AUSTRALIAN SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW

In the second week of the school holidays Show team members Molly Cattle, Gracelyn Norton, Angel Coe, Rebecca Morris, Sarah Morris and Brianna Worner and travelled with Mrs Steele, Aimee Davis and Miss Statham to the Australian Sheep and Wool Show held in Bendigo Victoria.

Since 1877, the Sheep show has been showcasing Australia's top woolgrowers, prime lamb producers and in more, recent times other fibre-producing animals such as Angoras and Alpacas. For 3 days, Bendigo becomes the epicentre of woollen, mohair and alpaca wool fashion, fine food and beautiful fibre. This year there was over 2,500 entries.

In the Angora and Mohair fleece sections, exhibitors and competitors came from Mallee Park, Woodleigh School, Elizabeth Murdoch College and Willow Glen - West Wyalong High.

The Angora and Mohair fleeces competition was held on the Friday with well-known Victorian Judge Mrs Hilary Day. Saturday featured Angora Parader's Class with Judge Mr Norm McCrea and 28 competitors, whilst the Angora Young Judges competition was held in the afternoon with Judge Mr Daryl Finch and 25 competitors. Sunday was a free day to enjoy all the other exhibits and stalls. Yard dog trials, lamb cookery demonstrations, shearing and wool handling competitions, as well as A Dorper auction with rams selling above $7,500 and a Merino auction where the top priced ram sold for $32,000 were all features.

Our results included:

1. Doe under 1 year in second fleece shorn after 20th February:

Willow Glen - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4^th

2. Buck under 1 year in second fleece shorn after 20th February:

Willow Glen – 1st and 3rd

3. Pair of Angoras, same sire, different dams:

Willow Glen – 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd

4. Group of three Angoras:

Willow Glen – 1^st and 2^nd

Champion Doe was Willow Glen Kirra-Elouisa paraded by Molly Cattle.

Reserve Champion Buck was Willow Glen Rahanton-Ellmo paraded by Molly Cattle.

The Angora Paraders class was hotly contested. A large number of competitors made it necessary to have two heats and a final.

Placegetters in each heat combined for the Final, and the overall results were:

1^st Brianna Worner (West Wyalong High)

4^th Gracelyn Norton (West Wyalong High)

In the Angora and Mohair Open Young Judges competition, competitors are required to assess and place in order of merit 4 animals and 4 mohair fleeces. The competitors are given points for their Judging Technique and their speaking ability in the oral section.

The overall winner of the Open section of this competition was Sarah Morris with little sister Rebecca Morris a very close second and Molly Cattle third.

Willow Glen had a clean sweep in the mohair fleece competition with 1^st, 2nd and 3^rd placings in each class entered.

Willow Glen was awarded Champion Mohair Fleece with a Young Goat fleece and, Willow Glen Kid Doe fleece gained Reserve Champion Mohair Fleece. Willow Glen was also awarded the Most Successful Exhibitor in both the Animal and Mohair fleece sections.