Squiers honoured with cup

The Squiers family are for the third time bringing the Governor's Cup title home to Quairading.

Adding to their long list of wins at this year's IGA Perth Royal Show, the Cup was the icing on the cake for Shirlee Downs stud's Chris Squiers and sons Sascha and Adrian.

The Squiers have been regularly acquainted with the prestigious award of late, with all three wins coming in over the past five years.

In 2012, they drew for top honours with Elgin-based Bandeeka stud.

The Cup is presented to the exhibitor who receives the most points across sheep, cattle, horse, goat and alpaca exhibits.

Co-principal Adrian Squiers, whose family has been showing their Poll Dorsets and SAMMs since the late 1980s, said winning the Governor's Cup was the pinnacle for going to the Show.

"You don't expect to win it but it is an honour to receive it," he said.

"We are always trying to get better and improve our flock.

"Our aim is to try to breed bigger and better sheep for the commercial market and we will keep bringing the sheep down to the show to show off the animals for as long as we are farming."

The Squiers exhibited 18 SAMMs and 28 Poll Dorsets this year.

Impressively, they amassed the most aggregate points over both of the breeds' judging.

They took out three of the five possible broad ribbons in the Interbreed competition, including Interbreed Champion Ram, for their Prime SAMM, as well as Interbreed Group of Three Rams, earning them $4000 in prize money.

Their ram was named supreme champion exhibit in the Poll Dorset section.

They also had 21 lambs in the carcase competition, in which they received the most points overall, although these did not count towards the Governor's Cup.

More then 400,000 people filed through the gates during the Show's eight days and Royal Agricultural Society president Hugh Harding said the show showcased small businesses and highlighted the achievements of individuals and industries.