JAMESTOWN Show enhanced its reputation as a premier sheep and wool event, with a raft of hotly-contested livestock sections won by local Mid North studs at the weekend.
The Vandeleur family's Rices Creek Poll Merino stud, Saddleworth, claimed the Heiniger ram of the year award, while the Ashby family's North Ashrose Merino and Poll Merino stud, Gulnare, won the Rural Bank ewe of the year and Elders pair of the year titles.
North Ashrose was very strong in the unhoused sheep competitions, winning first place in the ram and ewe sections.
Ulooloo Dohne Stud, Hallett, had the best Dohne ram exhibit.
Related reading: 'Salto' claims top SA ram title
In the ewe hogget competition, Jamestown's Trevor Crawford won the short wool section, John Newall, Marnoo, Vic, won the long wool section, and Tim Hall, Jamestown, took out the best presented prize.
The Sullivan family's Greenfields Merino and Poll Merino stud, Booborowie, scooped the pool in the registered wool competition, winning the ram and ewe fleece sections, and the supreme champion fleece.
Jamestown's Edward Bray was highly successful in the unregistered section, taking out the grand champion and champion ram fleece awards, and also obtaining the highest number of points overall in the wool competition.
The champion ewe fleece was exhibited by Phil Venning, Clare.
Coming together at events like this we can move mountains.
- SAM KEKOVICH
In the cattle section, a new perpetual trophy for the grand champion beef bull was named in honour of John Malone, who passed away earlier this year. Mr Malone's contribution to the Jamestown Show spanned more than 50 years and extended to the Northern Areas Shows Association and Ag Societies Council of SA.
The John Malone Memorial Perpetual Trophy was won by the Doering family's Walmona Santa Gertrudis stud, Truro, which also won the grand champion female award.
Jamestown Show president David Cooper said gate takings hit a new high, with more than 7000 people attending the October 6 and 7 event.
"We are absolutely rapt to see the hard work paying off with such great numbers of people attending and also the exceptional growth in exhibitor entries and trade sites," Mr Cooper said.
"We are building up a really strong following of sheep and wool exhibitors both stud and commercial, which is really positive."
Related reading: Royal Adelaide Show 2019 Merino champions | PHOTOS
A highlight of this year's show was the launch of the Heiniger Shearer Training Centre, with the viewing gallery jam-packed for both days of shearing and wool handling events.
"The shearing centre has stimulated an enormous amount of interest in the community and amongst wool growers, shearers, woolclassers, and industry training providers," Mr Cooper said.
Lambassador Sam Kekovich was the official show opener and had high praise for the show committee.
"This event showcases agriculture but also demonstrates the egalitarian qualities of pride, loyalty and togetherness," Mr Kekovich said.
"Coming together at events like this we can move mountains."
Jamestown farmer and sheep and wool committee president James Moore was named the show's 2020 Rural Ambassador during the official opening.
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