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COUNTRY SPECIFIC WOOLHANDLING RULES
These rules are current from the 6th of March 2005.
INTERPRETATION
In these Rules unless the context otherwise requires:
Words implying the masculine gender will include the feminine as the context fits.Words implying singular will include the plural as the context fits.
PENALTIES & POINTS
Do not confuse penalty strokes with points
(I) A penalty stroke is subject to further calculation (ie. addition and division)
(II) A point is subject only to inclusion and addition to the score
1. ENTRIES
(a) Entries will be in the format required by the organising committee.
(b) Late entries may be accepted at the organising committee's discretion and may incur a surcharge.
(c) The organising committee may reject any application for late entries if the maximum number of woolhandlers
required for competition in any class has been filled.
(d) Organising committees are encourage to offer team and feature events specific to their program, but should
continue to observe all rules and regulations associated with the conduct of SSAA competitions.
2. GRADES
These are National rules and apply at the Nationals Championships, Worlds Championships when held in
Australia.
(a) NOVICE
- Inexperienced Woolhandlers [3 months Woolhandling] and/or have not competed in a show. [If your ability
in your first show is deemed to be higher you must go up]
- If you place 2nd or 3rd 5 times you must go up
- If you win 3 times you must go up.
(b) SENIOR
- If you have come up from Novice
- If you are a Wool classer
- If you placed 2nd or 3rd 5 times you must go up
- If you win 3 times you must go up
- If there is no senior event you must compete in the Open.
(c) OPEN
- Anyone wishing to enter the event
- If you are a Novice or Senior competitor and have place 2nd or 3rd in a Open event of more than 6
competitors twice you must stay in the Open
- If you are a Novice or Senior competitor and have place 1st in an Open event you must stay in the
Open.
3. COMPETITORS
(a) Competitors must abide by the Rules and Guidelines of Sports Shear Australian Association Inc. (SSAA)
and
their SSA State bodies.
(b) Competitors enter and compete at their own risk.
(c) Competitors must ensure their nomination is received prior to the closing date or risk exclusion from the
competition or risk incurring a surcharge upon nominating.
(d) It is the competitors own responsibility to report to the briefing area prior to start of competition.
(e) Competitors must report to the marshalling area at least 15 minutes prior to the start of their event.
(f) Competitors must be suitably attired, which includes footwear for all competition, and prize giving as well as
official functions.
(g) The use of drugs drips or oxygen is banned in all competitions.
(h) Random drug tests may be taken and if proved positive, the competitor will pay all costs and be disqualified
for
12 months from the date of the tests.
(i) Competitors must provide their own broom/paddle and board sweep.
(j) The organising committee will oversee a draw to determine heats and stands before the start of the event.
(k) The Chief woolhandling judge will oversee a draw in all finals.
(l) Woolhandlers may designate which order their Finals sheep are to be shorn.
(m) Any competitor who is not present for the presentation of prizes will not receive the prize unless reasonable
grounds for being absent are presented to the organising committee before the prize giving.
(n) Competitors must not get up on stage while competing. Will incur 5 points.
(o) Woolhandlers may not assist the shearers by playing the fleece unless competing in a teams event.
(p) Shearers must not help or hinder woolhandlers in anyway. Unless in a teams event where they are working
together.
(q) On completion of the woolhandling event each competitor will remain on their table until the last competitor
on
the board has finished. If any competitor fails to do so they will incur 5 points.
Unless:
(i) He/she needs to seek urgent medical attention.
(ii) He/she has been granted permission to leave the board by the Chief Judge or referee prior to the
commencement of such heat or final.
(r) All finalists will receive a print out of the final results if the facility is available.
(s) Competitors will be disqualified for conduct deemed by the Chief or referee, a judge, or the relevant
committee,
to be detrimental to SSAA, e.g. deliberate injury to a sheep, abusive language, not conducting
themselves in a
manner appropriate to a sportsperson, under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
(t) Disqualified competitors will receive no prize or prize money.
(u) In the even of a draw the competitor or team with the lowest quality points wins.
(v) Competition organisers may permit woolhandling competitors to practice in the shearing heats.
(w) No skirting of PCS on the board.
4. FACILITIES
(a) A good floor for sweeping is required. Floor space for competitors should be marked and roped off from
spectators.
(b) A section of floor will be roped off for the Judging of fleeces and oddments.
(c) Woolhandling Tables must be rectangular.
