Richardsons head strong wool comp

Entries for the Dyson Jones fleece competition were well up on last year, after a 120c/kg spike in the price of wool.

Local Dyson Jones agent Andrew Kittow said it was the biggest commercial fleece competition around.

"Its good to see so much high quality commercial wool entered," he said.

This year fleeces were entered from Pingrup to Dudinin, Hyden and surrounding areas.

The champion fleece, a medium wool fleece, was entered by Geoff and Jeremy Richardson from Newdegate.

It's the second time the Richardson's have won the competition.

They run 2100 sheep, mostly Merinos and the fleece was from a two-year-wether.

Usually the Richardson's keep wether hoggets until they are one, but due to prices last year, decided to keep them for an extra 12 months.

"It's worked out well… the wool market has lifted a bit and hopefully the wether market is better than it was this time last year," Mr Richardson said.

The flock was shorn in late August, with wethers cutting close to 7kg and up to 6kg from the ewes.

Genetics are largely sourced from Belmont Park in Wagin and in the past, local stud Keetlen Valley.

The strong wool competition was won by Carlo Varone from Hyden, who also won the State Ewe Hogget Competition and Robert Newman from Newdegate backed up last year's win in fine wools.