Return judge  Ben Lane, Pastoral Manager of Windridge Farms at Young will be joined by Geoff Rayner, Pomonaro Merino Stud, Sally Flat, via Mudgee and are ready to appraise the entrant’s flocks.

Geoff has had many years of experience within the merino industry as Stud Manager as well as judging at many rural shows.

The judges will be busy over the two days trying to select the finalist as twenty one competitors have entered in this year’s competition.

This event has now the large number of entrants of any Flock Ewe Competition in NSW.

The two days set down for judging are Wednesday January 21 and Thursday January 22.

An air conditioned bus will be leaving the Crookwell Hotel at 6.45am sharp on Wednesday and Thursday.

As this competition has become so popular, to have all the entrants stock judged with equal time the bus will be leaving on time.

People are asked to be at the Crookwell Hotel by 6.30am.

Seats must be booked and to do so ring Michael Lowe on (02) 4832 2441 or 0407 552 619.

A small cost will apply.

The eight finalist will be announced at the conclusion of the judging. Four finalists with shearing dates up to September 1 and four finalists in the Spring Shorn Section, ie, ewes shorn from September 1 2014 up to the judging day.

This gives spring and summer growers an extra incentive to show their sheep to the public and judges.

These finalists will have five of their ewes at the Crookwell Show on Sunday February 15.

The two judges will announce their selections after the two days appraisal at the Crookwell Hotel at 7.30am.

Last years winners, Geoff and Debbie Selmes have again entered. Despite a poor start to the season, conditions have been good in most areas for the last ten months and the sheep on show should be in great fettle.

ANZ Agribusiness is our return major sponsor as well as great support from local Merino Studs, Business Houses, Drench Company’s and the Crookwell AP&H Society.

With wool prices finishing the highest for the year before the Christmas recess, and mutton prices on the rise, fifteen different merino bloodlines and various soil types, this competition is a great opportunity to view on-farm many different wool and body types within the merino industry in the local Shire.

The full schedule with times is shown below:

Wednesday 21 : 6.45am depart Crookwell Hotel, 8am Malcolm McKenzie “The Garnet”, 9.10am Dan Fitzell “Flowerburn”, 9.50am Glen Laverty “Fairview”, 10.40am Alex Wheelwright “Phils River”, 11.10am Ian McIntosh “Bernard”, 11.40am Gavin & Casper McDonald “Aberdeen”, 12.30pm LUNCH – Binda, 1.40pm Peter & Ken Past D. Zouch “Hollowmount”, 2.50pm Michael and Graeme Hewitt “Wongalea”, 3.20pm Matt Nagle “Wongaburra”, 4.40pm Brian Anderson “Lower Sylvia Vale”, 5.50pm Brian Lowe “Pineville”.

Thursday 22nd: 6.45am depart Crookwell Hotel, 7.40am Geoff Selmes “Wahronga”, 8.40am Anthony Selmes “Glenayr”, 9.20am David Cully, “Woodbine Park”, 10.10am Tony Hewitt “Galmara”, 10.50am Ken Hewitt “Aralwood”, 11.40am Michael Lowe “Innisvale”, 12.30 LUNCH – Laggan, 2.00pm Bruce Reynolds “Fullerton Station”, 2.40pm Brad Cartwright “Kempton”, 3.20pm Shannon Arnall “Carinya”, 3.50pm Peter Anderson “Coral Ridge”, 6.00pm BBQ at Crookwell Hotel, 7.30 Presentations