ENTRIES are now open for the 2014 Royal Melbourne Show Fleece Competition, which showcases more than 140 top quality fleeces from across Australia.
The 2014 competition will be judged in the Livestock Pavilion during the Royal Melbourne Show and will coincide with Wool Day, supported by Elders.
Exhibitors will compete for the prestigious Henry W. Hopkins Memorial Award, awarded to the fleece that receives the most points in the skirted fleece or lambs’ wool classes and the Polwarth Sheep Breeders Association of Australia’s Perpetual Challenge, awarded to the most attractive Polwarth fleece.
The 2014 Royal Melbourne Show Fleece Competition will be judged on Friday, September 26.
Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) chief executive officer Mark O’Sullivan said the Royal Melbourne Show Fleece Competition celebrates Australia’s finest wool producers.
“The RASV is committed to continually enhancing the competition for exhibitors, with judging this year to be held on Wool Day at the 2014 Royal Melbourne Show, providing exhibitors with an opportunity to be involved in the wider event,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
The RASV will host activities in the Livestock Pavilion, which will demonstrate the various stages wool goes through once it leaves a sheep’s back and how it turns into clothes.
Activities will include classing, wool pressing, stencilling and garment production.
The District Fleece Competition will showcase champion fleece from Victorian agricultural shows, while the Australian Wool Innovation will host a wool fashion parade and sheep shearing demonstrations.
The Livestock Pavilion will also play host to Victoria’s sheep and wool industries, with producers, brokers and industry body representatives in attendance to celebrate the contribution wool makes to Victorian agriculture.
The 2014 Royal Melbourne Show Fleece Competition will be judged by a panel of industry experts.
Following judging on Friday, 26 September, exhibitors are invited to attend an afternoon tea where the major awards will be presented and exhibitors will have an opportunity to view fleeces and meet the judges. This will be followed by industry drinks in the ringside Stockman’s Lounge.
Fleeces will be displayed during the 2014 Royal Melbourne Show.
Entries to the 2014 Royal Melbourne Show Fleece Competition close on Friday, August 29.
Exhibitors can enter online at www.rasv.com.au/fleece and receive a 10 per cent discount on entry fees and RASV members can save more on entry fees.
Exhibitors that choose to donate their fleeces for sale will not be required to pay entry fees, with donated fleeces to be sold by Arcadian Wool and all sale proceeds given to charities, Legacy and Make A Wish.
For more information or to enter, contact Fiona Looker from the RASV on 03 9281 7412 or at fiona.looker@rasv.com.au
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