A "bridesmaid" of a ram has pulled off Sherlock stud's greatest feat, winning SA Ram of the Year at the Crystal Brook Show.
Having previously claimed numerous reserve champion titles, including at the 2017 Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, ‘Hunter’ won champion Poll Merino medium wool ram before taking out supreme champion of the show.
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It is the first time Sherlock stud has won the accolade and stud principal Wes Titley was overwhelmed by the feat.
"Since winning the state pairs at Burra in 2007, this win is probably the greatest showing thrill of my life," he said. "Some people say it is the best ram I've ever bred and I think it is the best ram I've bred in 10 years."
The AI-bred ram, sired by Moorundie Park 306 and out of a Sherlock ewe, impressed judges with its exceptional white crimpy wool.
Mr Titley said the breeding pedigree went back to a Blue Hills ram they bought in 2009, which resulted in exceptional wool ewes.
The ram was just "one of those keepers", he said.
"The ram has a fantastic staple and throughout this year, it just kept getting better," he said.
The ram had fleece measurements of 19.9 micron, 2.8 coefficient of variation, 14.1 standard deviation and 99.5 per cent comfort factor.
Judge Matt Fiebig, Hilton Heath, Keith, said the top ram was a unanimous decision among the three judges.
"It is structurally correct, extremely rich, white, crimpy, stylish wool, filled in from the top of its head to the tip of its toes," he said.
Hunter will represent SA at the Rabobank National Merino Sheep Show & Ram Sale at Dubbo, NSW, later this month.
“It’s a great honour to represent our state,” Mr Titley said.
The reserve supreme champion ram award went to Orrie Cowie, Warooka (pictured bottom left).
Greenfields stud, Hallett, claimed grand champion ewe of the show and reserve grand champion ewe.
Stud co-principal James Sullivan said the two ewes were even, well structured and great breeding types.
The champion was by Greenfields Hussey and had fleece measurements of 20M, 3.6SD, 18CV and a 99.7CF.
Greenfields also won grand champion ram with Greenfields Eddy, bred from its own ram KP444.
"It’s done quite well at a number of shows and we're going to keep it in our stud," Mr Sullivan said.
The grand champion autumn shorn ewe went to North Ashrose stud, Gulnare, and Mulloorie stud, Tintinara, won the group of three rams.
Judge David Rowett, Mernowie stud, Marrabel, said the quality of sheep had been hard to separate.
“There's been a great depth of quality right the way through every class,” he said.