In New South Wales, the Hundy family has won its second consecutive Ermenegildo Zegna Aureum Trophy for shedded fleeces with a 10.5 micron ultra-soft entry that scored 87.97 points. The family also placed third this year with another fleece.

“I’m very happy,” Andrew Hundy said after hearing the good news. The operation run by Ed and Jill Hundy, with son Andrew and his wife Penny on the Windradeen farm at Pyramul also won the 2010 award with a 10 micron fleece.

The Hundys run a pasture-fed flock of 3000 ultrafines, shedding 10-12 for the Zegna competition. Mr Hundy said the ingredients for producing quality ultrafine wool included perseverance, good genetics, having the right sheep and careful management.

“It’s a bit like a finely-tuned athlete.

“The sheep are not mistreated otherwise you won’t end up with the right end product.”

First time entrants in the competition, Gus and Annie Gardiner at Gerrigerrup in Victoria were tearful when told of their second placing with a shedded entry.

“I don’t believe that,” Ms Gardiner said.

“I think I’ll cry, what a scream,” she said.

“I’ve got a tear in the corner of each eye,” her husband said.

“That’s the best news I have had in years.

“It’s a wonderful feeling after so many years of hard work.”

The Gardiners have been producing ultrafine wool from their Rowensville blood flock since 1983 and have been running a multi-penned shedded operation for 12 years.

The winner of the 2011 Zegna trophy for unprotected fleeces went to the Oak Hills farm operation of Irene and Daryl Croake at Pyramul with a fleece that scored 95.2 points. The Croakes placed third last year. Second and third places in the unprotected fleece section were won by the Snowhill farm and the Glen Stuart farm, in Tasmania.

President of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group Paulo Zegna said it was an honour to give the awards. Judges advised the standard of entries from New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria was outstanding. Mr Zegna said the recent strong rise in auction prices was a significant incentive for wool growers to continue their work, aiming towards excellence of fibre.

“I am confident that the recent promotional investments made by Australian Wool Innovation will contribute to the expansion, appreciation and use of wool.

The Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Awards are run with the Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association and an awards night will be hosted buy Mr Zegna on September 23 in Sydney.