These rules will apply at all (SSAA) affiliated competitions and events. In conjunction with the current Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) guidelines. These rules are current from - 1st January 2011
Interpretation
In these Rules unless the context otherwise requires: Words implying the masculine gender will include the feminine as the context fits. Words implying singular will include the plural as the context fits.
Penalties & Points
Do not confuse penalty strokes with points.
- A penalty stroke is subject to further calculation (i.e. addition and division)
- A point is subject only to inclusion and addition to the score.
Note. These are National rules and apply at the State, National and World Championships when held in Australia.
- NOVICE
- Inexperienced Woolhandlers (3 months Wool handling) and/or have not competed in a show. (If your ability in your first show is deemed to be higher you must go up)
- If you place 2nd or 3rd 5 times you must go up.
- If you win 3 times you must go up.
- If you are a qualified Woolclasser or a Shearer and there is no Senior event you may enter this class.
- SENIOR
- If there is a Senior event all qualified Woolclassers and Shearers must compete in this class.
- If you have come up from Novice.
- If you placed 2nd or 3rd 5 times you must go up.
- If you win 3 times you must go up.
- (c) OPEN
- Anyone wishing to enter the event.
- If you are a Novice or Senior competitor and have placed 2nd or 3rd in an Open event of more than 6 competitors twice you must stay in the Open.
- If you are a Novice or Senior competitor and have placed 1st in an Open event you must stay in the Open.
Note. Where possible a standard board height from stage to floor of approximately 760mm should be used. The board width should be a minimum of 1600mm.
- A good floor for sweeping is required. Floor space for competitors should be marked and roped off from spectators.
- A section of floor will be roped off for the Judging of fleeces and oddments.
- Woolhandling Tables must be rectangular.
- Finals may be run with two heats if the need arises.
- A wool table for the Fleece Judges and some good-sized tables for the oddments Judges.
- Containers - for oddments and prem, each set must be identified with different colours or numbered corresponding with table identification.
- For efficiency it is recommended that 2 or 3 sets of containers are used per table.
- Basic lines/Oddments are - PCS, LKS, BLS, STN, SKIN, SHKS and Miscellaneous. While one set is being judged the second set of Containers must be large enough to hold the required oddments. Wool packs, Gubba Bags, Boxes, Baskets maybe used as containers.
- Counters - Must be supplied for the floor Judges, (one counter per table) and checked for accuracy.
- Score Sheets/boards, Judges grids, Pens, Text's, Judges Coats and or Name Tags must be supplied.
- Wool packs and holders to be supplied for Oddment Judges.
- Sufficient wool runners are required to maintain a smooth flow of fleeces to the fleece Judge.
- Paddles and raised board scrapers should be kept on hand for general tidy up.
- When running a shearing and woolhandling competition we are also putting on an exhibition for the general public. It is in the wool industries best interests that handling of all wool is done in a professional manner.
- Water Coolers/Bottles should be supplied for Judges and volunteers.
Note. Floor Judges will Judge all faults accordingly to appropriate penalties:
- Crutch (Re. 14. b, c, d & f)
- Removal of Crutching's.
- All carding wools to be removed from the crutch area.
- Topknots maybe removed.
- NO skirting of PCS on the board.
- Belly
- Belly left on board.(5 penalties)
- To be judged in conjunction with the crutch removal, when the competitors returns to skirt the Fleece.
- Hindrance
- To the shearer or other persons in a deliberate act. (5 points)
- Board
- Shearing area between sheep not clean. (Re. 14. b, c & d)
- Table work. (Re. 14. a, b, c, d & e)
- The fleeces are to be thrown on a rectangular table by the back legs, having the head land at the head of the table.
- Judging starts when the competitor lets go of any part of the fleece.
- The position of the fleece as it has landed on the table.
- Final presentation of rolled fleece. (FLC must be rolled not gathered, britch to neck, and placed neatly within the “designated area”) (5 penalties max)
- Table not clean between fleeces.
- All woolhandlers work area around table and oddment containers except underneath the table must be clean between fleeces. (Except in teams events.)
- Any wool of any type left outside the designated area if not retrieved between the fleeces clean up will be continually penalized on each sequential fleece as long as it stays there.
- Unauthorized piles.
- Final Clean up
- (i) Total Work Area Clean (Re. 14. b, c & d)