Peter McDonald and Gillian Brooks of the “Grassbank” Southdown sheep stud at Grassmere won the Supreme Sheep of the Show title at the Noorat show on Saturday.
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The winning two and half year old Southdown ram also won the Supreme title at last year’s Koroit show and was second in the Supreme at Noorat last year.
Mr McDonald said he started developing his Southdown stud about 10 years ago, using bloodlines from the Southdown studs of the late Geoff Baker at Cobden and Graeme Hooper at Benalla.
Mr McDonald and Ms Brooks also have a Romney stud and Mr McDonald has a long friendship and friendly rivalry with fellow Romney breeder Jim Bligh of Woodford.
That rivalry got new vigour with Grassbank’s win of the Supreme title at Noorat denying Mr Bligh a hat trick this year of local Supreme wins after earlier winning at Warrnambool and Koroit shows..
Sheep numbers in this year’s Noorat show show were up with ten exhibitors presenting 55 entries.
The judge was Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association president Gavin Wall of Melbourne who said he was very impressed not only with the quality of the sheep presented but also with the overall show.
“The winning sheep of each of the breed categories had the potential to win at other major shows,” he said.
Results from all the classes were:
Romeny – Champion Ram , J. Bligh "Killmery", Woodford; Champion Ewe & Group, McDonald & Brooks "Grassbank," Grassmere.
Poll Dorset – Champion Ram, Ewe & Group, L. Price "Moora Hills"
Southdown – Champion Ram , Ewe & Group, McDonald & Brooks "Grassbank"
South Suffolk – Champion Ram, Ewe & Group, B. Shalders, "Willow Drive"
Suffolk – Champion Ram, Ewe & Group, H. Branson "Banquet Blacks"
Interbreed results
Short wool sheep: McDonald & Brooks (Southdown Ram)
Long wool sheep: J. Bligh (Romney Ram)
All Breeds Group: B. Shalders (South Suffolk)
Lamb of Show: B. Shalders (South Suffolk)
Supreme Sheep of the Show: McDonald & Brooks (Southdown Ram)