Cobar, claimed reserve champion in the fine Poll Merino ring.

Jolly Jumbuck 40104 won the fine/medium Poll Merino ring ahead of reserve Hollow Mount 20630.

Collinsville was sashed champion and reserve champion medium Poll Merino ewe for Collinsville 50184 and Collinsville 50178, respectively.

The only Merino ewe to rise through the strong section, Collinsville 50179, won champion.