Australian Fleece Competition 2015
- Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Entries are now open for the Australian Fleece Competition, to be held as part of the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo Victoria 17-19 July 2015.
The competition is a joint partnership between Australian Wool Testing Authority, Landmark & Australian Sheep Breeders Association. Now in its 15th year it is is the largest fully tested Fleece Show in the world with a total prize pool of over $14,000. The Grand Champion Fleece receives a travel voucher valued at $2,000.
In recent years 190-200 exhibitors from all states have entered between 470-500 fleeces in 15 separate sections ranging from Extra Ultra Fine to Strong Merino, Dohne, Samm, Polwarth, Corriedale and British and Other breeds. A new Merino Performance section was added last year which saw 40 fleeces entered by woolgrowers who shear their flocks in 6-8 month cycles as commercial practice.
The competition caters for both stud and commercial wool growers and of recent times there have been an equal share of stud and commercial fleeces.
All competition fleeces are weighted and sampled for objective measurement, including length and strength, under standard procedures of the AWTA. In the Australian Fleece Competition 38 point are allocated clean fleece weight and 38 points for commercial processing performance. A judging panel made up of a wool buyer/exporter and a wool broker allocates 24 points for colour evenness and style.
In a separate part of the competition prizes are awarded for highest valued fleeces in various section based on a 12 month average prices supplied by AWEX.
The competition also has a charitable aspect. In the last 14 years $100,000 has been raised for national charities. No entry fee is charged to exhibitors donating their fleeces. The charity selected to benefit from the sale of fleeces this year is 'Life's Little Treasures Foundation' which assists the families of premature babies. We are also hoping to raise greater awareness of the work of the charity, particularly in rural communities.
Exhibitors can have their interstate fleeces transported to Landmark Brooklyn, Melbourne through the generous support of Wooltrans Australia. Fleeces can be delivered to Landmark Wool representative or wool store. All fleeces must arrive in Melbourne by Friday, 5th June 2015.
Entry schedules will be to posted to previous exhibitors or will be available online at the Landmark and ASBA websites.