Interbreed champion sheep: Sweetfield Corriedales successful weekend
Sweetfield Corriedales had a stellar weekend at the Royal Melbourne Show sheep competition, taking out the top prize.
BRON Ellis has a special connection with the Royal Melbourne Show.
The winner of this year’s interbreed competition has been showing her Sweetfield Corriedales stud there for only seven years, but it was a visit to the sheep exhibit in 1998 that got the Ellis family into the breeding game.
“I grew up with Corriedales at my father’s farm. When I took my son Leigh to see the sheep in Melbourne he picked out the Corriedales and I thought that’s good, I know about Corries,” she said.
Sweetfield Corriedales rounded out a successful show season with four wins in the interbreed category and three in their section at Melbourne on the weekend, including champion ram, breeder’s group and sire’s progeny.
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Supreme sheep of the show was a ram named Bud, which Mrs Ellis said she had picked as a winner at the start of the season.
“I always pick a special ram at the start of the showing season and Bud was my special ram because he has a lovely nature, he never wants to hurt you and he just loves to be loved,” she said.
The judges also had the 18-month-old Bud picked as a standout, selecting him as champion ram for his stance and quality fleece.
Mrs Ellis said taking out the top prize was a surreal moment, and having friends and other breeders cheering from the crowd made it even better.
“It was a good feeling to have the people there who support and encourage you,” she said.
HONOUR ROLL
Royal Melbourne Show sheep competition results
INTERBREED
Ram and supreme: Sweetfield Corriedale, Mount Moriac
Ewe: Allendale Poll Dorset, Bordertown, SA
Sire’s Progeny: Sweetfield
Breeder’s Group: Sweetfield
WILTSHIRE HORN (Feature breed)
Ram: O’Loghlin, Deniliquin, NSW
Ewe and supreme: O’Loghlin
BLACK AND COLOURED
Ram: Lynview, Glenburn
Ewe and supreme: Kan-B Colours, Glenlofty
Lamb: Kan-B Colours
BORDER LEICESTER
Ram: Geraldine, Clydebank
Ewe and supreme: Bauer, Ariah Park, NSW
CHEVIOT
Ram and supreme: Roger Wilkinson, Wangoom
Ewe: Roger Wilkinson
CORRIEDALE
Ram and supreme: Sweetfield
Ewe: Sweetfield
DORPER
Ram: Olsen Park Dorpers, Koondrook
Ewe and supreme: Aberline Dorper & White Dorpers, Hay, NSW
DORSET DOWN
Ram: Woodhall, Wedderburn
Ewe and supreme: Woodhall
HAMPSHIRE DOWN
Ram and supreme: Aurora Park, St Helens Plains
Ewe: Aurora Park
LINCOLN
Ram and supreme: Garvald, Byaduk
Ewe: Garvald
PERENDALE
Ram and supreme: Mount Monmot Perendales, Skipton
Ewe: Mount Monmot Perendales
POLL DORSET
Ram and supreme: Mallee Park, Hopetoun
Ewe: Allendale
ROMNEY
Ram: Tintern Grammar,
Ringwood East
Ewe and supreme: Tintern Grammar
SOUTHDOWN
Ram: Fernhill, Ballan
Ewe and supreme: Chandpara Pastoral Co, Tylden
SOUTH SUFFOLK
Ram: Willow Drive South Suffolk Stud, Grassmere
Ewe and supreme: Willow Drive South Suffolk Stud
SUFFOLK
Ram: Sayla Park Suffolks, Kilmore
Ewe and supreme: Allendale
TEXEL
Ram and supreme: Cypress Park, Windemere
Ewe: Tullamore Park, Donald
WHITE DORPER
Ram and supreme: Aberline Dorper & White Dorpers
Ewe: Aberline Dorper
& White Dorpers
WHITE SUFFOLK
Ram and supreme: Mallee Park