SYDNEY SHEEP SHOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 9

SYDNEY SHEEP SHOW

RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES' MR DONALD GRANT’S SUCCESSES. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 22. (Received June 22, at 10.45 p.m.) The annual Sheep Show was opened at the Sydney Showground to-day. The entries, which totalled 1037, a reco’d, came from all States, and the standard was well up to the average. Merinos numbered 623 compared with 374 last year, and Corricdales increased from 130 to 173, but British breeds were fewer. Fine wools provided the most noteworthy display for years. Mr W. T. Merriman, a consistent exhibitor, carried off the grand champion awards in the fine and medium wool sections. Messrs F. S. Falkiner and Sons gained championship honours for strong wools and merinos, Messrs J. F. Guthrie and T. Macfarlane shared tbe honours among the Corricdales, and Messrs W. O’Neill and D. Grant were the main prize winners among the Border-Leices-ters, while J. MThillamy was the most successful exhibitor in the Southdowns, In which competition was very strong. Competition among the Border-Leices-ters was limited to three breeders—Messrs W. O’Neill and C. Philip, of Cowra, and Mr Donald Grant, of Timaru, New Zealand. The latter had 19 entries, but the contest was practically confined to Messrs O’Neill and Grant, whose exhibits revealed two distinct types, each with good points, but most first prizes went to Mr O’Neill’s sheep, which, according to the judge, tvere generally superior in conformation, while Mr Grant’s were superior in wool. It is interesting to note that when these exhibits met the contrast in types was most apparent. The New Zealand sheep, because of good climatic conditions, carried the better fleeces. They “ handled ” better and were generally more plain-headed than the local sheep. The set of the cars was not all that could be desired, and occasionally they were short in the neck. Mr Grant won the ram and ewe baby classes and also the class for a pen of two rams under a year. His young ram was awarded the reserve championship, beating Mr O’Neill’s by reason •of its better handling qualities. Mr O’Neill repeated most of his successes of last year, his champion ram having now won the tricolour ribbon for two years in succession. There were no other New Zealand exhibitors.