Back to Back Wool Challenge at Tarndie - April 2024
In a feat of unlikely endurance, three jumpers quite literally materialised in front of our eyes on Saturday 20 April at Tarndwarncoort.
In the space of a day, wool that was still growing on three Polwarth wethers in the morning had been shorn, spun and knitted into jumpers by evening as part of the International Back to Back Wool Challenge.
A World Record Attempt?
Three teams from around Victoria took up the challenge to create a jumper to a set pattern in the shortest time using unwashed wool direct from the sheep. The concept was developed 30 years ago by Wendy Dennis of Birregurra and became a Guiness World Record event – currently held by a Dutch/German team at an astonishing 4 hours 45 mins powered by the world’s fastest knitter, Miriam Tegels.
Last year, Tarndwarncoort supported two teams in Ballarat in their attempt at the challenge but no jumpers were finished within the time permitted to the venue. That disappointment only fuelled the fire within and this year proved “craft” and “sport” can be words in the same sentence.
Each team consisted a blade shearer and seven spinners and knitters. They each had different strategies and team dynamics to harness in their quest and as the hours marched on past the world record, it was clear this was an exercise in endurance.
After being assessed to ensure that the required 46,976 stitches had been knitted, the first jumper was finished just before 9pm by the South Gippsland team Koorooman Sapphire Ewes. An adult sized jumper direct from the sheep in 12 hours 44 minutes!
A team from Pascoe Vale in Melbourne finished next in 13 hours 58 minutes and in an extraordinary effort, the final jumper came off the knitting needles at 1am after 16 hours and 58 minutes of solid jumper making! Interestingly, the cutoff time for an Ironman event is 17 hours. The parallels are clear – woolcraft can sometimes be about endurance.
The event is a platform to highlight the skills and benefits of woolcraft and raising funds for cancer research. At last count, the three teams at Tarndwarncoort raised $3,749 for Rare Cancers Australia, with a committment to Lifestyle Communities to match it dollar for dollar!
Around 300 people came to support the teams and enjoyed an array of market stalls selling locally produced food, fibre and drinks. Kids enjoyed a pop-up interaction space by the National Wool Museum while the blade shearing demonstrations were a surprisingly quiet and peaceful scene.
Congratulations to everyone who took part and completed the challenge! Results from the other 6 teams around the world will be announced in June, as will the award for the most money raised for cancer research.
Thank you to the Birregurra Community Group for the use of the excellent event equipment and the many local volunteers who helped in car parking, welcoming and coffee making. And to Linda, Murray and Mark from the Colac Camera Club for the photos below.
