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Fleece Wool Competition

2025 FLEECE WOOL COMPETITION

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair gratefully acknowledges The Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Ltd. for their contribution to the Fleece Wool Competition.

Date: Tuesday November 4, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM – Classification, 1:00 PM - Judging

Location: Rotunda, Heritage Court

Classification: TBD

Judge: TBD

Sub Committee: John Cuthbert

Important Dates and Reminders

Entry Closing Date:Friday October 31, 2025
Entry Fee:$12.00 per entry
Exhibit Arrival:Tuesday October 21, 2025 - Monday November 3, 2025. Weekday office hours are 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM and weekends are 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

Entry Delivery Address:

Agriculture Show Office, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Door #33, Manitoba Drive, Exhibiton Place
Toronto, ON, M6K 3C3

Wool Auction Information

Date: Sunday November 16, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: In front of Wool Display (outside Show Office)
Please Note: All prize winning fleece will be sold in the auction. Fleeces that do not place may be claimed by the exhibitor immediately following judging.

Rules and Regulations:

  1. Entries must be made via Assist Expo, RAWF’s online entry system, or by a paper entry form.
  2. NO EXHIBITOR MAY MAKE MORE THAN TWO ENTRIES IN ANY CLASS. Exhibitors to use the entry form for Fleece, Poultry and Rabbits.
  3. When entering, exhibitors must indicate the breed or cross of the sheep from which the fleeces were shorn. Please indicate the name of shearer.
  4. All exhibits, whether shipped (prepaid) or delivered in person must arrive at the RAWF between the entry delivery dates listed above. Please ensure you provide your courier with the office hours above when scheduling your shipment.
    1. If you are hand delivering your entries, call (416) 263-3418 upon arrival.
  5. Only fleeces, in the grease, are eligible for competition. Manufacturers and dealers are not eligible to compete. All fleeces must be tied with paper twine.
  6. Fleeces must have been shorn from sheep owned by the exhibitor during the current year.
  7. Fleece length must be a minimum of 2 inches.
  8. All fleeces will be classified into their proper classes before the judging commences.
  9. Fleeces may be opened at the time of judging at the judge’s discretion.
  10. All prize winning fleeces will be sold by public auction Sunday November 16th, 2025 at 3:00 PM. Exhibitors are encouraged to remind all potential buyers of the time at which the sale will be held.
  11. All fleeces not placed will be released from the exhibit commencing Tuesday November 4, 2025.
  12. All fleeces not picked up by exhibitors on Sunday November 16th, 2025, 6:00 PM, will be bagged and shipped to the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers.
  13. No advertising literature, whether personal or from a Breed Association, will be allowed in the display.
  14. The champions from the white wool section (class 6) and from the naturally coloured wool (class 7) will be eligible for the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion titles

Fleece Score Card

Uniformity: Strength, staple length, crimp overall of fleece

35 points

Saple Length: Appropriate to breed
(Minimum 2 1/2 inches - approximate 1 year growth)		20 points
Lusture: Lightness, colour, handle20 points
Presentation: Skirting, 2nd cuts, tying, branding points, stains25 points
Disqualifying Factors: Kemp, cotts, black fibres, wetness, mold, moths, excessive vegetable matter and burrs.

    Prize Money

    1st
    2nd
    3rd
    4th
    5th

    6th

    7th
    $15
    $10
    $10
    $5
    $5
    $5
    $5

    A special thank you to Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Ltd. for thier contribution to the prize money.

    White Wool

    Section 511

    Classes:

    1.

    Fine (18-24 microns, 64's-80's)

    E.g. Merino, Rambouillet, Targhee

    2.

    Medium Fine (25-30 microns, 56's-60's)

    E.g. Corriedale, Columbia, Finn

    3.

    Medium Longwool (30-36 microns, 48's-54's)

    E.g. Leicester, Romney, Borderdale

    4.

    Strong Longwool (38-42 microns, 36's-46's)

    E.g. Lincoln, Cotswold

    5.

    Down Type (26-33 microns)

    E.g. Dorset, Suffolk, N.C. Cheviot

    Champion White Wool / Reserve

    White Wool

    Naturally Coloured Wool

    Section 512

    Classes:

    1.

    Fine (18-24 microns, 64's-80's)

    E.g. Merino, Rambouillet,Targhee

    2.

    Medium Fine (25-30 microns, 56's-60's)

    E.g. Corriedale, Columbia, Finn

    3.

    Medium Longwool (30-36 microns, 48's-54's)

    E.g. Leicester, Romney, Borderdale

    4.

    Strong Longwool (38-42 microns, 36's-46's)

    E.g. Lincoln, Cotswold

    5.

    Down Type (26-33 microns)

    E.g. Dorset, Suffolk, N.C. Cheviot, Texel

    6.

    Specialty

    Dual coloured or double coated breeds such as Jacob, Icelandic, Shetland etc.

