Gardner, farming at Mayfield, won the supreme prize in 2014 and has previously headlined other categories.
The competition was open to all breeds and celebrated the quality and variety of lamb available in New Zealand.
Lambs must be new season, born after July 1. Lambs were judged for highest yield before being tender tested at Lincoln University and taste tested at the Canterbury A&P Show.
The overall winner was decided on a points accumulation from the yield, testing and final tasting stages.
This year a highest yield prize was added to each class.
There was no entry fee for the competition with proceeds from the lambs credited to the Canterbury A&P Association to support the development of the show.