(d) Finals may be run with two heats if the need arises.
(e) A wool table for the Fleece Judge and some good-sized tables for the oddments Judges.
(f) Containers for oddments and prem, each set must be identified with different colours or numbered
corresponding with table identification.
(g) For efficiency it is recommended that 2 or 3 sets of containers are used per table.
(h) Oddments are PCS, LKS, BLS, STN, SKIN, SHKS and Miscellaneous. (while one set is being judged the
second set of containers is being used for the following heat).
Containers must be large enough to hold the required oddments. Wool packs maybe used as containers.
(i) Counters Must be supplied for the floor Judges, (one counter per table) and checked for accuracy.
(j) Score Sheets/boards, Judges grids, Pens, Textas, Judges Coats and or Name Tags must be supplied.
(k) Wool packs and holders to be supplied for Oddment Judges.
(l) Sufficient wool runners are required to maintain a smooth flow of fleeces to the fleece Judge.
(m) Paddles and raised board scrapers should be kept on hand for general tidy up.
(n) When running a shearing and woolhandling competition we are also putting on an exhibition for the general
public. It is in the wool industries best interests that handling of all wool is done in a professional manner.
5. SHEEP
(a) Sheep must be consistent.
(b) Type of Sheep eg Strong, medium or fine Merino, Xbred, Prem or Lambs.
(c) They do not have to be crutched. There may be more than one breed shorn together (simulating what may
take
place in the shed) as long as the wool is kept separate.
(d) Number of sheep in each event
- Novice 2 to 3, Senior 3 to 4, Open 4 to 6.
- National Semi finals 3 to 4, National finals 4 to 6.
- State teams 6 to 10.
- International teams Challenge 6 to 12.
6. SHEEP HANDLER
(a) Is the person who organisers the sheep for each event.
(b) Sheep Handler Program Be aware of number of events, number of sheep needed for each event and
approximate time of events.
(c) Numbers of sheep for the finals must be finalised well before all finals are set to run, this is to be organised
by
the Show Committee and the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge may select the finals sheep (out of what has
been
made available for the event).
7. SHEARERS
(a) Shearers are to be selected to shear for the Woolhandlers prior to the events.
(b) Shearers must be selected for all Woolhandling Finals before the event.
(c) Shearers must be of similar quality, speed and style.
(d) The Speed that the shearers shear at will be dictated by an individual or the commentator as the speed
increases between grades, heats and finals.
8. THE CHIEF JUDGE
(a) A Chief Judge will be appointed for each competition.
(b) A Chief Judge may appoint one or more referees for a specific event. eg. Board or oddments.
(c) The Chief Judge will be Chairperson of the Disputes Committee.
(d) The Chief Judge will be responsible for the administration and control of the competition strictly according to
these rules, any additional local rules and the SSAA guidelines.
(e) The Chief Judge has the right to disqualify any competitor whose work or conduct is detrimental to the good
reputation of the competition.
(f) The Chief Judge will brief officials as to their duties with respect to the competition including:
- The need to remain alert and focused in their role as judge.
- Officials must be aware when the fleece is to be removed for judging.
(g) Prior to the commencement of any competition heats, all the competition rules must be available to the
competitors and the Chief Judge must be available to answer any queries.
(h) Any person may seek a clarification on any point from the Chief Judge. The Chief
Judge may rule on the matter raised or refer it to the Disputes Committee.
(i) The Chief Judge may select the finals sheep (out of what has been made available for the event).
(j) The Chief Judge will be responsible for deciding and displaying the lines of wool on the day, which will then be
available for competitors to inspect.
(k) The Chief Judge will ensure that the oddment and fleece judges strictly adhere to the current woolhandling
rules.
(l) The Chief Judge for an event will draw up the roster and place the judges.
(m) The Chief Judge is responsible for setting up a briefing;
- To all other Judges before the events start,
- This is to ensure consistency, accuracy, and understanding of the rules and to give judges confidence in
all aspects of judging.
- May have a Competitors briefing; to explain the lines of the day etc:
9. THE JUDGES
(a) Should have prior knowledge of the Woolhandling rules that are to be used on the day and may have practical
experience prior to the show.
(b) A competitor may judge at a competition where she is competing, but not in the class in which she is competing.
(c) Judges must report to entry desk or Chief Judge 20 minutes before the first event they are required to judge.
(d) Judges must be tidily dressed, preferably wearing a coat.
