Prolific judging career acknowledged

The open woolhandling category drew the crowds at lasy year’s event. PHOTO: ROBYNE MURRAY

Recently the South Island Shear Sports awarded life membership to Alistair Eckhoff, for his outstanding contribution to woolhandling judging.Alistair, better known to everyone in the industry as "Ecky", started judging in 1970 at the Merino Shearing and Woolhandling competition after being approached by Jenny Street and Dick McArthur "to give it a go".

In those days numbers of competitors were a lot smaller than today, and all the heats were held at Earnscleugh Station and then the final at the Alexandra Town Hall.

At that time Ecky was also a stock agent and a wool classer, and was encouraging woolhandlers to enter the competitions. He has also mentored and trained many judges over the last 55 years.

Shearers compete in the first round of heats in the senior machine shearing category at the annual Merino Shearing and Woolhandling competition in Alexandra last year. PHOTO: RUBY SHAW

During the 1980s he started travelling all over New Zealand to judge at various shows. The only two he never judged at were Gisborne and Auckland.

In 2005 he was selected as the New Zealand woolhandling judge to judge at the world championships in Australia. Ecky has also held most positions on the New Zealand Merino Shears Committee, and he is now a life member and patron of the society.

The highlight for him over the years has been seeing the new generations come through the grades, the friendships he has made with competitors, other judges, and committee members, and the hospitality he receives at the shows.