Ambersun Breakthrough reigns supreme among Alpaca entries

Judge Matthew Lloyd, EP Cambridge Alpacas, Oakbank, said the winner, Ambersun Breakthrough, displayed many qualities he was looking for in terms of staple length, and crimp definition.

"It really came down to the beautiful, soft handling of the fleece, and its uniformity," he said.

"There was a lack of primary fibres, and on these older girls, that's fantastic to see."

Mr Lloyd also commended the champion on its good conformation and softness.

Mitchell Clarke, Ambersun Alpacas, was delighted with the supreme champion result, but said the stud had entered the judging "very humbly".

"I'm very pleased with the win, and it's an old girl too, which is quite nice," he said.

"It's a good, friendly competition, and most of our girls did well."

Ambersun Breakthrough, sired by ET-bred Ambersun Gladiator, and out of Ambersun Savannah, had earlier won the white Huacaya senior female class, senior champion Huacaya female, before claiming supreme ahead of champion Huacaya male Yaringa Grand Duke Ferdinand, Yaringa, Bald Hills.

Mr Lloyd said Grand Duke Ferdinand, a January 2017-drop, was also a worthy champion.

"It had good structure, and came out with a lot of presence in the ring," he said.

Mr Lloyd said the animal had a "lovely soft silky muzzle", which indicated future uniformity of micron.

Ambersun Alpacas collected five other first place ribbons, including champion junior Huacaya female with Ambersun High Hopes, champion mature Huacaya female awarded to Ambersun Chandalier, champion light fawn Huacaya won by Ambersun Pride of Fortune, champion fancy awarded to Ambersun Olympic Stars, and the sire's progeny group for three sired by Ambersun Fortune Seeker.

Mr Clarke said Ambersun Alpacas aimed to produce commercial quality fleeces, aiming for 13 micron wool.

Yaringa Alpacas also had a successful day, winning seven blue ribbons, including champion mature Huacaya male for Yaringa Braveheart, which was named supreme champion Huacaya at last year's Adelaide show.

Marquez Alpacas, Green Hills Range, dominated the Suri breed, with 17-month-old medium/dark female Surilana Sante Fe winning grand champion Suri, and 45-month-old white male Marquez Lonzo taking out best opposite sex Suri.

Mr Lloyd said the animal was a deserving winner.

"(To have) true conformed alpacas with good bone structure, and then also be able to find uniformity of lustre at three mid points on both sides, is very rare," he said.

Mr Lloyd praised all the exhibitors for what he described as "a fantastic line-up" in all classes.