COMPETITION RULES & REGULATIONS 

1. Competitors compete at their own risk (Recommended that each entrant be self-insured).
2. Shearers MUST use their own hand piece. (WORM DRIVE)
3. All rulings by the Chief Steward and Judges are FINAL
4. All rules and regulations for the Horsham Agricultural Show Merino Classic Shears (only) competition will be those of Sports Shear Victoria Inc.
5. The Horsham Agricultural Society Inc. or its appropriate Committee reserves the right to:
   • Reject any entry without assigning any reason.
   • Cancel any event or class.
   • Alter the time at which any event or class is to take place or the conditions of any event or class.
6. Horsham Agricultural Society Inc. and Sports Shear Victoria Inc. accept no liability for personal injury and/or property damage to any person participating in shearing, blade or wool handling competitions.
   

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PARTICIPANT RISK ACKNOWLEDGMENT & WAIVER (Individual)

For physical competitions pertaining to Machine Shearing, Blade Shearing and Wool Handling events.

Date of event: 27th September 2026

Sports Shear Victoria Inc. and Horsham Agricultural Society Inc. (together “the Suppliers”) advise that participation (including passive participation) in a physical competition or event at the Horsham Agricultural Show contains elements of risk, both obvious and inherent. Physical competitions, activities and events of all types are dangerous recreational activities.

By signing this waiver I acknowledged that:

1. participation in the Horsham Agricultural Show’s Shearing & Wool Handling Competition is a recreational service for the purpose of section 22 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 and also a recreational activity for the purposes of section 32N of the Fair Trading Act 1999 
   participation in the Event involves a significant risk of physical harm and may result in injury, loss, damage or death to myself
2. participation in the event requires certain skills and experience. I declare that I have sufficient skills and experience to be able to safely and properly participate in the event if the event is held outdoors, there are risks to me as a result of the weather conditions, including either extreme hot or cold weather, rain or wind
3. I am responsible for ensuring that I have and will wear equipment suitable for safely and properly participating in the Event
4. I am responsible for the condition of any tools and equipment and ensuring that they are appropriate for the Event
5. I use the facilities supplied for the event entirely at my own risk, as I find them and with the prior acceptance of the risk of possible danger to myself
6. If I suffer injury, loss, or damage while participating in the event, I will not hold the Suppliers, their employees or agents or volunteers legally responsible for any loss I suffer.
7. I will not sue the Suppliers, their employees, agents or volunteers for any claims, costs, damages or liability.
8. I agree to release the Suppliers and their employees, agents or volunteers from legal responsibility for the services I have been provided and/or activity I have participated in
9. I acknowledge and agree that my participation in the event and associated activities is a danger and may have inherent risks as a result of which personal injury (and sometimes death) may occur and I accept and assume all such risks of personal injury or death in anyway whatsoever arising from these activities and hereby waive my individual right to sue the Suppliers for all claims I or my representatives may have for such personal injury or death against the Suppliers in regard to their negligence, breach of statutory duty or statutory guarantees arising from or in connection with these activities to the fullest extent permitted by law
10. At the time of participating in the event, I have not been to any degree under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs
11. I will not consume any alcohol or illicit drugs while participating in the Event and agree that such use may result in me being excluded from the Event or other events with no entitlement to any refund of money paid for entry to the Suppliers.

WARNING UNDER THE FAIR TRADING ACT 1999

Under the Australian Consumer Law (Victoria), several statutory guarantees apply to the supply of certain goods and services. These guarantees mean that the supplier named on this form is required to ensure that the recreational services it supplies to you are rendered with due care and skill; and are reasonably fit for any purpose which you, either expressly or by implication, make known to the supplier; and might reasonably be expected to achieve any result you have made known to the supplier.

Under section 32N of the Fair-Trading Act 1999, the supplier is entitled to ask you to agree that these statutory guarantees do not apply to you. If you sign this form, you will be agreeing that your rights to sue the supplier under the Fair-Trading Act 1999 if you are killed or injured because the services provided were not in accordance with these guarantees, are excluded, restricted or modified in the way set out in this form.

NOTE: The change to your rights, as set out in this form, does not apply if your death or injury is due to gross negligence on the supplier’s part. Gross Negligence is defined in the Fair Trading (Recreational Services) Regulations 2004.

 

Where the participant is over 18 years of age:

I agree that I have read and understood this waiver prior to signing it and agree that this waiver will be binding on my heirs, next of kin, executors and administrators.

I acknowledge that the Suppliers have permitted me to participate in the activity as per the subject of this document in reliance upon the matters acknowledged by me and the representations I have made herein.

I agree that this waiver shall be governed in all respects by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Victoria.

Where the participant is under 18 years of age (to be completed by a parent or guardian):

I confirm that I have read and understood and explained to the participant, this waiver prior to signing it and agree that this agreement will be binding on my (and his/her) heirs, next of kin, executors and administrators.

I acknowledge that the Suppliers have permitted my child to participate in the activity as per the subject of this document in reliance upon the matters acknowledged by me and the representations I have made herein.

If in the case throughout the Victorian Sports Shear Show circuit, my child accumulates the required amount of points in order to represent at either State or National titles, I myself being either parent or guardian will accompany my child to such events at my own cost and will take full responsibility of my child throughout the period of any such title.

If in the absence of a parent or guardian accompanying the respective child, alternative
arrangements MUST be arranged with the Secretary of Sports Shear Victoria Inc. (Ie: alternative supervisor)

I agree that this waiver shall be governed in all respects by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Victoria.