First Place:  2

Entry number:  237

Exhibitor:  ewemama1

State:  CA

Sheep name/number:  Knockout 7438

Breed:  Suffolk

I believe number 2 is an easy first pick.  This Hampshire/Suffolk cross ram lamb is the most balanced ram in the class.  This medium-plus framed ram lamb is extremely long sided and correct in his skeletal make-up.  As viewed from the side I notice the long level top and bottom lines.  Long extended neck that sits on top of the shoulder.  He has that "cool" front the young judges talk about.  Really clean in the brisket, wide through the chest floor and he brings the width all the way back.  Neat at the points and tight over the top of the shoulder.  Wide over the rack and he brings this width back.  Looks to be real long in the saddle with a long, level hip.  I would like to pick him up and flatten him out at the loin edge.  Stands on great feet and legs and has the substance of bone we are looking for.  From the rear he has the wedge appearance we are looking for, excellent depth of twist, square and wide through the pins, and muscular through the stifle and lower third.

Second Place:  3

Entry number:  238

Exhibitor:  ewemama1

State:  CA

Sheep name/number:  Eclipse

Breed:  Suffolk/Hampshire

Although there is a drop off, I see 3 second in this class.  This medium plus framed ram is balanced in its profile and is long sided. Extremely clean through the shoulder, long level top and bottom lines.  Clean in the brisket, however, I would like to see more width through the chest floor. From the profile I see an extended neck, however, I can't tell if the neck has a little too low set or not.  He does have a long level hip.  From the rear I would like to square and thicken him up over the rack and loin and I would like to pick him up at the loin edge.  I would like to widen and square him up at the pins, add more depth of twist and more muscle expression through the stifle.

Third Place:  4

Entry number:  321

For third place I have to choose between two ram lambs that are extremely different in type.  In comparing 1 and 4 for third place, I'm going with 4.  Although I see major faults with both of these prospects I do not see as many with 4.  I see him medium framed, long sided, clean about the shoulder and front with straight top and bottom lines.  Although he appears wide through the chest floor, I do not see the width and squareness over the rack and loin that I would want in a stud ram.  To me, he is narrow at the pins, average in depth of twist, with very little bulge through the stifle.  I would like to square him up and pick him up about an inch or two at the dock.

Fourth Place:  1

Entry number:  198

I see number 1 as carrying a lot of extra condition that can be confused as muscle if you are not careful.  He is medium plus in frame and long sided.  He is just too heavy in the front for my taste.  Although he is level in his top and bottom lines, I find too much depth of shoulder and from the rear I do not see  evidence of much muscle, especially in the lower third.  I would like to pick him up at the dock.

For these reasons I see this class as placing 2, 3, 4, 1 with cuts of 7, 4, 2.