Now they've won this year's Ultimate Clip Competition, the year's top clip judged in Newcastle late last month.

It's the first time the award has gone north into Qld - previous winners have come from the New England region of NSW since the competition's inception in 1994.

The annual award, managed and sponsored by prominent superfine wool buyer, New England Wool Pty Ltd, aims to encourage and reward growers who produce wool that exhibits excellence in all areas of preparation and quality.

The Smith's property had been in Mr Smith's family for many years. However, this was the first time he and his wife had owned and run a property full-time.

Mrs Smith did a classers course in 1996. She now classes the wool for their property and a couple of other places in the area.

She also has a hand in the selection of the sheep to be purchased into the flock.

"Our sheep are now more even and consistent in the wool due to our selection technique of wethers from properties throughout the New England," Mrs Smith said.

"We are meticulous about wool preparation at shearing and carefully select our lines, not on fleece test results but by using the eye and hands as our tools to make consistent lines of quality wool."

The wethers are bought in and all 6000 of them are coated to keep the wool free from grass seed and dust.

"If we didn't coat them we'd probably get half the price at market," Mrs Smith said.

She said coating also seemed to result in more growth and a more even crimp.

"The winning clip was exceptionally sound, with the majority of the fleece wool at between 45 and 55 Newtons per kilotex.

"There was no wasted wool - everything was done to a tee," New England Wool managing director, Andrew Bland, said.

This year, the Smiths have 6000 coated superfine wethers on their 4658 property, which is just north of the border.

All the 15- to 17-micron wethers are bought in, coming from flocks with Merryville and Hillcreston bloodlines.

"Without a coat in these conditions, it would mean too many discounts in the marketplace," Mr Smith said.