Sheep & Wool
L to R: Bill Simmons, Geoff White & Adam Cabot
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Memoirs of the Wether Trial.
After a number of meetings with Allen Bell, the then sheep and wool officer with the Dept of Agriculture in Tamworth, and then some discussion with the Show committee, especially the then chief steward of the sheep section, Ted Currell, the Barraba wether trial started in March 1976. The first intake involved the competitors arriving at the arranged wool shed with their team of wethers, selected by the owner. In that first team there were five sheep, which left no room for losses. The first trial was only run over one year and was won by Appledore. The next intake was for a two year trial, to be run at Wiranya and shorn in the Glen Arthur Shed. Tony Crowley, the chief steward, borrowed Ken Hodges truck and drove around the district picking up the teams. The number of sheep in each team was increased to seven to allow for any losses. Tarpoly won both years by a large margin. The following two year trial was won in 1980 by Wiranya, 1981 Carisbrooke & 2009 Calliope.
Sponsorship for these early trials came firstly from Fred Wooley of Winchcombe Carson Ltd. Fred was widely known in the area and it seemed appropriate that the perpetual trophy should be called the Fred Wooley Trophy. Coopers then were more than happy to donate some of their products for the other places. There were prizes for first, second, and third, and another prize for the fleece with the highest commercial value and Highest meat value. Apart from two years of no competition the trail has run along successfully.
In recent times the number of sheep has been increased to ten. Cydectin and Bill McKid (now Stock and Crop) have helped with sponsorship. Ian Cabot’s fabulous computer program to calculate the fleece value has been a welcomed technological change.
Memoirs of the Wether Trial.
After a number of meetings with Allen Bell, the then sheep and wool officer with the Dept of Agriculture in Tamworth, and then some discussion with the Show committee, especially the then chief steward of the sheep section, Ted Currell, the Barraba wether trial started in March 1976. The first intake involved the competitors arriving at the arranged wool shed with their team of wethers, selected by the owner. In that first team there were five sheep, which left no room for losses. The first trial was only run over one year and was won by Appledore. The next intake was for a two year trial, to be run at Wiranya and shorn in the Glen Arthur Shed. Tony Crowley, the chief steward, borrowed Ken Hodges truck and drove around the district picking up the teams. The number of sheep in each team was increased to seven to allow for any losses. Tarpoly won both years by a large margin. The following two year trial was won in 1980 by Wiranya, 1981 Carisbrooke & 2009 Calliope.
Sponsorship for these early trials came firstly from Fred Wooley of Winchcombe Carson Ltd. Fred was widely known in the area and it seemed appropriate that the perpetual trophy should be called the Fred Wooley Trophy. Coopers then were more than happy to donate some of their products for the other places. There were prizes for first, second, and third, and another prize for the fleece with the highest commercial value and Highest meat value. Apart from two years of no competition the trail has run along successfully.
In recent times the number of sheep has been increased to ten. Cydectin and Bill McKid (now Stock and Crop) have helped with sponsorship. Ian Cabot’s fabulous computer program to calculate the fleece value has been a welcomed technological change.