If you’ve never seen a sheep shorn at lightning speed while a crowd cheers from the sidelines, the Heidelberg Materials Curramulka Speed Shear might just be one of the most uniquely country spectacles you’ll come across.
Shearers line up to do what they do every day in the shed – only faster, louder and with a whole lot more bragging rights on the line.
It’s the Olympic sport of the shearing world. Competitors race against the clock and each other to see who can remove a fleece the fastest while still leaving the sheep looking respectable. It’s skill, speed and serious stamina.
With speed shear events popping up around the country and prize pools growing, the Curramulka competition is right in the thick of the action, offering a $10,000 prize pool across open, intermediate, veteran and women’s categories.
Last year’s winner, Kapunda shearer Lindsay Meaney, took out the top honour, while local young guns Brodie Maywald and Tom Robinson also made their mark. If they take to the stands again this year, they’ll be lining up against some of the best open shearers around.
More Than Just Shearing
Now in its 13th year, the Curramulka Speed Shear has become a much-loved local event and the biggest fundraiser for the Curramulka Community Club, which supports the town’s sporting clubs.
Gates open at 12pm with shearing kicking off from 12.30pm, and entrants can register online or on the day.
There’ll be all the classic country canteen favourites, plus icy cold drinks from the bar. The music will be pumping just like it is in the shearing shed.
Kids are well looked after too, with a giant inflatable slide and tattoos so they can walk around looking like their shearing idols.
Every entrant will also go in the draw to win a Heiniger handpiece, and camping is available if you want to make a night of it.
It’s fast, it’s loud, it’s a little bit chaotic – and it’s about as country as an event gets.
Heidelberg Materials Curramulka Speed Shear
WHEN: Saturday March 21
WHERE: Curramulka Community Club
INFO & REGISTRATIONS: Click Here
