Sonny Wool

Sonny Wool is a Suffolk/ Romney crossed sheep from the North Island of New Zealand.[1] Born in Dannevirke circa 2008,[2] he is named after All Black Sonny Bill Williams. He has become famous since his feeding behaviour has been used to correctly predict the winner of each of the New Zealand national rugby union team's matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. His role at the 2011 Rugby World Cup has been compared to that of Paul the Octopus at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[3]

Sonny Wool’s owner is Beverley Dowling, he has lived with her since a young lamb. His mother was extremely ill at his birth and did not survive. Sonny Wool (real name Bart) and his blind sister Maggie were sent to Zippity Zoo, a mobile farm petting zoo based near Levin in the Horowhenua of New Zealand. As a youngster Sonny Wool would predict rainfall by knocking on office door to advise Beverley to get animals in, he also had a penchant for chasing flashlight reflections on the ground, similar to a cat chasing a laser spot. Sonny Wool also had a favourie rugby ball that he used as a pillow to sleep with.[4] His agent is Dan Boyd, who also designed the sheep’s prediction process, first attempt took a long time as only hay used. The process was changed by Beverley Dowling, Sonny's owner to rattling special sheep nuts which are a treat and had great sound. The prediction process was designed so that Sonny Wool was presented with two boxes containing feed in the form of multifeed sheep nuts, each box marked on the outside with the flag of a national rugby union team in a forthcoming match. His choice of which hay to eat first was interpreted as indicating his prediction of a win for the country whose flag was on that box. Selections by the sheep have been correct in all of New Zealand’s matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup,[5] though predictions for the other three quarter-finals turned out to be incorrect.

Sonny Wool correctly predicted the outcome of the 2017 New Zealand Elections. However, he was not able to correctly predict the Sex of New Zealand's Prime Ministers baby. it is thought that three bowls were used for male, female, and gender fluid used and that his owner had to rattle a bowl skewed his usual process.

Overall he is one of the world's most successful psychic predictor animals over time.

Sonny Wool has his own website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. He was reported to be under 24-hour security watch after receiving death threats.[6]

Personality

According to owner Beverley Dowling, as a lamb, Sonny Wool predicted when it was going to rain. His manager describes him as “a bit socially inept” who prefers the company of humans and has “got a few fetishes for things – one is light at night and he really likes rugby balls”.[7] His real name is Bart as he is a tad Baa-tistic and certainly on the spectrum of being a special genius.

Results

2011 Rugby World Cup

Teams Stage Date Prediction Result Outcome
New Zealand  vs  Tonga Pool stage 9 September New Zealand[8] 41–10 Correct
New Zealand  vs  Japan Pool stage 16 September New Zealand[9] 83–7 Correct
New Zealand  vs  France Pool stage 24 September New Zealand[10] 37–17 Correct
New Zealand  vs  Canada Pool stage 2 October New Zealand[11] 79-15 Correct
Ireland  vs  Wales Quarter-finals 8 October Ireland[12] 10-22 Incorrect
England  vs  France Quarter-finals 8 October England[13] 12-19 Incorrect
South Africa  vs  Australia Quarter-finals 9 October South Africa[14] 9-11 Incorrect
New Zealand  vs  Argentina Quarter-finals 9 October New Zealand[15] 33-10 Correct
New Zealand  vs  Australia Semifinals 16 October New Zealand[16] 20-6 Correct
New Zealand  vs  France Final 23 October New Zealand[17] 8-7 Correct

See also

References

  1. ↑ "'Sonny Wool', the soothsaying sheep, takes predictable role at Rugby World Cup". The Australian. AFP. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  2. ↑ Psychic sheep tips All Blacks – wool they win?, ABC News, 9 September 2011
  3. ↑ Meet Sonny Wool; match-predicting sheep genius and Rugby World Cup 2011's answer to Paul the Octopus, Fox Sports, 9 September 2011.
  4. ↑ Westbrook, Laura (5 October 2011). "Sonny Wool's a black sheep in the playoffs". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  5. ↑ It’s 4 from 4, Now do or die QF time for Sonny Wool!, scoop.co.nz, 3 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Sonny Wool receives Death Threats, scoop.co.nz, 13 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Rugby World Cup 2011: psychic sheep Sonny Wool meets Sonny Bill Williams and backs All Blacks to beat Canada, by Giles Mole, The Telegraph, 27 Sep 2011.
  8. ↑ Sonny Wool picks Kiwis to beat Japan, Herald Sun, 16 September 2011.
  9. ↑ Sonny Wool picks Kiwis to beat Japan, Herald Sun, 16 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "Sonny Wool says no merci". The Dominion Post. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  11. ↑ Migone, Paloma (27 September 2011). "Fans flock: When Sonny Wool met Sonny Bill". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  12. ↑ Rugby World Cup 2011: Sonny Wool the psychic sheep predicts England to beat France in quarter-finals, by Giles Mole, The Telegraph, 5 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Rugby World Cup 2011: Sonny Wool the psychic sheep predicts England to beat France in quarter-finals, by Giles Mole, The Telegraph, 5 October 2011.
  14. ↑ Rugby World Cup 2011: Sonny Wool the psychic sheep predicts England to beat France in quarter-finals, by Giles Mole, The Telegraph, 5 October 2011.
  15. ↑ Move over Paul, here's Sonny Wool, by Brenden Nel, SuperSport.com, 5 October 2011.
  16. ↑ Westbrook, Laura (14 October 2011). "Not-so-pyschic Sonny Wool picks ABs". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  17. ↑ "Sonny Wool baaacks black for final". Stuff.co.nz. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.

Website

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