H. Dawson business development manager Craig Smith (left)
and Tarras merino breeder Robbie Gibson with the champion
poll merino ram at the Upper Clutha A&P Show and the
18.5 micron cloth he was awarded. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery
Robbie Gibson could well soon be the flashest-dressed
farmer in Tarras.
Mr Gibson received a length of cloth made from 18.5-micron
merino wool, to be made into a suit, in recognition for
winning champion poll merino ram at the recent Upper Clutha
A&P Show in Wanaka.
It was particularly fitting given his father, Bill Gibson,
started the poll merino breed in New Zealand in 1950 and
Malvern Downs was the first stud in the flock book.
Mr Gibson enjoyed showing his sheep, saying it was a good way
of measuring his breeding and genetics efforts against those
of other breeders.
The winning ram was a 4-tooth ram and it was the second
consecutive year it had won at the show.
The fabric was donated by Japanese suit makers Konaka Co Ltd,
through wool broker H. Dawson Ltd, which was a sponsor of
poll merinos at the show.
Konaka launched a range of coats using New Zealand merino
wool, to rival cashmere, attracting considerable media
interest in Japan last year.
H. Dawson Ltd business development manager Craig Smith said
Konaka wanted to make sure there was a greater understanding
of where wool went after it left the growers.
The fabric gift showed the hard work that a grower like Mr
Gibson did to produce such a sheep ''actually means something
to somebody'', he said.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.