Merino fleece is top of show

Press, 10 November 1978, Page 10

Merino fleece is top of show

A Merino fleece from the estate of H. Gibson, ofii Tarras, was yesterday 1 judged champion fleece of i the show. The judges (Messrs N. D. i Roach and R. Iles), found i that the standard was not as • good as usual, and attributed this to the last year’s weather. Under the circumstances, they said, exhibitors were to be commended, but better scores could have been recorded if a little more attention had been paid io preparation. particularly to ski’tine Lack of weight also affected some scores. The judges described the champion fleece as a fine example of the Merino , breed They were also pleased io see increasing interest in the Romney and crossbred sections. < CHAMPION RAM An exceptionally wellpresented medium-combing , ram shown by G. T. Black, of Blenheim, was yesterday judged the grand champion ram in the Merino sheep section. The ram had earlier been awarded the championship in the medium-woolled classes. The Australian judge (Mr N. M. McLennan), was full of praise for this sheen. “It was beautifully prepared, and deserved to win." Mr , McLennan said that there were few Australian studs which prepared sheep in het- ! ter order than some of the sheep seen in New Zealand. Mr McLennan saw a lot of good sheep which had not had quite as much prenaration as some of the eventual winners. j'

iP For the grand champion! ewe award, the judge selected a young fine-wool] sheep from B. J. Paterson, of! Ranfurly. “She was a mag-’ nificently woolled sheep, and! pretty well made, too,” he! said. Mr McLennan liked the strong-woolled champion I ewe, also shown by Mr Paterson. but the fine-wool ewe. as an individual, was a little better. SHEARING The Caltex Golden Blades shearing competitions began yesterday with machine shearing, and will continue today with blade shearing. Ninety-seven shearers have entered. The competitions yesterdav attracted a large crowd. John Button- of Hawarden won the New Zealand Corriedale Intermediate machine; shearing championship, and Rodger Lassen of Leeston was runner-up. Dave Clark, of Rangiora,! won the senior division, and ] Geoff Sunderland, also ofi ! Rangiora. was runner-up. ’ The winner of the premier] open division was Kevin I Walsh, of Pleasant Point,] while Peter Lyon, also of] Pleasant Point, was runner-’ up The final places of the 1977-1978 Lion Brown A’l Breeds shearing competition were announced. The competition is spread over 14 shows, and offers $l2OO in prize money Peter Lyon, of PleasantPoint, won the open grade; Lindsav Buckley, of Timaru. won the senior grade, and Craig Dalzell, of Rangiora, won the intermediate grade, i