Claypans consistency pays off

Dedication to breed consistency of type was the winning formula for Corrigin stud Claypans at Wagin Woolorama.

The Merino and Poll Merino stud is run by the Bolt family, who were elated to win their first Woolorama supreme award, after exhibiting at the event since 1986.

Claypans co-principal Steven Bolt said the show team, which earned the most open points this year, represented heavy wool cut and early maturity.

"We brought plenty of depth, which contributed to our success," he said.

Mr Bolt said running a mixed farm in the Wheatbelt - sheep and cropping - worked well together.

"Lower costs occurred in our crop production off good quality pastures," he said.

The Bolts' medium wool grand champion Poll Merino ram, Claypans 597, was unanimously favoured by the three Eastern States judges in the supreme line-up.

Judge Tom Davidson, of Moorundie Park stud, South Australia, said it was between two powerful rams - the other being Darijon stud's grand champion Merino ram, also a medium wool four-tooth.

"We went with the Poll. It's big, square and deep with exceptional thickness and will cut a lot of wool," he said.

In the run-up to the top award, the Claypans' ram, sired by Claypans 754, first had to successfully compete in a class of 14.

Judge Angus Munro, of Boonoke stud, New South Wales, said it was the Poll's heavier cutting ability that placed it over the long-bodied Belmont Park Poll, which came second in the class judging.

When judged for the champion medium wool Poll Merino sash, Mr Munro said it was a bit more indecisive against the two-tooth champion, exhibited by Angenup.

"The overall size of our champion (Claypans) was the winning factor when matched up against the rich wool quality of the two-tooth (Angenup)," he said.

The reserve champion Angenup ram was later judged reserve grand champion Poll Merino ram.

Two grand champion ewes were also put up against the Poll ram in the supreme line-up, including a Claypans' medium wool Merino and Navanvale stud's strong wool Poll Merino.

In judging the Navanvale ewe as grand champion, Mr Davidson said the ewe had a combination of bulk and length of body with pure wool.

He said the ewe's body and wool style put it over a Claypans ewe in reserve.

Claypans dominated the fine/medium Poll Merino ewe section, winning both champion and reserve champion awards, while the fine/medium champion and reserve ram awards were both won by Westerdale stud.

Mr Davidson said the Westerdale champion had white stylish wool combined with depth of body.

Westerdale also won the champion fine wool Poll Merino ram award, with Sunny View in reserve.

The judges were in favour of WA's medium wool Merinos, including the Poll ewe from Eastville Park stud, which was judged champion medium wool Poll ewe for its long body, long stabled and bulky wool, with the reserve ribbon going to Claypans stud.

The Mallibee stud dominated the superfine ram and ewe awards, winning both champion ribbons.

Judge Michael Peden, of Bullamalita stud, NSW, said the Mallibee champions showed a good outlook for the future.

Trevino stud impressed judge Daniel Gooding, of East Mundalla stud, Lake Grace. He said any ram lamb that weighed more than 100kg with crimpy white wool was doing well when he sashed Trevino's Poll Merino with the champion ram lamb ribbon.

Merino *

The grand champion Merino ram was from the Chadwick family's Darijon stud at Narrogin, with a younger two-tooth Angenup ram, also medium wool, in reserve.

The two rams were judged earlier in the champion medium-wool class with the same results.

The Darijon Merino initially won its four-tooth class against 15 other entries, with a Navanvale Merino ewe taking second place.

Judge Angus Munro said there was not much in the top four of the class, which he said were all uncomplicated Merinos, but the Darijon was selected for its overall scale, top-line and structure.

The grand champion Merino ewe was from the Bolt family's Claypans stud at Corrigin with an Eastville Park ewe in reserve. Both medium wool ewes were from the same four-tooth class.

"The winning ewe (Claypans) stood up well, had a deep body and good bone, while the ewe in reserve had good nourished wool," Mr Munro said.

Eastville Park also was awarded the champion fine/medium Merino ram ribbon, with Sunny Valley in reserve. The judge said the long-bodied ram had bulky wool.

The fine/medium champion Merino ewe award went to the Rangeview stud, while Navanvale stud was in reserve.

The champion fine wool Merino ram award went to the Tilba Tilba stud, of Williams, while the fine wool Merino ewe ribbon was won by Mallibee, of Wannamal, with Rangeview in reserve.

Auburn Valley stud, of Williams, won the strong wool Merino ewe award, with Darijon in reserve.

The champion superfine Merino ram award was won by Tilba Tilba, with Mallibee in reserve, while the champion superfine ewe award was won by Rangeview, with Tilba Tilba in reserve.

The champion ewe lamb was a Merino exhibited by the Woolkabin stud, Woodanilling. Judge Daniel Gooding said the ewe had great conformation and spring of rib.

Champions table *

·Supreme: *Claypans, Corrigin *

·Grand champion Poll Merino ram: *Claypans *; reserve *Angenup, Kojonup *

·Grand champion Merino ram: *Darijon, Narrogin *; reserve *Angenup *

·Grand champion Poll Merino ewe: *Navanvale, Williams *; reserve *Claypans *

·Grand champion Merino ewe: *Claypans *; reserve *Eastville Park, Wickepin *

·Champion two-tooth ram: *Angenup *

·Champion superfine wool Merino ram: *Tilba Tilba, Williams *; reserve *Mallibee, Wannamal *

·Champion superfine wool Merino ewe: *Rangeview, Darkan *; reserve *Tilba Tilba *

·Champion superfine wool Poll Merino ram: *Mallibee *

·Champion superfine wool Poll Merino ewe: *Mallibee *

·Champion fine wool Merino ram: *Tilba Tilba *

·Champion fine wool Poll Merino ram: *Westerdale, Collie *; reserve *Sunny View, Wagin *

·Champion fine wool Merino ewe: *Mallibee *; reserve *Rangeview *

·Champion fine/medium wool Merino ram: *Eastville Park *; reserve *Sunny Valley, Williams *

·Champion fine/medium wool Poll Merino ram: *Westerdale *; reserve *Westerdale *

·Champion fine/medium wool Merino ewe: *Rangeview *; reserve *Navanvale *

·Champion fine/medium wool Poll Merino ewe: *Claypans *; reserve *Claypans *

·Champion medium wool Merino ram: *Darijon *; reserve *Angenup *

·Champion medium wool Poll Merino ram: *Claypans *; reserve *Belmont Park, Wagin *

·Champion medium wool Merino ewe: *Claypans *; reserve *Eastville Park *

·Champion medium wool Poll Merino ewe: *Eastville Park *; reserve *Claypans *

·Champion strong wool Merino ram: *Darijon *; reserve *Barloo, Gnowangerup *

·Champion strong wool Poll Merino ram: *Angenup *; reserve *Kolindale, Kulin *

·Champion strong wool Merino ewe: *Auburn Valley, Williams *; reserve *Darijon *

·Champion strong wool Poll Merino ewe: *Navanvale *; reserve *Claypans *

·Champion ram lamb: *Trevino, Southern Cross *

·Champion ewe lamb: *Woolkabin, Woodanilling *

·Most points open: *Claypans *

·Exhibitor of the Year: *Claypans *