Navanvale hoggs the limelight

The Hogg family, of Navanvale stud in Williams, won the supreme grand champion sash at Make Smoking History Wagin Woolorama with their medium-wool ram.

The four-tooth ram, Navanvale Holty, was named after former long-time stud classer Graham Holton, who recently retired after many years of looking after the Hogg family’s stud flock.

Judge Wayne Button, of Manunda stud, Tammin, said the Navanvale ram carried rich nourishing wool with long staple when it won in a class of 10.

After taking out the champion title, Mr Button referred to the ram’s lustrous wool, good top line and how it stood on its feet after it was sashed with the grand champion Merino ram ribbon.

In the supreme line-up were three other grand champions, including a four-tooth fine-medium wool Poll Merino ram exhibited by Seymour Park, of Highbury, a four-tooth strong wool Merino ewe from the Darijon stud, of Narrogin, and a four-tooth fine wool Poll Merino ewe from the Rangeview stud, at Darkan.

In announcing the supreme exhibit, judge Wayne Lehmann, of Flairdale Poll Merino stud, South Australia, said the Navanvale ram had achieved the most points because of its structural balance and well-nourished wool.

“The ram’s sire was Navanvale 1, which goes back to a Rosevale ram,” Chris Hogg said.

“Consistently breeding true-to-type, Navanvale 1 is producing up to 30 rams every year for our annual ram sale.”

The Hogg family were also pleased to win the Countryman Cup with one ram and one ewe in the pairs competition, with their supreme ram matched with a Navanvale four-tooth medium wool Merino ewe and vying against 16 other pairs.

The win means the family can compete at the National Wool and Sheep Show at Bendigo in July.

The group class winners were well spread among five studs, with Angenup, of Kojonup, the only double winner.

Angenup co-principal Rod Norrish had odds on his show team competing favourable at Woolorama, because of the depth of breeding at the stud. The two-tooth medium-wool Merino ram, bred from an old Angenup syndicate family of heavy cutters, was junior champion ram of the show.

Judge John Croake, of Australian Wool Network, Tamworth, NSW, said the Angenup ram was a top sheep and the judges’ decision was unanimous.

In the lamb classes, the grand champion ribbon went to Wililoo stud for its Poll Merino ram.