Golden Shears

Golden Shears World Championship 2008

in Norwegian: VM i Saueklypping

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29 countries (1 competitor from the USA even?)

held first time in non-English country

outside of Stavanger about 45 min's in Bjerkreim Wed - Sun

plus Concerts Fri & Sat

Fri bands - Åsmund Åmli band & Irsk Stuvning

Sat bands - Postgirobygget & support band Tomm and Tigerene

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About Bjerkreimsmarken

Bjerkreimsmarken is a company that is run by 15 different organisations, from sportsteams through to farmer's associations. It's objective is to organise a country fair each year that promotes the importance of agriculture. This country fair is called Bjerkreimsmarken and will be held in conjunction with the Golden Shears World Championship 2008.

Bjerkreimsmarken has been an annual event in the community of Bjerkreim, Norway, since 1986. It always takes place the first weekend of October when the sheep have been brought down from their "summer holidays" up in the mountains.

It has become an important event for everyone involved; both socially, culturally and economically.

The population of Bjerkreim is 2500 and during the weekend when the country fair takes place, more than 350 voluntaires are involved in various duties, from serving traditional food to ticketing and parking.

Each year, around 110 commercial exhibitors take part in the event.

Tractors, art, cars, workwear, toys - you name it, it is all for sale during the fair.

Activities during the event includes sheepshearing, woodcraft, go-carting, concerts, food and wine festival and much, much more.

It normally runs from Friday through till Sunday but because Bjerkreimsmarken is hosting the World Championship 2008 the Fair will be extended with one day and go from Thursday through till Sunday.

See Webpage: www.vm2008.no/newsread/news.asp?N=5109

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Note: Click on the UK flag up in the righthand corner for English

(unless you want to practice your Norwegian)

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And another Note - did also borrow the above text & photos from the above webpage...Do they know how to advertise or what?!

(I thought the Stiletto Heels Race poster was something else, now here's their Sheep Shearing poster?! Impressive--hmmm...)

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As well, today, an added feature on the webpage--mention of the World Champion Bar (& there's a World Champion Restaurant elsewhere,) but the bar is where?--in the Circus Tent?! Hah! Makes you want to be a sheep shearer eh?! Yeah right?! but I would watch, as long as no sheep were harmed in the process...

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Too bad I'm not driving yet, what with it being 45 min's out of town & I don't even know town yet or my neighborhood either - will have to just live out this event vicariously I think thru the internet or the TV news or the local newspaper that we can get in English too on the internet at least?! Check out: www.Aftenposten.no/English/ (I like that--in English! Yeah!)