Top honours for Brimfield ram

The Williams Gateway Expo's British and Australasian sheep show hosted nine breeds of meat sheep, with a total of 204 head being judged for top honours.

Show co-ordinator Debbie Bingham said another 20 sheep entries had to be turned away, because there was no penning room to spare.

After the best of breed awards, the judges turned their attention to selecting interbreed champions.

It was unanimous when the three judges sashed the interbreed ewe, Pamellen 162, a Suffolk earlier judged champion ewe and best of breed.

In announcing the win, judge Glenn Cole said the ewe, although young, was very fleshy and showed extremely well.

"She has plenty of breeding appeal and is well muscled," Mr Cole said of the ewe when judging the milk tooth class, which had eight entries.

The ewe came up against her recent rival in the best of breed, a Suffolk ram from Donald Cochrane's Glencraig stud, of Duranillin, that placed supreme at Wagin Woolorama.

Mr Cole said it was the ewe's potential that put it in front of Glencraig's champion ram on the day.

Pamellen stud co-principal Pam Hinkley said the ewe went back to Goldford 510 on the sire side.

Ms Hinkley and partner Suellyn Boucher also showed the reserve champion interbreed group of two rams and two ewes.

Edging out the Suffolks in the group competition were the White Suffolks exhibited by Max Whyte and Gail Cremasco's Brimfield stud, of Kendenup.

In addition to a win in the interbreed group, the couple had a very successful show in both the White Suffolk and Poll Dorset sections.

But it was their White Suffolk ram, Brimfield 447, from the born before May 30 class, that was the talk of the shed.

The upstanding ram was judged interbreed ram after taking out the best of breed.

Judge Roy Addis said the ram carried excellent meat quality when it won its class and showed good loin quarter and stud appeal when it won champion ram.

Mr Whyte said the ram was bred from a Waratah sire, renowned as a prolific breeder of quality.

The reserve interbreed ram and ewe was awarded to a Brimfield's Poll Dorset and White Suffolk, respectively.

The ram, Brimfield 366, was earlier judged champion ram and best of breed.

Judge Brenton Fairclough said the milk tooth ram, born before May 30, carried good length and a smooth shoulder set when it won its class of five entries. "He is the type of sheep that will breed prime cuts of meat," he said.

Brimfield's White Suffolk ewe, ear tag 89, showed brilliant capacity and stood very correct when Mr Addis awarded her champion ewe.

The ewe earlier won her milk tooth class out of nine entries.

Best of breed in the Wiltshire Poll was won by an entry from Carolyn Kirkham, of Cypress Creek stud, Waroona.

Mr Cole said the ewe had good carcase quality with the appropriate rounded shape in the hind quarter.

Ms Kirkham said it was her stud's first champion win.

The Wiltshire Horn best of breed was won by an entry from Sarah John and Sue Blumer's Nardie stud, of Gidgegannup.

Mr Cole said the Nardie ewe had everything going for it.

The Texel competition comprised two studs and it was the JimJan 52 ram that was judged best of breed.

Mr Fairclough said the ram was well structured and had good muscling in the hind loin quarter.

Only one White Dorper stud exhibited and it was Don and Jane Orchard's Marbellup 52 that won best of breed.

Mr Addis said the ewe carried an excellent top line and had tremendous length.

Grant and Debbie Bingham, of Williams, exhibited the only South Suffolk sheep and their champion ewe, Iveston 714, won best of breed.

Mr Cole said the ewe had superior muscling and stood correct on its feet.

In the Border Leicester judging, best of breed was awarded to a Coljac ram, exhibited by Colin Holmes, of Hyden.

Mr Addis said the Coljac ram had excellent wool quality and exemplified superior carcase attributes.