All but four sheep sold at the national black and coloured sheep sale in Waimate on Saturday.
The audience included a Nelson contingent which had driven to the Waimate Showgrounds in a minibus.
The sale began with Phillippa Sanders, president of the Black and Coloured Sheep Breeders' Association of New Zealand presenting the Champion Animal of the Show trophy to David Thompson, of Ashburton.
The Romney ram, one of twins, was "the best-natured ram I've ever worked with", Mr Thompson said. It was being offered for sale only because there were already brothers on the ground back home.