Tocal attempts to spin and knit its way to woolly world record

Blade shearers and wool spinners will converge on Tocal Visitor Centre on Sunday for the 2005 Back-to-Back Wool Challenge where competitors will race against the clock to shear, spin and knit a woollen jumper.

The challenge involves blade shearing a sheep, spinning the fleece and then knitting the yarn into a woolly jumper - the standing record is four hours, 51 minutes and 14 seconds.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Sandy Earle said three teams, each with eight members, would take part in the challenge.

“Each team is keen to see the record tumble,” Mrs Earle said.

“Competition will be fierce and officials will oversee each stage of the transformation of the wool off the sheep’s back into a woollen jumper.”

The challenge starts at 9am, Sunday, 12 June.

The Tocal Visitor Centre is located at the Tocal Homestead site. The Tocal Homestead is one of Australia’s largest collections of intact colonial farm buildings.

It is gradually being conserved through the efforts of the CB Alexander Foundation and Friends of Tocal.

Funds raised from activities like the Back-to-Back Challenge are returned to Tocal for conservation purposes.

Media Contacts:

Sandy Earle, 4939 8901 or 4939 8939
Brett Fifield, NSW DPI Public Affairs, 0427 029 511