Merinos and more at Campbell Town Show

The 188th Campbell Town Show saw two days of fun and variety, from the serious business of judging the state’s sheep and wool to the hilarity of dachshunds and dog jumping.

Strong attendance was helped with relatively mild weather after some welcome local rain and numbers were up in equestrian, prime lamb and shearing sections.

Show president Annie Thompson said that the addition of a new shearing shed was appreciated by shearers and wool handlers and the large seating area was filled to capacity at times with spectators.

“Moving our cocktail party from the Friday night to the Saturday night and including the AWI Fashion Parade was well received, and our guest speaker Melissa Dunian, founder of Leading Rein, was inspirational,” she said.

Some of the crowd favourite events at the show included the Dachshund Dash, which was won by Pippa, who redeemed herself after running off the course last year.

The open dog jumping was dominated by a kelpie/smithfield cross named Wombat, owned by Nicky Osborne from Taroona.

The two-year-old dog came fourth last year at 1.8 metres and this year won by clearing 2.2 metres - as high as the boards would go.

Trefusis stud owner Georgina Wallace added to a long list of Grand Champion Merino awards with a 2024 stud ram, bred from Roseville Park semen, that she said has integrated nicely with her flock.

She said he cut 177 per cent above the average, nearly three quarters of a fleece more than most Merinos.

“He’s been used in the stud this year with 50 ewes so he’s not in peak condition, but I knew he would be worth bringing along,” Georgina said.

“I decided this year to have a rest from taking sheep to Bendigo, instead just choosing some good unhoused sheep to show.”

Merinos have been showcased at Campbell Town Show since it began, with the traditional judging looking for the best possible examples based on fleece, conformation, productivity and other desirable attributes.

Trefusis also won Grand Champion Fleece and eight of its fleeces will be entered at Bendigo.

Scott Reardon from Rockford was most successful overall in the wool section.

He  won medium and strong groups of three, the medium Merino ram fleece as well as placing in several other categories to be awarded Most Successful Exhibitor.

In the commercial section the Most Valuable Fleece award went to Trent Young from Broad Valley at Campania, with 13 micron wool that would fetch $210 for the full fleece on today’s market.

Wool prices have increased by up to 60 percent since last year’s show, averaging $120-$140
which are prices not seen since early 2019.