Doohan / McMaster Winner 2008 - 1st Place Australian Plaiting Championships This 72 plait handle with 36 plait thong won the 2008 championships. I haven't seen any "piece" of Chris's, cause more of a stir , amidst the "knowledge " in the shed that day. The waves of the appreciation... we're still feeling. His finest whip to date with the 72 strands , which were 0.8mm wide x 0.3mm deep - 36 each of brandy & natural. The string preparation took weeks , hide's ( thanks to packer leather ) red species kangaroo, allowed Chris to cut them down, to the "extremely" fine strands needed for this masterpiece. Over 250hrs ( i stopped counting ) .... with designing the pattern work, hide selection, string preparation, and finally the "plaiting" . A talk through the handle first the Knot / knob is an 11 bight 13 part of 4 passes , 2 toned natural & brandy - strings used here, same width as the handle strings. The base of the handle has some interlocking crosses , above which sits, our Queensland flag back to back with the Australian flag , solid bracelets above that sits our national emblem with the Kangaroo / Shield / Emu ~ the southern cross making up the 4th side of this pattern set. Box pattern , with ( an optical illusion ) 3D boxes above, banding the handle Centre knot - where the handle is dropped into 60 strings Prime Mover , front on , with smoke coming outta' the stacks .. bracelets Southern Cross Windmill - complete with hose & tank Arrow pattern's to finish .. with a unique grape vine tothe keeper binding of the handle.
