In Scotland, the story began again in 1992 with a keen young spinner who had developed thyroid cancer. His desire to raise funds for Cancer Research sparked the Back to Back Wool Challenge. The event created enormous interest in the UK because of the way it cleverly promoted wool and raised funds for Cancer Research.

In 1994 Wendy Dennis (member of Australian Wool Showcase) took part in the Fourth Wool Congress on Coloured Sheep in the UK and visited Scotland where plans were being made to develop an international competition. An international set of rules and a sweater pattern were developed - a team of 8 consisting of a blade shearer, 7 spinners/knitters and a sheep and the World Championship Trophy was donated. Wendy came home full of enthusiasm and the rest is history.

In 1995 Australia had three teams (none in NSW) - won by Shetland Isles with Geelong doing best in Australia. In 1996 Merriwa competed with two teams at their Festival of the Fleeces. By 1997, 25 teams competed worldwide and Shetland Isles still held the world record. Merriwa participated each year and finally in 2004 they broke the world record set in 1997 and by that time had raised $40,500 for Cancer Research. After such a wonderful achievement, they retired and to this day are recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as still holding the world record.

In 2005, Kurrajong participated at The Turpentine Tree, Kurrajong Heights, along with three other teams from NSW that participated at Tocal Agricultural College at Paterson. Japan won that year as they did again in 2006, when Kurrajong and the same three teams competed at Tocal again. So far, these are the only two venues currently hosting teams in NSW. Kurrajong is participating again this year in 2007 and would love to have another team join us. Members of another team would be able to sell their handcrafted goods at the venue.

Let's bring the trophy back to Australia!