Shearing revival draws big crowd to Winchelsea

FAMILY-FRIENDLY entertainment is fast becoming a bigger part of the local sport experience, and Winchelsea’s revival of speed shearing proved just how strong that appetite has become.

The Winchelsea Football Netball Club (FNC) transformed Eastern Reserve into a lively, amphitheatre-style setting on Saturday, drawing a crowd of more than 500 for the return of a popular competition.

Inspired by the success of similar events at the Moriac Hotel, the night blended sport, spectacle and grassroots fundraising.

 

After a senior football clash with Werribee Centrals, more than 40 competitors lined up for the speed shearing, jumping onto a custom-built shearing platform mounted on the back of a truck.

The competition ran across open and intermediate divisions, alongside a crowd-favourite relay that saw teams of three eat a pie, drink a beer and shear a sheep against the clock.

 

The event served as a fundraiser for the Winchelsea FNC.

Club president Angus Leigh said the result exceeded expectations, with more than $30,000 raised.

“We are absolutely stoked with it,” he said. “The most pleasing aspect for me was seeing so many families and children running around, playing and enjoying themselves.

 

“Over the past decade we haven’t had juniors at the club, so to see that revival of the younger audience was amazing.

“To get 500 people there with the inclement weather in mind was a great result. We are very proud.”

The fastest shearing time of the day came in at a remarkable 24 seconds.