’Outstanding animal’: prestigious Tom Culley award goes to Merryville Stud

The Land, 11/04/25

The judges were Joe Carlon, Queenlee, Salisbury Plains; Kip Gray, Stockman, Melton Mowbray, Tas; Henry

Armstrong, Pemcaw, Dunedoo; Warren Russell, Melrose, Nurrabiel, Vic; Wal Merriman, Merryville stud, Boorowa;

David Zouch, Crookwell; annd Tommy Culley, 8, of Crookwell. Picture by Rebecca Nadge

A Merino ram set to be retained by the stud has claimed the prestigious Tom Culley junior champion award at this year's Sydney Royal.

Merryville 21456, exhibited by Merryville stud, Boorowa, won his way through the fine ring to take junior champion March-shorn Merino ram.

He measured 17.2-micron fibre diameter, 2.6 micron standard deviation, 15 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.9pc comfort factor.

Wal Merriman said he was by Giantess Supreme, which had gone on to win supreme champion at Sydney Royal in 2023.

"The judges summed him up well, he's beautiful on his feet - lovely and square," he said. "He's got good, rich wool and a good, clear head." Mr Merriman said he was yet to be used in the stud but Merryville planned to retain him.

The judges were Joe Carlon, Queenlee, Salisbury Plains, in the ultrafine ring, Warren Russell, Melrose, Nurrabiel, Vic, in the superfine, Kip Gray, Stockman, Melton Mowbray, Tas, in the fine, David Zouch, Crookwell, the fine/medium and Henry Armstrong, Pemcaw, Dunedoo, in the medium/strong.

Mr Gray said the ram was an outstanding animal.

"He stands very square on his feet, he's pure, and he's just got beautiful skin underneath him," he said. "He just holds it from the top to the bottom and it's a credit to you."

Alfoxton 20210, which was the champion March-shorn Poll Merino ram, was named reserve. In his class, Mr Zouch said the ram was very productive and would likely take some beating if he went in the production class. He was very stylish and soft handling, he said. The ram was 18.2 micron, 2.6 micron SD, 14.5pc CV and 99.9pc CF.