ALLY Horan from Crookwell, NSW, has taken out the 2014 AWEX/TAFE National Graduate Woolclasser Competition at the Sydney Royal Show.
The competition was held at the Sydney Royal last Wednesday, April 16, and saw the best graduate woolclassers from across Australia to compete for the Golden Stencil.
“The competition first became a national completion in 2012 and has proven to be a showcase for woolclassing and the wool industry at an iconic Australian agricultural event, the Royal Easter Show,” AWEX CEO Mark Grave said.
Competitors travelled from West Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
This year’s winner of the “Golden Stencil”, Crookwell's Ally Horan, completed the tasks of classing crossbred, medium Merino and fine Merino wool as well as exercises in AWEX-ID, valuation and an oral presentation to the judges.
Ally demonstrated her all-round ability to class wool and perform under the pressure of the competition.
Ally graduated from NSW TAFE Illawarra and was trained by Greg Bush and Alex Willson.
TAFE Illawarra and Greg Bush and Alex Willson received the Dennis Teasdale Perpetual Trophy awarded to the training organisation and trainer(s) of the competition winner.
The Dennis Teasdale Trophy recognises the valuable contribution that education plays in the wool industry and in particular made by trainers and TAFE.
This is the first time that a NSW graduate and training organisation have taken out the coveted titles.
Ally was also the winner of the DAS Campbell prize for the top NSW graduate.
This is the 41st year of the DAS Campbell award.
Second place and “Silver Stencil” was awarded to Shireen Monds, Bathurst, NSW.
Third place and “Bronze Stencil” was awarded to Clare Price, Broadwater, Victoria.
The judges of this year’s competition were Rowan Woods, Jemalong Wool, John Mills, NSW TAFE and Peter Sudholz, AWEX.
Judges commented on the evenness of the competition this year and said that all graduates had strengths that the will hold them in good stead for their future in wool.
The sustained pressure of the competition over five hours is what sets this competition apart from anything else on the industry calendar.
The aim of the competition is to recognise excellence in woolclassing and education and to lift woolclassing’s profile as a profession and career opportunity.
The competition would not be possible without the support and encouragement of AWEX, NSW TAFE and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.
NSW TAFE has been integral in developing the competition with AWEX from a state based competition to a competition at a national level.
