2024 Australian Fleece Competition Results
Glenburnie Partnership, Glenburnie Merino & Poll Stud have taken out the 2024 Grand Champion title at the Australian Fleece Competition in Bendigo.
This gives Walcha, NSW, a second consecutive win for the region with Shalimar Park Merino Stud claiming last year's trophy.
The Australian Fleece Competition, in its 23rd year, is the largest fully measured fleece competition in the world, attracting 385 entries from 131 exhibiters.
Mark Symes was an inaugural judge in the first Australian Fleece Competition, and was again impressed by the time, effort and dedication that exhibitors put in to preparing their fleeces.
“The collaboration between scientific measurement, coupled with a wealth of experience has made the wool industry more interesting. While science is the engine that drives us today, experience is still holding the steering wheel, “ Mr Symes said.
The Grand Champion 19.0 micron fleece was in the Fine Merino Stud Ewe or Wether class. It scored 96.2 out of a possible 100 points.
Mr Paul Pittman, from Glenburnie Merino Stud, said that the win was a huge honour, after 15 years of attending the Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo.
“You’re up against the best studs and flocks from all over the country, so we are humbled to come out on top,” Mr Pittman said.
“My father, Wilson Pittman has been my number one mentor, and after five generations of breeding, it’s a great feeling,” Mr Pitman finished.
The Reserve Grand Champion Fleece was awarded to the Hayes family, “Tarcombe”, Ruffy, Victoria, with an outstanding commercial fleece, scoring 95.5 points, and measuring 20.3 micron in the Fine Medium Merino Commercial Ewe or Wether Class. The Hayes family's success continued, by winning the Champion Commercial Fleece, as well as the Most Successful Commercial Exhibitor.
Judges for this year’s competition were Mr Mark Symes, Wool Manager, G Schneider Australia Pty Ltd, and Mr John McGrath, Nutrien Ararat, Victoria.
John McGrath, in his second year as the Wool Broker judge, said that the depth of quality was the most impressive component this year.
“The entries in the Stud sections were again of a very high standard, and the commercial exhibits were among the best I’ve seen in the competition’s long history,” Mr McGrath said.
Candice Cordy, Nutrien Ag Solutions Wool Account Manager and Australian Fleece Competition Convenor, said, this year's competition reinforced the strength and confidence that exhibitors have in the wool industry.
“While the high standard of this year's entries is a real talking point, from a convener's perspective, I was buoyed by the increase of entries, up from 340 last year, and the increase of exhibitors. This reflects not only the strength of the Fleece Competition, but an overall interest in the industry,” Ms Cordy said.
Ms Cordy said that the competition ran smoothly this year, and the assistance of Nutrien Ag Solutions Nicole Davies, and Tim Steere from the Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA).
Supported by 26 sponsors, the competition offers $18,000 in prizes, with the Grand Champion fleece exhibitor collecting a $2200 travel voucher sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions and Elanco Animal Health.
JD & RE Humbert Pty Ltd, Kedleston Park, Victoria, continued their success with consecutive wins in the Performance Class, by winning again with an 18.4 micron fleece. This class caters for exhibitors shearing in six to eight-month cycles commercially.
All competition fleeces were weighed and sampled for objective measurement (including length and strength), under standard procedures of the Australian Wool Testing Authority.
The competition is a joint effort by Australian Sheep Breeders Association(ASBA), Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA) & Nutrien Ag Solutions, and is run in conjunction with the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, which will be held in Bendigo this Friday 19 July to Sunday 21 July.
The majority of fleeces on show are donated by exhibitors, with all proceeds going to a different nominated charity each year. Since it’s inception, more than $210K dollars has been raised by the competition.
This years nominated charity is Strength To Give, the donor-facing brand of the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR). The registry is Australia’s only source of stem cell & bone marrow donors, and for over 30 years, they have given stem cell transplant patients a second chance at life.