Making her mark on the Merino wool industry at a young age, 24 year old Emma Northey has taken out the top honours in the 43rd annual Don Brown Memorial Ewe Competition. 

On a winning streak after also claiming the title at the Lake Cargelligo Maiden Merino Ewe Competition on Friday 3 February, Ms Northey is now the youngest Merino breeder in the Don Brown’s 43-year history to have won.

The competition consisted of eight flocks and was judged by Richard Chalker of LachRiver Merinos, Cowra, and Patrick Davis of Demondrille Merino Stud, Harden. The pair were assisted by Rachael Pritchard of Murringo .

“It was the hardest ewe comp I think I’ve judged in a long time,” said Judge Richard Chalker. 

“But I’d like to congratulate Emma on her flock  - it’s great to see the passionate young ones coming through and keeping the industry going,” he said. 

PHOTO: Judge Richard Chalker (LachRiver Merinos, Cowra) was impressed with the high calibre of entries at the 43rd Annual Don Brown Memorial Ewe Competition.

The winning entry was presented at the annual Don Brown dinner at the Condobolin Sports Club on Tuesday, 21 February, where a barbecue dinner was provided by the SpraySmart team and drinks were complimentary of Rabobank. 

Ms Northey presented a line of 312, 2021-drop Belswick-blood maiden ewes which were joined for May/June lambing and had been shorn in August last year. They had a 122% lambing percentage in 2022 and were classed by Michael Elmes.

“Pre and during joining they had been running on chemical fallow, and post-joining they have been on lucerne pastures and will lamb down on this,” said Ms Northey. 

“I’m really happy with the outcome and I always leave every ewe comp with something new learned and I enjoy seeing the way other commercial breeders manage their flocks,” she said. 

In a very close second place, Mark, Carol and Brad Jones of ‘Booroola,’ Condobolin, showcased a flock of 630, 2021-drop Lachlan Merino-blood ewes which were joined for May/June lambing and had been shorn in August last year. The flock had an 87% lambing percentage in 2022 and was classed by Glen Rubie.

PHOTO: Mark Jones (left) Brad Jones (right) achieved second place in the 43rd annual Don Brown Memorial Ewe Competition

“It was a very tight decision between first and second,” said Mr Chalker. 

“The only thing that let him down were his lambing percentages, but other than that they were spectacular sheep.”

Third place was claimed by Karu Pastoral who presented 586, 2021-drop Big Weebah-bred ewes that were joined for lambing in April/May and shorn in June last year. The flock had a 2022 lambing percentage of 91%. They were classed by Chris Bowman, and are bred by Harold Crouch and son Phillip, and Philip’s daughter, Meg. 

PHOTO: (right) Condobolin’s 2022 Young Woman of the Year, Allessandra Chamen, presenting third prize in the 43rd annual Don Brown Memorial Ewe Competition to Harold Crouch (left).

For the best short wool flock outside of a placing, the Ian Munroe Memorial Award was taken out by Des Ward for his Bundemar blood ewes classed by Tom Kirk, while the John Coy Memorial Award for achievement by a new or improved entry was awarded to the McDonald Brothers for their flock of The Yanko blood ewes classed by Michael Elmes.

PHOTO: James McDonald (left) was awarded the John Coy Memorial Award for achievement by a new or improved entry. Pictured with Condobolin’s 2022 Young Woman of the Year, Allessandra Chamen (right).

The Gordon McMaster Classer’s Award was presented by last year’s winner Tom Kirk to Michael Elmes.

PHOTO: Michael Elmes accepted the Gordon McMaster’s Classer’s Award at the 43rd Annual Don Brown Memorial Ewe Competition.

While the quality of entries had certainly not suffered, a loss of attendance on the back of previous years was an indication of the declining market share for Merino sheep. 

“It’s a shame that there’s not enough people hanging onto Merino’s for the competition to thrive,” said judge Patrick Davis. 

“But it was a difficult one to judge as they were all very, very good,” he said. 

The top two placing’s in the Don Brown will compete in the Central West Association of Agricultural Shows Maiden Merino Ewe Competition (Trundle, Parkes and Condobolin) on Thursday 2 March. 

Anyone wishing to join the bus tour on the day is encouraged to contact Dominique Nixon on 0428 642 415.