The National Shearing and Wool Handling Championships has crowned winners and brought hundreds of people to Dubbo, pouring money into the economy.
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Skilled professionals from across the country battled it out for top honours and the right to represent Australia in international competitions.
Two hopefuls from the Orana region claimed first prize in their respective categories.
Racheal Hutchison of Gilgandra successfully defended the open wool handling title, and fellow local Tammy Mudford took out the seniors wool handling.
About 2600 sheep were shorn during the event, which took place at the city's showground from Thursday to Saturday.
Hosted by the Dubbo Show Society and its shearing committee, it brought to fruition a long-term project.
"This is the first time Dubbo has held the nationals, we started three years ago thinking about it as a committee," shearing committee chairman Don Mudford said.
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"Then 18 months ago we applied to have them in Dubbo, and we were very confident after organising the Dubbo local show, which is the largest local competition in Australia..."
Sponsors including Parkdale SRS Poll Merino Stud, Dubbo Shearing Supplies, Chad Wool, Heininger, Lister, and Beiyuan, came on board to stage the $200,000 event.
Friday's program of the local Dubbo contest and the trans-Tasman events drew 120 shearers and 65 wool handlers, organisers report.
Saturday saw 55 shearers and 37 wool handlers vie for the national championships.
The competitors stayed in motel accommodation at Dubbo, Mr Mudford said.
The show society catered for functions on Thursday and Saturday night, and on Friday night a dinner was held at the Macquarie Inn.
About 300 people were at both the Friday and Saturday night outings.
"Those funds are all going into the local economy," Mr Mudford said.
Across the three days 15 show society members, 12 shearing committee members, judges, 30 youth volunteers and 15 hard-working helpers contributed to the event's success.
It was held despite the challenge of the drought.
"We certainly didn't think we'd still be in drought by this stage, and it has been extremely difficult to manage and keep the sheep in good condition for even competition," he said.
"But thanks to Dr Jim Watson the advice we had from him over many years has made it much easier for sheep to be held in reasonable condition with minimal feed..."
Mr Mudford said it was estimated the shearing industry injected between $400,000 and $500,000 into the economy of Dubbo Regional Council annually.