(e) Judges are not permitted to judge while under the influence of liquor or to smoke while judging.
(f) A judge [with the Chief Judge] has the right to stop the wool handler or disqualify any competitor whose work
or
conduct is detrimental to woolhandling competitions.
(g) At the start of every heat or final, judges must ensure counter is zeroed and score card is filled in if
necessary.
Change Judge or Chief Judge is responsible to check and remind floor Judge.
(h) Judges must not be changed during the heats of an event. Judges may be changed for any finals of an event.
(i) If required, the Chief Judge will have the final say on all decisions re: dog bites, yoke boils, dermatitis and
black
wool.
(j) Woolhandling Judges are not to hinder Woolhandlers.
(k) Wool handling Judges may answer relevant questions that maybe asked by competitors.
10. THE TIMEKEEPERS
(a) Stop watches 1 or 2 competitors per timekeeper, one watch per competitor. Watches must be identified
with
each table eg. Table 1, Watch 1, Table 2, Watch 2, or a clock board maybe used.
(b) Program information needed.
Timing Starts when Shearer pulls out of gear on the last sheep and stops when Woolhandler places paddle on
the
table. (The time is 1 point per 10 seconds).
In a teams event the time is taken from the time the shearer starts to the time the woolhandler puts the paddle
on
the table. (The time is 1 point per 10 seconds, this may vary according to the local show committee).
Time and/or order of events, number of sheep to be shorn, number of heats and competitors in each heat
approximately (names not necessary).
11. DISPUTES COMMITTEE
(a) A disputes committee will be appointed and the members names displayed during the competition. The
committee will consist of the Chief Judge, one experienced committee member, and one other person with
knowledge of the rules.
(b) In the event of a dispute or appeal that relates in any way to the procedure adopted for the judging or staging
of
the event, the matter will be handled expeditiously by the Disputes Committee.
(c) An appeal to the Disputes Committee
(i) may be required in writing
(ii) will be accompanied by a $50 fee
(iii) must be made within 10 minutes of the results being displayed and the awareness of the need for such
appeal.
(d) Person/s appealing may represent them selves before the Disputes Committee.
Other persons will not enter discussion unless requested or invited to do so by
Disputes Committee.
(e) In all cases, and in any matters not covered by the rules, the decision of the
Disputes Committee will be
final and binding on competitors.
(f) If appeal is upheld, $50 fee will be refunded.
12. NATIONAL REPPRESENTATION
(a) To be eligible to represent Australia, a competitor must be a resident of
Australia and must have Australian citizenship prior to the National Championships.
(b) Competitors must provide proof of Australian citizenship if request by SSAA member committee, the
Disputes
Committee or National Executive.
(c) Competitors in the National Championships must be prepared to represent
Australia here and/or overseas, and be prepared to meet any sponsorship obligations where possible and
practical.
(d) Two representatives from each state are eligible to compete in the Nationals.
(e) Competitors can only seek to represent one state in any given year.
(f) There will be Six in the Finals.
(g) Where possible one competitor from each state shall compete in each semi final.
(h) A competitor has the right to contest the National final, but if unavailable to represent Australia, his/her
position
in the team will go to the next highest competitor.
(i) State challenge consists of two wool handler and two shearers working as a team of four.
(j) International challenge consists of two woohandlers, using one table and handling two shearers [shearers
are
not part of the team].
13. TIME PENALTIES
(a) Time penalties -1 point for each 10 seconds.
(b) Scoring will be by demerit point system (the lowest points wins).
(c) Each competitor's points will be calculated and recorded regardless of whether he has scored insufficient
quality
points or has a slow time.
(d) Organising committees should provide a clock that is visible to competitors and spectators.
(e) An organising committee may formulate additional rules to apply to a specific event (e.g. local prize, mixed
sheep in a multi-breed event, novelty event rules re entry (see 1a). Any such rules shall not override rules 1-14
WOOLHANDLING PENALTIES:
a) The size of a 30cm by 21cm rectangle. (A4) = 1 penalty
- (for position of fleece on the table)
b) The size of a 10cm by 10cm square. = 1 penalty (SQ)
-
(for Pcs and fleece types)
c) The size of a 5cm by 3.5cm rectangle (Match Box) = 1 penalty
- (for Locks, fribs and short crutch wool)
d) The size of a 5cm by 3.5cm rectangle (Match Box) = 5 penalties -
(for Stain, Skin, Shanks, Dags and Black
Wool)
e) Final presentation of rolled fleece. = 5 penalties max. -
(FLC must be rolled not gathered, Shoulder showing)
f) Hindrance: (must not hinder the shearer) = 5 points max.
