International Back to Back Wool Challenge

Media Release          World Results      Sunday 15th June 2008

 

Toronto Spiders spin the fastest thread.

 

The Toronto Spiders team from Toronto, Ontario in Canada handspun and knitted a jumper from sheep’s back to theirs in just under six  hours to win this years International Back to Back Wool Challenge.

 

Five minutes were shaved off their previous time but not enough to break the Guinness world record time of 4 hours, 51 minutes and 14 seconds, held by the Merriwa Jumbucks

In contrast, a Thunder Bay team also from Ontario determinedly competed for almost eighteen  hours to finish their jumper.

 

Eighteen teams of blade shearers, handspinners and knitters entered at

thirteen different venues around the world in the fourteenth Challenge, completed on Saturday 14th June 2008.

 

Each team consisted of a blade shearer, a country of origin sheep and seven

handspinners (with spinning wheels) and knitters who follow the identical

Challenge rules and pattern to knit the adult size jumper.


Two teams competed at Pelhrimov in the Czech Republic for the first time.

 

Each team not only promoted wool world wide but raised substantial

funds for Cancer Research.

 

Countries competing with Australia this year included Canada, Japan, New Zealand

and the Czech Republic.

 

Results:-        

First :-       Toronto Spiders, Toronto, Ontario,  Canada             5 hours  55 minutes  50 seconds         

Second:-    Newcastle Spinning Knitwits¸ Tocal, NSW, 6 hours  8 minutes   26 seconds                  Australia

 

Third:-       Bairnsdale Woollies. Victoria, Australia                         6 hours  23 minutes   58 seconds                                

Guinness World Record Time :-      

4 hours 51 minutes 14 seconds ~ Merriwa Jumbucks ~ Merriwa  ~ NSW ~ 2004

 

For further information contact:-

NSW:-                         Dawne Dunlop   Ph: (02) 4567 1215 (Kurrajong)

                                    Marley Critcher  Ph: (02) 4930 4246 (Newcastle)

Victoria:-                    Heather Knight   Ph: (03) 5155 0337   

South Australia:         Paula Tose          Ph: (08) 8389 1395 

International:-            Wendy Dennis    Ph: (03) 5233 6241    Fax: (03) 5233 6338

           

Email: backtoback@iprimus.com.au

Web:  www.tarndwarncoort.com       

International Back to Back Wool Challenge

P.O. Box 34

Birregurra Victoria 3242 Australia

2008 Results                                                                     Annual Challenge

Promoting Wool World Wide & Fund Raising for Cancer Research

Ph: + (03) 5233 6241  Fax: + (03)  5233 6338  Email:  backtoback@iprimus.com.au

 

POSITION                 TEAM                             2008 Time     Previous Best Time  

 1.            Toronto Spiders, Toronto, Ontario, Canada                   5hr 55min 50sec   6hr 00min 18sec 2007
                Including a 5 minute  penalty.

 2.            Spinning Knitwits (Newcastle)¸Patterson, NSW,         6hr 8min 26sec    5hr 43min 26sec  2004    Australia

 3.            Bairnsdale Woolies. Victoria, Aust.ralia                       6hr 23min 58sec  6hr 10min 08sec 2007     
 4.            Kurrajong Handspun Crafts, NSW, Australia              6hr 50min 00sec   6hr 34min 19sec 2007
 5.            Hitsujikouboh Masako, Chibaken, Japan                      7hr 39min 49sec   5hr 33min 46sec 2006

 6.            Gumeracha Gumknutters, Lobethal, South Australia     7hrs 59mins 40sec  7hr 55min 48sec  2007

 7.            Team 1, Pelhrimov, Czech Republic                                   8hr 48min 29sec      New Team

 8.            Team 2,  Pelhrimov, Czech Republic                                  9hr 43min 42sec       New Team

 9.            Wonder Woollies, Carleton Place, Ont, Canada             10hr 00min 00sec     Unfinished

10.           Ashford Girls, Ashburton, New Zealand                         10hr 38min 07sec     New Team

11.           W F Friends, Stirling, Ontario, Canada                             13hr 26min 15sec    Unfinished 2007

12.           Gospereau Valley Team,  Nova Scotia, Canada              13hr 47min 00sec    11hr 15min 00sec 2007

13.           Thunder Bay Weavers& Spinners, Ontario, Canada     17hr 46min 20sec    Unfinished 2007

                Hitsujikouboh Orange Group, Chibaken, Japan              Unfinished                8hr 14min 37sec 2005 

                Poly Wester’s, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada                   Unfinished                11hr 45min 00sec 2006

                Rhodes Runners, Kurrajong,NSW Australia                  Unfinished                 Unfinished

                No Name, Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada                      Unfinished                 New Team

                The Masters Apprentices, Patterson, NSW, Australia Unfinished                 New Team
               

Guinness WORLD  RECORD

Pembroke Merriwa Jumbucks, NSW, Australia           4hr 51min 14sec   ~    2004

 

2008 Awards:-

Scottish Wool Centre - The winning team world wide.

                                    Toronto Spiders, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

                                    5hr 55min 50sec

 

City of Geelong -        Winning Australian team.

                                    Spinning Knitwits (Newcastle)¸ Patterson, NSW, Australia           

                                    6hr 8min 26sec 

 

Shipway Trophy -        For the winning New South Wales, Australia, team.

                                    Spinning Knitwits (Newcastle)¸ Patterson, NSW, Australia           

 

Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers Ltd Trophy for the winning Canadian team.

                                    Toronto Spiders, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

Brigadoon Trophy-     The team with the greatest donation to charity.

                        Leading team:-   Kurrajong Handspun Crafts $7,510.00