Wallace ready to judge at worlds

BY ABBY WALTER

Astalwart of Horsham and Natimuk show shearing pavilions is adding a significant honour to his sports shear judging resume.

Horsham’s Daryl Wallace is travelling to Scotland to represent Australia in judging at the 2023 Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Championships.

A total of 31 countries from across the world, including Australia, will gather at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland from June 22 to 25.

Mr Wallace said he had judged show shearing at national and state levels.

“I have been involved with three national events and ran the judging for the most recent event,” he said.

“For the world event, each state nominates judges, shearers and wool handlers and they are voted on at a national meeting, so I was Victoria’s nomination and was selected from there.”

The championships occur every two to three years.

The most recent championship was in 2017. Australian Shannon Warnest won the championship, hosted in Toowoomba, Queensland.

The 2023 Australian team comprises machine shearing representatives Daniel McIntyre and Nathan Meaney, blade shearing representatives Andrew Murray and John Dalla and wool handling representatives Mark Purcell and Racheal Hutchinson.

Mr Wallace, wool handling judge Matt Stasinowsky and team manager Tom Kelly will join them.

Mr Wallace said he was looking forward to the experience.

“Competitors may go to worlds more than once if they remain at the peak of the Australian competition, but this will be my first time,” he said.

“It’s going to be five days of hectic shearing with an individual event before the world teams event.

“We also send a delegate to the world conference that is on while we are there, to work out any rule amendments and decide where the next event will be.

“There are also workshops to attend, registrations and a gala dinner, so I will be in Scotland from June 18.”

“Competitors may go to worlds more than once if they remain at the peak of the Australian competition, but this will be my first time”

– Daryl Wallace

how many will be there from each. I know it’s going to be a real eye-opener and a show of the best of the best.

“It’s going to be interesting to see the different breeds of sheep, too, in the UK.

“I’m looking forward to the African contingent in the blade shearing because they are recognised as the best in the world, so it will be interesting to see.”

Mr Wallace said he has been involved in show shearing for about 30 years.

Mr Wallace said it was a ‘massive’ program.

“Last time the event was on, I was told the shearing started at 7am and finished at midnight,” he said.

“We judge on time, how well the sheep is shorn and what the wool looks like.

“Each country can send up to two competitors and one judge for the categories, but it depends on the country

“I think I have only missed one Natimuk Show, either shearing or judging, since 1993 and it would be about the same for the Horsham Show,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a hobby. I judge locally from Edenhope to Donald, St Arnaud, Bendigo, Warrnambool, Beaufort and at other shows as well.

“I enjoy seeing good people come up through the industry as learners and then go on to represent their state or country.”