Yonga Downs claims Grand Champion Sash in Perth Royal Show White Suffolk Competition

A “cracking” ram that was “perfect on its legs” has scooped the coveted Grand Champion Sash for Yonga Downs White Suffolk Stud in the Perth Royal Show White Suffolk Competition. Husband-and-wife team Brenton and Harriet Addis, who established the Gnowangerup-based stud in 2016, claimed the top prize on September 28 with a June-drop ram that turned heads with its outstanding structural correctness. Yonga Downs claimed both Champion Ram and Champion Ewe titles, with the ram going on to win Grand Champion after standing out as the judge’s pick in the Ram Under 1.5 years (objectively measured) class earlier that day. While the ram actually placed second in the objectively measured class, it was brought into the champion judging class after special selection by Perth Royal Show White Suffolk Judge Rivers Hyde. Mr Hyde, of Kohat Poll Merino and White Suffolk Stud, Ongerup, said the Grand Champion Ram caught his attention as soon as it walked into the ring. “Today I was chasing meat through the hindquarters and this ram just stood out; there wasn’t another ram like it,” he said. “He’s perfect on his legs, beautiful top line, just a beautiful White Suffolk type. “He walked very well, and probably his biggest catch was his hindquarters. He stood up on his legs and didn’t lose his wedge shape. “I’d happily use that ram any day at my stud; it was a cracking sheep.” The Grand Champion, YD 21-0141, was sired by YD 19-0388 and goes back to grand sire Ella Matta 18-0100 AI, with semen soured from the Kangaroo Island-based stud. Mr Addis said the ram’s qualities were evident from an early age. “I just noticed his fleshing straight up as a lamb and he’s followed that through to adulthood,” he said. “In the last couple of weeks he’s really hit his straps.” The Grand Champion boasted an impressive set of Lambplan Australian Sheep Breeding Values that showed a Terminal Carcase Plus of 145.6. “The sire line, Yonga Downs ‘388, is a consistent line,” Mr Addis said. “He’s probably one of the better ‘388 progeny that I’ve bred, and for him to win was pretty pleasing, out of my own bloodline as well.” The Champion Ewe title went to YD-210082, a June-drop ewe sired by YD 19-0384, which took out the Ewe Under 1.5 Years (born on or after June 1) class against seven other entries. “She’s been a pretty handy ewe from a lamb; she showed early growth from a young age,” Mr Addis said. “Her sire, YD 19-0384, has got a fair few progeny through the team. He’s stamped these big growth ewes that are a nice style to breed and good through the shoulders. “Once we got her here we thought she’d go pretty well, and she did, so it was a good choice.” Mr Hyde said the Champion Ewe had “a hell of a carcase” with exceptionally well-expressed muscle. “I think the reason I went with the ram over the ewe (for the Grand Champion title) is he’ll have a bigger impact in the industry,” he said. “Someone will buy him and join him to a lot of ewes.” The Champion Lamb title went to Iveston Prime Lamb Sire Stud, Williams, for a May-drop ewe lamb which won the Ewe Lamb (born on or after April 1, before May 31) class against four other entries. Iveston principal Grant Bingham said the lamb, Iveston 1809/22, had inherited impressive traits from its sire, Iveston 1350, which goes back to Somerset 1802709 Landrace, with semen sourced from the Victoria-based stud. “The lambs by Iveston 1350 are just huge lambs with great shape and great butts on them,” he said. Iveston won nine out of 10 classes it entered on the day, with a June-drop ram that claimed the Ram Under 1.5 Years (born on or after June 1) class going on to be named Reserve Champion Ram. “He’s a ram that we used out of an AI programme; Maroola Lockdown was his sire,” Mr Bingham said. “He’s a real good muscle sheep — plenty of muscle and good fat. He’s a good sheep that we’re going to retain.” This year’s competition attracted entries from seven studs, with Mr Hyde describing the overall standard as “very high”. “There were a lot of first, second and thirds that were very tight — I was quite impressed,” he said. “The standard of the sheep was high; there wasn’t a lot of faults through the shed and there was nothing that shouldn’t have been here.” Yonga Downs — which previously won the 2017 Grand Champion sash — also took out two of three group classes, claiming first in both the Progeny Group and Breeders Group Under 1.5 Years classes. PERTH ROYAL SHOW WHITE SUFFOLK COMPETITION Grand Champion: Yonga Downs ram Champion Ewe: Yonga Downs Reserve Champion Ewe: Cheetara Champion Ram: Yonga Downs Reserve Champion Ram: Iveston Champion Lamb: Iveston Ewe Competition -Ewe Lamb (born on or after April 1, before May 31): Iveston -Ewe Lamb (born on or after June 1): Cheetara -Ewe Under 1.5 Years (born before May 31): Shirlee Downs -Ewe Under 1.5 Years (born on or after June 1): Yonga Downs -Pair of Ewes Under 1.5 Years (showing no more than two permanent teeth): Yonga Downs -Ewe Two Years and Over: SASIMWA Ram Competition -Ram Lamb (born on or after April 1, before May 31): Iveston -Ram Lamb (born on or after June 1): Iveston -Ram Lamb (showing milk teeth only): Iveston -Ram Under 1.5 Years (born before May 31): Iveston -Ram Under 1.5 Years (born on or after June 1): Iveston -Spring Drop Ram (born on or after August 1 in year prior to Show): Yonga Downs -Ram Under 1.5 Years (showing no more than two permanent teeth, objectively measured): Iveston -Ram Under 1.5 Years With ASBV (born on or after April 1): Yonga Downs -Pair of Rams Under 1.5 Years (showing no more than two permanent teeth): Iveston -Ram Two Years and Over: Iveston Group Classes -Breeders Group Under 1.5 Years (one ram and two ewes): Yonga Downs -Group of Three Rams Under 1.5 Years: Annaghdowns -Progeny Group: Yonga Downs