Jerramungup team judged best in State

Jerramungup farmers Brad and Jessica Bailey have won the State Ewe Hogget Competition at the Newdegate Machinery Field Days.

After seeing the competition advertised, the first-time entrants decided it would be a great chance to compare and benchmark their sheep, which are based on East Strathglen genetics in Tambellup and were born in March last year.

And after winning $1000 in cash plus two very impressive trophies, Mr Bailey said he would be entering a team next year.

This year, 11 competitors each entered a team of 10 ewe hoggets, which are judged on their confirmation, size, evenness, wool, wool quantity and uniformity of the group. The judges were Brett Caporn, from Lebre-Sha, and Paul Norrish, from Angenup.

Mr Caporn said it was an excellent competition and the Baileys' line was a worthy winner because it was the most complete, with evenness in the wool and great confirmation.

In second place were Ian and Sarah Lloyd, from Newdegate, who use East Mundalla genetics.

Mr Caporn said the Lloyds' ewes were exceptionally well-grown and had tremendous scale and wool-cutting ability.

Third place went to B and A Sutherland, from Chinocup Holdings in Nyabing. The ewes were based on St Quentin bloodlines.

Mrs Sutherland had to bring the sheep into the event herself and told the crowd she would be spending the prize money.

Robert Newman, from Newdegate, had a purler of a day with fourth prize as well as wins in the fleece competition. He said he used Keetlen Valley genetics.

Organiser Darren Howatson joked to the crowd that it was not the Newdegate Ewe Hogget Competition but the State competition. He said he was looking forward to more entries next year.

Kate Pollard