Angora breeder lets his hair down

The 73-year-old Angora breeder from Willowmore won the Ermenegildo Zegna South Africa Mohair Trophy 2009, marking his fourth overall success in the competition.

“But this one is very special as it has been presented in front of delegates from all over the world at the International Mohair Summit in Graaff-Reinet,” said Colborne, whose family has farmed in the Willowmore area since the 1800s.

And to mark the success, “Oom Billy” was on his feet and dancing away with entertainer Amor Vittone (Van der Westhuizen).

It was the fourth time that Colborne, who now farms with his son Fred, and his FE Colborne and Sons farm had won the national award, now in its 40th year.

This year, the president of the Italian-based Zegna textile, clothing manufacturing and high-fashion retail group, Count Paolo Zegna, handed over the award in person as he had travelled especially for the summit.

Zegna told the 300 guests, among them delegates from the United States, New Zealand, Australia and South America, that he believed mohair had a “bright future” as an eco-friendly and high-quality fibre.

But he warned: “To keep up demand, we need to promote mohair on world markets. We particularly need to excite young people as to its qualities or else it could disappear.

“To achieve this, we must all work together,” he told growers, brokers, global textile manufacturers and executives from top fashion houses.

Colborne won the trophy in 2004, 2005 and last year, and has registered top 10 places in other years.

The other growers in the top 10 were: PH Viljoen, of Kleinpoort; PCL Michau, of Cradock; G & W Ferreira of Snyberg Farming, De Rust; PC Marais, of Klipplaat; Rietgat Family Trust (A Oelofse), of Middelburg; JL Retief & Son, of Middelburg; AM Short, of Wheatlands, Graaff-Reinet; AC Fitzhenry & Son, of Aberdeen; and AR Hobson, of Steytlerville.

Source: The Herald

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