    Champion Naturally Coloured Wool / Reserve

    Grand Champion Fleece / Reserve

    Trophy: Morgan Moore, Grand Champion Fleece Banner

    Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited Trophy

    Presented to Grand Champion Fleece Wool

    Specials

    Grand Champion Fleece & Reserve

    The first prize winners in White Wool, Naturally Coloured Wool are eligible for this class. Rosettes will be awarded.

    		Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited Trophy (Perpetual)

    This trophy is persented to the Grand Champion Fleece by the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited. A suitable memento will be presented to the winner.

    2025 SHEEP TO SHAWL COMPETITION

    Date: Sunday November 16, 2025

    Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Judging at 1:00 PM

    Location: Rotunda

    Judge: TBC

    Important Dates and Reminders

    Entry Closing Date:Friday October 31, 2025
    Entry Fee:$28.00 per entry. Entries made day of competition will incur an entry fee of $33.00

    Entry Delivery Address:

    		Agriculture Show Office, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
    Door #33, Manitoba Drive, Exhibiton Place
    Toronto, ON, M6K 3C3

    Rules and Regulations:

    1. Entries must be made via Assist Expo, RAWF’s online entry system, or by a paper entry form.
    2. Each team will be composed of six (6) persons.
    3. The committee will supply Canadian Fleece to each team. The fleece wool may be blended with up to 50% other natural fibres such as silk, alpaca, cot-ton etc., from which the shawl is constructed. A sample of the prepared roving will be provided to the judge. NOTE: A draw will take place to distribute the fleeces among the teams.
    4. The finished shawl must have an area no less than 1,200 sqaure inches, with a length no less than 60 inches.
    5. Teams are to submit a copy of the weaving pattern and a sample of the spun plied and unplied yarn, minimum one (1) yard in length.
    6. Each team will provide its own warped loom, hand-spun or commercial wool or wool blended up to 50% with other natural fibres, set at 8-12 epi. Teams may hand-dye their warp or use natural coloured wool. Details of dying method will be helpful to the judge. No commercially dyed warps are to be used.
    7. Six one-day passes will be sent via email to each team leader upon reciept of the entry.
    8. Exhibitors will be allowed to deliver equipment to the Lower East Annex, Door # 33 along Manitoba Drive Exhibition Place, and then move thier vehicle to a RAWF parking lot.

    Shawl Score Card

    Team Identification and Display
    Displays may include posters, photos, equipment, and other informational materials to explain the crafts of spinning and weaving.

    10 points

    Spinning
    Consistency in twist of both single and plied yarn.    		30 points
    Weaving
    Evenness of selvages, evenness of beat, even width at all points, ends, errors.    		40 points
    Patterns / Design
    Set 8-12 epi. Complexity of design / pattern, apporpriateness of design to warp and weft, design and overall colour of finished shawl    		20 points
    Overall Quality
    Finished size must be at least 60" long and total 1200 sqaure inches overall. Finishings to include fringe, drape, hand of fabric etc.    		20 points
    Completion in Allotted Time
    Time limit is 4 hours. 1 point deducted for every minute late.    		10 points
    TOTAL BASE POINTS
    		130 points
    BONUS
    - 1 points (max. 10) for every 10% of hand spun in the warp
    - 1 points (max.10) for every 10% of naturally dyed threads

    Prize Money

    Ribbons will be awarded to 5th place, all team members to recieve a rosette.

    1st
    2nd
    3rd
    4th
    5th
    $100
    $80
    $60
    $40
    $20


      Sheep To Shawl Competition

      Classes:

      1.

      Sheep To Shawl


      2025 DROP SPINDLE COMPETITION

      Contestants in this competition will employ the ancient but still popular spinning device - the Drop Spindle

      Date: Sunday November 16, 2025

      Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Judging starts at 12:00 PM.

      Location: Rotunta

      Judge: TBC

      Important Dates and Reminders

      Entry Closing Date:Friday October 31, 2025
      Entry Fee:$10.00 per entry. Entries made day of competition will incur an entry fee of $15.00
      Judging Time:Judging will commence at 12:00 PM

      Entry Delivery Address:

      		Agriculture Show Office, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
      Door #33, Manitoba Drive, Exhibiton Place
      Toronto, ON, M6K 3C3

      Rules and Regulations:

      1. Entries must be made via Assist Expo, RAWF’s online entry system, or by a paper entry form.
      2. Each contestant will construct a skein of piled wool yarn weighing no less than 15 grams.
      3. The yarn will be constructed using a Drop Spindle and the skein will be wound using a one (1) yard niddy noddy.
      4. The skein must be spun within the 2 hours alotted, prior to the beginning of judging.
      5. Judging Criteria:
        1. Uniformity and quality of the twist, 30%
        2. Weight and length of skein, 25%
        3. Time for completion: limit of 2 hours, 10%
        4. Presentation of the skein, 25%
      6. A one-day pass will be emailed to the contestant upon reciept of entry.

      Prize Money

      Ribbond will be awarded to the winners.

      1st

      2nd
      3rd
      4th
      5th
      $25
      $20
      $15
      $10
      $5


        Drop Spindle

        Classes:

        1.

        Drop Spindle Competition

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