Justin and Natalie McCarten of Rankins Springs have claimed top spot at the 29th Lake Cargelligo Maiden Merino Ewe Competition with their flock of One Oak blood ewes.
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With over 100 millimetres of rain in the area over summer, lucerne and grass pastures were looking fresh, but perfect weather greeted a crowd of 50 people for the competition on February 2.
The competition judges were James Osborne, sheep and wool specialist with AWN, Deniliquin, Garry Kopp, Towonga Merino stud, Peak Hill, and associate judge Tamara Pabst, AWN wool technical officer, Tottenham, Vic.
Not only did the McCartens' flock win in the judges' eyes but they also won the people's choice award.
The One Oak Poll-blood flock, classed by Michael Elmes, Narrandera, measured a fibre diameter of 20 micron, also cut an average of 6.1 kilograms per head over a nine-month shearing interval with 68 per cent yield, while having a lambing rate of 110 per cent.
The judges said they were big, long-framed ewes with excellent skins, were a very even line, with a flexible but well managed approach.
Incidentally, Mr Elmes has been the classer for the last 15 winners of the Lake Cargelligo competition.
Betty and Philip Hall, Weethalle, with their Avenel-blood ewes, placed second in the competition.
The ewes had a micron of 19.4 and cut 8.6kg per head with a 12-month shearing, with the fleece yielding 66pc. The ewes recorded a lambing rate of 103pc.
The judges commented they were the most improved flock with the best wools of the day, had good management, and expressed great genetics which led to a well-balanced and finished ewe flock.
They also said the ewes were excellent, medium frame wool cutters, with the flock classed by Colin McCrabb, Wanganella.
Maree Stockman, Gubbata, with Greg and Linda Thomas, finished third with their flock of Lachlan-blood Merino ewes.
With a fibre diameter of 19 micron, ewes cut 9kg of wool per head over two six-month shearings. The ewes fleece yielded at 68pc and had a 99pc lambing rate.
The flock, classed by Glen Rubie, Lachlan Merinos, Forbes, was best presented, with wool type, quality and skin production, while being a good body shape.
The encouragement award was awarded to Jordan and Karyn Hoskinson, Kikoira, for their flock of One Oak Poll and Kerin Poll-blood ewes.
The ewes 18.8-micron wool averaged 6.2kg with an eight-month shearing and 72.6pc yield.
Although the flock is in the middle of transitioning bloodlines, the judges said the family was thinking outside the square with a non-mulesed flock.
"All flocks are a credit to the exhibitors and the district," the judges said.
"It was lovely to see some good genetics expressed with a bountiful season."
The NSW Merino Breeders, Coopers/Allflex and Zytovet offer genomic flock profiling across all entrants in flock ewe competitions as an added bonus for competitors in this year's competition.
