ACGA National Fleece Competition

Introduction

We do show our Cashmeres in the show ring, however our real interest is the National Fleece Competition. This competition fleece tests cashmere fleece entries and using current cashmere prices, determines a value for each fleece entry. As the highest price is usually paid for white cashmere, prizes often go to white animals, but many times cashdown have been able to take the prizes with coloured animals.

The Australian Cashmere fleece competition lets breeders compete against a criteria that matters. The value of the fleece shorn. The competition is open to all members of the ACGA, be they national or international. The competition is divided into three sections.

Section A: Goats are entered before shearing. This section tests the entrants' skill at selecting animals on their breeding.

Section B: Goats are entered after shearing. This section tests the entrants skill at selecting fleeces after shearing.

Section C: Entries in this section also test the entrants skill at selecting fleeces after shearing. The difference here being that entries comprise two shearings of the same cashmere goat between 1st January and 30th September in the same calendar year.

Entering the competition allows you to compare your performance against the best. Winning a section is nice, winning an award is better, but the real reason to enter is the printout.

The printout not only details your fleece results, but the results of all other entrants. It is an information gold mine!

As you'reare trying to get the greatest amount of down within a price bracket. Breeders tend to select fleeces close to the boundary. Enter to see who went just a little too far, and ended up with a value of zero dollars. (It happens to everyone at some stage!)

Entry Fee: Fee for entry into sections A,B & C is $12 per fleece.

Stewards - for entry forms and enquiries

Linda Layton & Ian van der Werff

c/o P.O. Box 707,

Woodend

Victoria. 3442

The Awards are:

The Sir Alan Smith Quaiche

A perpetual trophy and special prize certificate for the fleece of highest commercial value from Section A, B or C.

The H.S. Whittham Breeders Trophy

A perpetual trophy and special prize certificate for the fleece of highest commercial value from section A.

The Gossamer Down Cashmere Trophy

A perpetual trophy and special prize certificate for the fleece of highest commercial value from section B.

The Forte Trophy-

for the most successful exhibitor

(The Dreaded Goat Lamp was the name given to this trophy by a then 9 year old Paul Esson and the name has stuck!)

A perpetual trophy and special prize certificate for the most successful entrant, i.e. the entrant having the highest combined value of three fleeces entered into the competition.

The Belisa Cashmere Trophy-

for the brown fleece of highest commercial value

This is the best prize to win, because its usually beautiful crystal that you get to keep!

The Hazlegrove Trophy

A perpetual trophy and special prize certificate for the highest down weight over 150 grams down, less than 15.5 micron, from an animal at least 3 years old.

The Jim Browne Karakan Trophy

A perpetual trophy and special prize certificate for the indexed super fleece- where all fleeces in Sections A,B & C are compared by Patrick Index value.

The Ron Vickers Memorial Trophy

A perpetual trophy and special prize certificate for the highest combined value of three fine fleeces (under 16.7 micron) from bucks/ does, two tooth and over, in Sections A,B & C.

The Bruce Mc Gregor Trophy

A perpetual trophy and special prize certificate for the highest combined value of three cashmere wether fleeces, in Sections A,B or C.

Class Prizes - certificates for first, second and third in each class

Down Weight - cetificates for the highest down weight in each micron category.

State Awards - certificates for the highest value fleece from each state.