OVERALL there were great line ups in all the stud sheep classes on Sunday for the first day of the Hamilton and Western District Sheep Show at the Sheepvention Rural Expo, with a number of shows running concurrently. 

Judges were David Pipkorn from Detpa Grove - a Suffolk stud in the north-west Wimmera region near Nhill, one of the Sheep Show’s convenors - Simon Thomas from the Silk Southdown stud farm in Cavendish, and Nick Cole of Cloven Hills, Camperdown.

Mr Pipkorn has held a lifelong love of breeding and improving stud sheep, particularly White Suffolks for the benefit and improvement of the Australian lamb meat industry and the advancement of the trade at an international level.

Mr Cole is a sixth-generation farmer whose family have had a sheep farm in north Bookaar for 180 years. Mr Cole has an extensive history as a sheep judge, including at the Royal Melbourne Show.

Mr Thomas grew up on his parents’ local stud farm and now runs a commercial lamb enterprise with his wife Kate in Cavendish.

The first line up was for the Suffolk ram class born before June 30, 2021, with Michael Deppeler’s Croydon stud Suffolk declared the winner, handled by Lorelle Deppeler; judge Simon Thomas.

For the May class White Suffolk ram under one and a half years, the winner was from Wakeleigh stud near Cavendish, with handler Kylie Wake; judge David Pipkorn.

For the June drop White Suffolk rams, judge Mr Pipkorn said there was disparity in preparation between animals, with some obviously fed a lot, and others less. The winner was a Mertex stud White Suffolk from Antwerp in the Wimmera, with Tim Jorgensen handling the first place ram, and his brother Nathan handling second place.

“The winner was tremendous through the loin and hind quarters, a very well put together animal that will be useful in breeding,” Mr Pipkorn said.

For the Suffolk ram born on or after August 1, the entries were all huge in size, with sheep judged on their structure, how they walked and the size of its carcase. First place went to Hopea from Dadswells Bridge - handler was Ellie McDonald. Judge Simon Thomas said all entries were terrific carcase sheep. 

“First place presented beautifully with good depth of muscle in the hind quarters,” he said.

For the Senior Pair White Suffolk rams, in first place judge Pipkorn selected a ram from Induro, Wakool NSW, owner and handler Guy Treweek, helped by Trevor Smith.

“The animals were hard to fault and were very even both in physical measurement and sheep breeding value,” judge Pipkorn said.

Kylie Wake had a great day with her May born White Suffolk ram also selected as Senior Champion, with judge Pipkorn declaring a very pleasing line up of entries.

“First place was so very complete and a great structure, smooth through the shoulders and good loin depth,” he said.

For the Pen of Two Shorn Suffolk rams under one and a half years, John Zoch from Kilmore won. Handlers were Mr Zoch’s daughter Saige Zoch, and Daniel Lutz.

Judge Simon Thomas said there were only minor cosmetic differences between first and second.

“It was a terrific line up, but the winner had nice even hind quarters with plenty of carcase,” he said.

In the English Leicester show for ewes over one and a half, Colin Taylor from Koenarl stud in Timboon, had a good day.

Mr Taylor’s ewe was selected in first place, with judge Nick Cole declaring a tight contest between first and second. 

“First place was slightly longer and taller and slightly longer in the neck and a bit fuller in the hind quarters,” he said.

Mr Taylor had a win in the One Ram and Two Ewes class, with judge Nick Cole saying all entries were very even.

“It was a very close contest,” he said.

Handlers were Mr Taylor’s daughter, Alison McKinnon, and his great grandson, Oscar McKinnon.

For the July drop White Suffolk ram, Kylie Wake had another win with a Wakeleigh stud ram taking first place and Induro taking second place.

Judge Pipkorn said entries were very high quality.

“The winning ram was very smooth, a structurally complete sheep,” he said.

“I can’t say enough about this ram.”

In the Objective Measurement class for a Suffolk ram under one and a half, the winner was from the Blue Rock stud in Romsey, owner and handler, Deva Weitman.

The winner was selected according to weight, muscle, fat, and actual measurements, which gives an overall score.

For the August drop White Suffolk ram, the winner was a very complete sheep, judge David Pipkorn said.

“Terrific performance numbers and a great combination of traits and physical measurements,” he said. The winner was from Lachie McCrae’s Somerset stud at Hensley Park near Hamilton.

Senior Grand Champion White Suffolk from the May and July class was again awarded to Kylie Wake from Wakeleigh Park. This was sponsored by the judge, David Pipkorn of Detpa Grove.

“The first and second place were two outstanding rams,” judge Pipkorn said.

“The winner was a more complete animal – a lot of great things can be said about that sheep.”

For the Pen of Two Suffolk ewes under one and a half years, Simon Thomas selected Michael Deppeler’s Croydon stud ewes as the winners, with handlers Rebecca Deppeler and her mother, Lorelle Deppeler.

“The winning ewes had beautiful feminine heads and long bodies. They were smooth through the shoulders and every time they stood, they stood so correct,” he said.

For the Suffolk ewe under one and a half born on or after August 1, all animals paraded very well, judge Simon Thomas said.

Andrew Lakin from Allanwood Suffolks in Lancefield had a win with his ewe selected as the winner, with judge Thomas saying it was a beautiful carcase sheep.

“It paraded very well but had more depth in the hindquarters over second place,” he said.

Mr Lakin’s ewe won Champion Suffolk ewe.

“She was just that next level up with terrific muscle,” judge Thomas said.

“She was a little bit temperamental, but when she stood, she stood so well.

“She had good wool type and beautiful soft skin underneath and a really feminine head.

“This was one of the hardest classes of ewes I’ve ever had to judge – I enjoyed in immensely.”

The Deppeler’s ram won the Supreme Champion for the overall ram and ewe class, handled by Rebecca Deppeler.

Judge Simon Thomas said the winner was all class.

“Good width through the loins and that width flowed through to the hind quarters with beautiful shoulders and soft and broad muscle,” he said.

“He has real sire appeal.”

All show judging results will be published in later editions of The Hamilton Spectator.