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Shearing's best hit the boards at Tuppal Station First-ever national event for wool producers, shearers and wool handlers – July 3 to 5 National shearing and wool handling team members demonstrate their skills before heading to world championships Shearers and wool handlers from across Australia will answer the call next month for a special event showcasing the best the nation’s wool industry has to offer. The series of information and coaching days for wool producers, shearers, shedhands, wool handlers and people keen to get into the industry, will be headed up by members of the Australian Shearing and Wool Handling Team, including current world shearing champion Shannon Warnest. The first-ever national event has been organised by Sports Shear Australia to promote the industry and its career opportunities, and to offer whoever is interested a chance to learn first-hand from the best in the business. It will also raise funds to help send the team to the Golden Shears World Championships in Norway later this year. The gathering will be held from Thursday, July 3, to Saturday, July 5, at Tuppal Station, about 20 kms west of Tocumwal in southern New South Wales. “We have wanted to do something like this for a long-time but we were worried about the logistics because it’s a huge country,” said Sports Shear Australia chairperson and team member Peter Artridge. “But the owner of Tuppal Station, Frank Vodusek, offered us the use of his new six-stand, curved raised board, which is ideal for this sort of thing, and up to 3200 Merino ewes to shear as a fundraiser,” Peter said. “We put out a call for volunteers and sponsors, and we have had an amazing response from as far as Western Australia, so it’s turned into something much bigger than we expected. “People will be able to receive information and individual coaching from some of Australia’s top coaches and consultants on shed shearing and wool handling, blade shearing, grinding, combs, improving techniques and shed design. “Apart from being able to learn from people like Shannon, a range of companies will be on hand with the latest shearing equipment, and there will be information about training programs and superannuation. For people interested in competition, coaches and judges will also be available, including local fourth-generation shearing contractor, Mark Baldwin, who has been selected as national team manager and has been a Sports Shear judge for more than 12 years; woolhandling judge Craig Rowsell, from Keith in South Australia; and Peter, from Albury, NSW, who is the team’s shearing judge and has been involved in shearing training for more than 25 years. Lining up on the boards will be national shearing champion Shannon Warnest and runner-up, Jason Wingfield. From Willalooka in South Australia, Shannon won the last world championship, held in Toowoomba in 2005, and works as a shearing mentor and coach for Australian Wool Innovation. Jason is from Kyabram, in Victoria, and shears and competes in Australia and overseas. They will be joined by national blade champion David Neumann, from Yumali, and runner-up John Dalla from Orriecowie Merino Stud at Warooka, both in South Australia. Working with the fleeces will be 2007 national woolhandling champion Debbie Chandler, from Port Denison, in Western Australia, who has been a wool handler and classer for 13 years, and runner-up Mel Morris, from Cressy in Tasmania. “We are also hoping to hold a ewe shear teams competition for people to put into practice what they have learnt, and there will be demonstrations of a new upright shearing platform,” Peter said. Peter said organising the event was part of Sports Shear Australia’s ongoing commitment to building the standards of the industry, and raising public awareness about the opportunities it offered. “The association is also exploring the potential for sports shearing to become recognised as an official sport to help take competitive shearing to the next level in skills and recognition. The move would also qualify Sports Shear Australia, its teams and affiliated competitions for financial assistance from government grants programs,” Peter said. “We are hoping everyone will get behind the event at Tuppal, even people who are not involved in the industry and want to learn what it is about. “It’s a great opportunity for up and coming shearers and wool handlers, and the more people who volunteer to come and help the more sheep we will shear and the more money we will raise,” he said. Shearing will start at 7.30 am each day and finish at 5.30 pm. There is no entry fee, however people who want to attend are asked to register to assist with planning and catering, by contacting Peter Artridge on (02) 6020 4295. More information about Sports Shear Australia and competitive shearing is also available at http://www.shearingworld.com/competitions/ssaa.htm For media interviews contact Sports Shear Australia chairperson Peter Artridge on 0429 204 295 or team manager Mark Baldwin on 0427 344 262. |
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