A young 'sheep enthusiast' in his first year of competing in the Adelaide show ring, has won the junior sheep handling competition and competed with 'confidence and courtesy'.
Despite helping on the family stud, Wonnara Pastoral Prime SAMMs, at Clare for many years, William Thomas waited to compete in sheep handling until he had built his skills and it paid off.
"I was not expecting to win but it was nice to know I have the ability to handle sheep well," he said.
"I have been helping in the stud since I was small and I really love seeing how many other people love sheep - I am a bit of a sheep enthusiast."
William has been a part of the SA Sheep Expo and said the event had helped with learning the technique of sheep handling.
"You need to always put the animal first, it needs to stand square and the judge needs to be able to always see your sheep," he said.
Under the event's five judges, including Helen Schultz, Pine Ridge Suffolk stud, Strathalbyn, 15-year-old William was commended for his strength in maintaining his animal's standing position.
"He did not have a particularly placid animal so his skills really showed while coping with that," Ms Schultz said.
"We were looking for a student who was aware of the judge but focused on their sheep the entire time and William was noticeably good at that.
"We also looked for courtesy when students moved their sheep into a position and again, William was a standout for that."
Junior judge Mark Grossman,Koonawarra stud, Angaston, said Christina Sutton was placed in first place in the under 12 class because of her ability to control the sheep in most circumstances.
"She did an excellent job - part way through the class they were told to swap sheep and resposition the animal as well and it did not change the way Christina handled the sheep," he said.
"It was only one point that decided Christina would be placed over her brother Geoffrey in the same class."
