2019 Royal Adelaide Show: Old Ashrose ram wins tight supreme tussle

The 152 kilogram ram, PMA 242, exhibited by Nick and Kate Wadlow, impressed the panel of five judges from across Australia, with its sire appeal and bulky wool coverage.

It received the tri-coloured sash from Australian Wool Innovation chair Collette Garnsey amid rapturous applause from seven other outstanding entries.

Bred from a Moorundie Park family which went back to PB34 the 20.3 micron ram had been in the winners circle recently as the grand champion strong wool ram at the Crystal Brook Show.

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WA judge Mitchell Hogg, Navanvale stud, Williams, said it was the judges' first "unanimous decision"for the day but the sheer volume, length of body and length of staple got the Poll Merino ram over the line.

"For a strong wool he has beautiful belly wool and it doesn't alter from the top to bottom, he is a very long bodied sheep and is very sound and very square," Mr Hogg said.

Mr Wadlow said the family was "over the moon" and would retain the ram which won the 1.5 year to 2.5 year old strong wool class and use it extensively in their stud flock.

"He has real presence and a fantastic muzzle and carries that right through his fleece," Mr Wadlow said.

Also in final deliberation in the tight tussle was Sullivan family's Greenfields stud, Hallett with their grand champion August shorn Merino ram.

J&F 7.2 was the supreme champion ram at the Hay Sheep & Wool Show in June.

The other champions on the mat were the grand champion March shorn Poll Merino ram and grand champion March shorn Merino ewe from the Ashby family's North Ashrose stud, Gulnare, the grand champion August shorn Merino ewe from the Brooks family's East Bungaree stud, Hallett, the grand champion August shorn Poll Merino ewe and grand champion March shorn Merino ram from Greenfields stud and the grand champion March shorn Poll Merino ewe from the McGauchie family's Terrick West stud, Prairie, Vic.