WESTERN Australia's East Strathglen Merino stud won both the grand champion ram and ewe awards at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo on the weekend.

Leading the charge at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show for the Sprigg family's East Strathglen stud, at Tambellup, south of Katanning, was Sir Dick, a big medium-wool, 25-month-old polled ram with a 20.2-micron fleece.

Sir Dick's win was no surprise victory, with the ram winning a similar award at Western Australia's Wagin Woolarama, in March.

And for Rohan and Caroline Sprigg, who run the stud on Collinsville lines, the latest Bendigo ribbon is a repeat of their 2007 Bendigo success.

The Spriggs were one of 10 West Australian Merino and one Texel studs who shared the transport of 38 sheep across the Nullarbor at a cost of $700 a head. The Spriggs brought across eight sheep and won a swag of broad ribbons.

And while the prize money would fall well short of the costs to attend, Rohan said the real benefits were being able to market rams in the east, particularly in semen sales, with Sir Dick's semen selling for $55 a dose.

But, despite their successes, they were only third in the points for most successful exhibitor, an honour shared by Graham Well's One Oak stud at Jerilderie in NSW and the local Wurrook stud of Paul and Kylie Walton at Rokewood.

This year's Merino display attracted a relatively large entry of 660 sheep. One of the increasing popular classes was the best all-purpose Merino, which this year attracted 115 entries.

Peter Meyer's March-shorn ram from his Mulloorie stud, at Brinkworth, in South Australia was the winner.

This 116.5kg ram had a scanned fat depth of 7.5mm and a 46mm for eye muscle.

At the 133rd show - in its eleventh year at Bendigo - there were 2255 entries (not including 258 Alpacas and goats).

Border Leicester was the feature breed with a showing of 211 entries from 33 exhibitors.

NSW raiders took home all the broad sashes, with champion and champion junior ram awarded to the Clark family's Deepdene stud, of Wagga Wagga.

The champion and junior champion ewe went to JE&TL Bueckner's Bauer stud, at Ariah Park, NSW.

And the Grinter family's Retallack stud, also at Ariah Park, was sashed most-successful exhibitor.

Show secretary Andrew Ternouth said the show was a success.

"Numbers increased by 12 per cent," Mr Ternouth said.

"The traders were happy, it was a good show."