They have trialled a few different methods over the years which had provided interesting results, Adrian recalled. In 1997, they rugged half the wethers, which resulted in very little vegetable matter in the wool and the type changing from a score five to score four. Another time, they changed the format from a one-year trial to a two-year trial. “The good sheep in the first year were still the good sheep by the end of the second year, so we didn’t continue that,” Adrian said. “We split the wethers into two-tooth and fourtooth sections for shearing once. Contrary to popular belief, the two-tooth teams were ahead of the older sheep on the wool side.” Adian recalled a number of challenges over the years too. “There was one year Bruce Marshall got the sheep bogged in a drain and had to wash them all down, which took him some considerable time.” He remembered another occasion where it rained at the final shearing and organisers were unable to weigh the wethers outside as they normally would. “Tony Brigden grabbed each sheep in a big bear hug and jumped on a set of scales with each one,” he said. “We’ve had people turn up with ewes instead of wethers a few times too.” Twice in the competition’s history the competitors have been called in to shear the sheep due to shearer shortages, he said. The first was in the early 1980s, the second was in 2024. “I shore in both those instances – it’s much easier to shear these days with them a bit plainer.” Adrian said the wether trial is about more than just numbers and sheep – what made it successful was the people behind it and the donors who support it. He noted Darren Milstead who provided shearers at no cost for a considerable length of time and Don Chad who provided a Laserscan for micron testing and the use of his staff from 2005 until 2024. “What’s made the trial so successful, besides the people in the trial, are the donors who have helped us through the tough times.” – 25 – Hosted by Riverina Merino To be held at Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 riverinasheepwoolexpo riverinasheepandwoolexpo Visit us on Proudly supported by Elders, Nutrien & AWN
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