It was the ninth win for the Boorowa-based stud, and befitting the prominence and history of the trophy, they came up against determined competition with the team from John Williams, Thalabah stud, Crookwell in second place and ahead of the Blanch family, Westvale stud, Wollun.

Behind the lead ram, Mr Evan’s team consisted of the reserve champion fine/medium wool ram, and the grand champion fine wool ewe which had also been judged junior champion ewe.

The remaining members of the Tara Park-team competed in the fine medium wool classes.

The Thalabah-bred team competed in the fine and fine medium wool classes, and was led by their grand champion fine wool ram, while the Westvale-bred team competed in the superfine and ultrafine classes.

Judge for the medium and strong wool classes, Andy Maclean, stud manager Haddon Rig, Warren, noted it was a very good lineup of sheep and a credit to the breeders, responding as they continue to do in breeding sheep for contemporary market conditions.

“The decision was unanimous … we all agreed with the champion team,” Mr Maclean said.

“For their scale, depth of body and width they were impressive … in a commercial situation they would make you a lot of money.” 

Speaking on behalf of all seven judges, Mr Maclean said the Thalabah-bred team was also very even, carrying their good wool underneath but with not quite the scale of the winning team: while he noted the Westvale-bred team were even and also producing a very good wool but with a tiny bit less scale than the other two teams.

The Otway Falkiner Perpetual Cup was presented to Michael and Jane Corkhill, Grassy Creek stud, Reids Flat for their team which featured strongly in the fine classes in the Poll Merino section. 

This was the first win for the Corkhill family in this competition, and Mr Corkhill noted his team competed consistently through their respective classes, with one ewe being judged grand champion fine wool Poll Merino ewe. 

In second place was the team exhibited by Chris Clonan, Alfoxton stud, Armidale with Malcolm Cox, Bocoble stud, Mudgee in third place.

Tom Davidson, Moorundie Park Poll Merinos, Gulnare, SA complimented each of the place getters. 

“We felt the first-placed team carried a lot of wool all over and were very even for such a big productive type,” he said.

“They were the standout team among very strong competition.”

First awarded in 1992 it was presented to Max and Andrew Rayner, Grathlyn stud Hargreaves, for their team of five August-shorn superfine Merino sheep. 

This was their first win in this competition.

The Grathlyn team was led by the junior champion ram which had been presented with the Tom Culley Award, and was reserve grand champion superfine ram.

Supporting the ram was reserve champion August-shorn superfine ram and the champion August-shorn ultrafine wool ram.

The ewes were led by the champion August-shorn ultrafine wool ewe which was later presented with the reserve grand championship for ultra-fine ewe, with support from a superfine ewe which had come third in the two-tooth class.

Speaking on behalf of the judges, Aaron Granger, Rogara Poll Merinos, Goulburn said it was a fantastic lineup of sheep and such was the evenness of the competition it “was pretty hard to sort out the top four teams.”

Mr Granger said the winning team were noted for their trueness to type and were considered an outstanding example of a group of superfine wool sheep.

“They were very even in type and well covered,” he said.

Mr Granger said the second placed Roseville Park-bred team exhibited by Matthew and Cherie Coddington, Dubbo were not far behind the winners, as were the third placed team bred by Garry Cox, Langdene stud, Dunedoo.

The Rayner family were also presented with the Schute Bell Badgery Lumby Perpetual Award for Most Successful August-shorn Merino Sheep Exhibitor repeating their 2017 success.