The 2013 Ultimate Clip Regional award winners have been announced at a series of events in Geelong (VIC) and Yass and Armidale (NSW), giving superfine wool growers a rare opportunity to get together and celebrate.

“Despite the ongoing uncertainty of global economic conditions, the superfine wool industry in Australia is full of passionate, persevering stalwarts,” says New England Wool Managing Director Andrew Blanch.

“And once again, New England Wool has been proud to recognize and reward the ‘best of the best’.”

The Ultimate Clip Competition’s national winner has been decided but will be announced at an exclusive dinner in Sydney in the coming weeks involving the five regional winners of the competition. The national winner will be the recipient of the 12-day trip to Italy, which incorporates visits to the renowned fabric makers, Reda and Vitale Barberis Canonico – the two Italian-based shareholders of New England Wool.

“We are building the anticipation around this year’s national winner because this year will also be the competition’s last,” says Andrew Blanch.

“We are on the brink of an exciting new era and we felt that after 20 years it’s a good time to say ‘farewell’ to the Ultimate Clip Competition as we know it, and make way for other programs that will enable Reda and Barberis to continue to partner with and support our growers into the future. Both Reda and Barberis want to increase their individual brand profiles in the world market so there are a number of new developments and initiatives in the pipeline,” he says.

“Vitale Barberis Canonico recently partnered with Rolling Stone Magazine for a major insert entitled the ‘Rock and Roll Gentlemen’s Style Guide’. This culminated in an installation at the recent Pitti Uomo fair in Florence where a fully suited rock band entertained the attendees. Pretty cool stuff”, remarked Mr Blanch.

“Reda has had many articles published in major fashion magazines recently including a four-page spread in the latest Italian edition of Vanity Fair, revolving around their sheep properties in New Zealand. A television program called La Mela Verde (The Green Apple), featuring the Reda business and the NZ farms was made in 2012 and has had repeat runs on Italian television over the past six months”, said Mr Blanch.

The New England Wool Ultimate Clip Competition was originally started in 1993 (with the winner announced in 1994) to support producers of commercial quantities of superior superfine wool (judging the whole clip - not just a fleece or a bale). New England Wool has used the competition as a vehicle to communicate with growers exactly what it is seeking to purchase on behalf of its Italian shareholders. The company has stood by the underlying principles of its competition judging process right through to the Auction room.

“Over the past 20 years New England Wool has purchased more than 50% of all ‘spinners’ type wools offered through auction catalogues throughout the country,” says Andrew Blanch. “This has increased to up to 65% in the last decade. In addition, in each and every year of the competition New England Wool has purchased more than 60% of all the fleece lines offered by those clips that have been judged as ‘finalists’,” he says.

The Ultimate Clip competition has averaged approximately 250 entrants per season since it became a national competition in 1998. More than 5000 clips have been judged.

Over the two decades of its tenure, the Ultimate Clip has evolved into the largest competition of its type in the world. This year, it attracted 288 entrants involving over 20,000bs of superfine wool.

“We’re very happy to be ending on such a high note with the Ultimate Clip Competition,” says Andrew Blanch. “It has served a valuable purpose for New England Wool, its shareholders and for Australian Superfine wool growers, but we are looking to a future that’s challenging and inspiring. Watch this space…”

Southern Tablelands - First Place

Wiley, Roy and David Reeves Grabben Gullen NSW BIA GRAB Classer: Roy Reeves Judge: Andrew Blanch and Murray Bragg “Only their second year as finalists, the three boys and their families now find themselves at the top of the Southern Tablelands Region tree.

Not a bad effort! Roy came down to the sale and we talked through the clip, and how we have valued it for our Italians. I was impressed by the keenness of these guys, but most importantly, the brilliance of the wool itself. 80% of the fleece lines we put into our best spinner types, and even the few lower lines that were classed out, could be used by us in our blends.

Murray noted how well the skirtings were prepared and the BIA GRAB clip received almost perfect scores for their efforts in this area.”

Second Place

Peter and Merran Walmsley Captains Flat NSW CASUARINA/YASS Classer: Peter Walmsley Judge: Andrew Blanch and Murray Bragg “Long-time supporters of the Ultimate Clip Competition, Peter & Merran produced another spectacular wool clip in 2012. 

These guys are great at keeping in touch and maintaining a solid relationship with our Company. I am sure it helps them to understand the best way to put their clip together each year, but at NEW, we are also grateful that from Casuarina, we can still find that true-to-type traditional and stylish superfine wool our Italians really love.

Only half a point separated 1st and 2nd in this region,” said Andrew Blanch.

Third Place 

Tony and Natalie Hewitt GALMARA Crookwell NSW Classer: Ray Cummins Judge: Andrew Blanch and Murray Bragg “Tony and Natalie picked up a Highly Commended award in 2012, and have now taken a huge leap into the Finalist’s arena as Regional Placegetters.

This is a great result for two very keen and hard-working individuals who obviously enjoy improving their product. The 2012/13 clip was a delight to value, and in the majority of cases, buy! The superior style and strength of the clip made it an easy target for New England Wool.  Every fleece and skirting line on offer was suitable for our types, and the evenness of each line was a credit to their classer, Ray Cummins,” the judges said.