Since 1963, the Ermenegildo Zegna Superfine Wool Trophy has honored Australia’s best wool growers. This competition is today the oldest in the world of wool. The Vellus Aureum (Golden Fleece) Trophy was added in 2002 to celebrate the incredible advances made by Australian woolgrowers and to reward the absolute finest wool fleece produced every year.
In 2016, the finest and best fleece was recorded at an exceptional 9.9 micron, making it a still unbeaten world record. The 2018 edition marked a significant increase in the number of farms participating in the trophy: 56 farms in 2018 vs 39 farms in 2017.
The Superfine Wool Trophy was won by David and Angie Waters (Tarrangower Merinos – Hillgrove, NSW), with Allan and Carolyn Phillips (Glen Stuart – Deddington, Tasmania) and Ed and Jill Hundy (Windradeen Mudgee -Pyramul, NSW) taking second and third place respectively.
The winners, David and Angie Waters, took first place for the second year in a row while the Phillips and Hundy families have been among the winners for the last six editions. Mulgowan (Amiens-QLD), Gowrie (Guyra-NSW), Wildford (Tenterden-NSW) were for the first time in the final ranking. The winners of the Vellus Aureum Trophy were Ross and Rebecca Blake from Allandale-Walcha NSW. David and Susan Rowbottom from Rowensville – St. Helens -VIC and Annie Hutchinson from Kentucky Station- Kentucky NSW were respectively second and third in the competition.