g) Belly left on the board. = 5 penalties max. -
(Belly must be cleared before w/handler returns to table)
h) Handling of wool after completion. = 5 points Total - (completion is when competitor places paddle on table)
j) Black wool - to be handed to the Judge and Wool handler to continue.
k) The use of the fleece to clear away locks on the board. = 5 penalties.
l) Leaving the fleece on the board unattended. = 5 penalties.
m) Competitors leaving their table without permission prior to the last competitor finishing will be
cited by the
head judge and will incur an additional = 5 points.
n] Competitors must not get up on the board. = 5 points. - [must have one foot on the floor]
CHIEF JUDGE:
Chief wool judge will be responsible for deciding and displaying the lines of wool on the day.
These will be the current wool classing practices for: XB, Medium Merino, Fine Merino, Super
Fine, Lambs, and Prem.
See rules 8 and 12.
COMPETITION:
The Floor Judges will Judge All faults accordingly to the appropriate
penalties.
Crutch [refer to b, c, d, f]
- Removal of Crutchings.
- All carding wools to be removed from the crutch area.
- Topknots are only to be removed if they are not attached to the fleece.
- No skirting of PCS on the board.
Belly
- Belly left on board. ( up to 5 penalties)
- To be judged in conjunction with the crutch removal, when the competitors returns to
skirt the Fleece.
Hindrance: To the shearer or other persons in a deliberate act. ( up to 5 points)
Board
Shearing area between sheep not clean. [refer b, c, d, f]
Table work [refer to a, b, c, d, e]
- The fleeces are to be thrown on a rectangular table by the back legs, having the head
land at the head of the
table.
- Judging starts when the competitor lets go of any part of the fleece
- The position of the fleece as it has landed on the table
- Final presentation of rolled fleece. (up to 5 penalties)
- (Fleeces must be rolled not gathered, Shoulder showing)
- Table not clean between fleeces.
- All Woolhandlers work area [around table and oddment box] except underneath the
table must be clean
between fleeces. [Except in teams events]
Table work cont, [refer to a, b, c, d, e]
- Any wool of any type left outside the designated area if not retrieved between the
fleeces clean up will be
continually penalised on each sequential fleece as long as it
stays there
- Unauthorized piles.
Final Clean up
- Total Work Area Clean (refer to b, c, d)
FLEECE JUDGE:
Each fleece will be judged on any faulty fleece types or oddments left in.
(Each competitor fleeces will be numbered and or coloured coded eg: peg) [Refer to b, c, d]
ODDMENT JUDGE:
Oddment container will be judged for any incorrect disposal. [Refer to b, c, d]
A measured gride is recommended, for accurately calculating the faults.
JUDGES DUTIES:
FLOOR JUDGES: The change judge will determine the commencement of the rotation at
completion of first crutch [about 20 to 30sec). Counters are to be used and checked. eg: 3
stands, 4 judges to rotate on the board and table.
Teams event where there are 2 Woolhandlers too 1 table there will be up to double the
Judges.
FLEECE JUDGES: eg: 1 table, 1 to 3 judges to judge all fleeces. Fleece will be numbered
according to the competitor stand or colour coded and taken out the back when each fleece is
completed.
Score cards will remain with the Fleece Judge and counters to be taken to the designated
Judge who will then be responsible for recording the results and returning the counters to zero.
ODDMENT JUDGES: eg: 1 to 3 tables, 2 to 3 Judges to judge all oddment containers,
Judges must judge the same oddments for all competitors [eg; they must judge all the PCS of
all competitors for the duration of that event etc] Which will be taken out to the oddment judging
area after the completion of each heat. Oddment containers to be numbered accordingly to
stand or coloured containers used.
A designated Judge will be responsible for recording the results on the score sheet.
TIME PENALTIES: 1 point per 10 seconds.
Timing of the Woolhandlers shall commence when the shearer has pulled out of gear on the
final sheep and will end when the wool handler places their broom or paddle on their table to
signify a completed job.
WOOLHANDLING POINTS CALCULATIONS:
Floor, Fleece and Oddment penalties are totalled and divided by the number of fleeces;
These are then added to the time penalties and extra points; Lowest points wins.
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