Two British farmers attempt to break world’s sheep shearing record
10th July 2024
Two British farmers will be trying to break the world’s record in sheep shearing this summer.
Later this month, Meirion Evans from Machynlleth in North Wales will make his attempt to shear sheep for nine hours.
The 25-year-old farmer works on the family beef and sheep farm, keeping Welsh Black Cross Limousin cows and mainly Mule Cross Texel ewes, with some Welsh Mountain and Speckled Hill.
He also has a local contract shearing business, which keeps him busy over the summer months, and he travels to New Zealand over the winter.
Mr Evans said: “Shearing has already given me many opportunities, including seven seasons working in New Zealand – this is a great way to improve and also to make new friends.”
Promoting the quality of British wool
The farmer also shared what motivated him to attempt to break the nine-hour British ewe record: “I have helped at several record attempts over the years. I enjoyed being a part of the team and supporting shearers to do their best in whatever record they were attempting.
“I also very much liked the atmosphere and wanted to attempt the record myself. “
Gareth Jones, head of member engagement at British Wool, said: “Record attempts are an excellent opportunity to promote the quality of British wool to wider audiences and showcase the highly skilled individuals driving the industry forward.
“As a member organisation, British Wool is committed to supporting champions as representatives and ambassadors. We’re delighted to be supporting Meirion to help him achieve his goals and wish him the very best of luck.”
The challenge will take place on 13th July, raising funds for the farming charity DPJ Foundation.
First Scottish woman ever to attempt
Una Cameron from St Boswells in Scotland, who has been sheep shearing for over 30 years, will try to break the nine-hour women’s solo ewe record in August.
Talking about the record attempt, the 51-year-old farmer said: “Set by Kerri-jo Te Huia in 2018 at 452, and broken by Sacha Bond earlier this year, I’m attempting to beat 458 adult ewes in nine hours.
“Both these records took place in New Zealand, so I’ll be the first Scottish woman ever to attempt a shearing record, and it will be the second women’s world record attempt in the Northern Hemisphere.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity, but it’s certainly a team effort. It would mean the world if people would donate to the charities I’m representing, Blood Cancer UK and St Luke’s Hospice.
“I was at a funeral last year, from someone who died from blood cancer and realised how much the disease has impacted those around me.
“People I’ve sheared with have had it, and it’s not a disease that’s talked much about, which I considering even with treatment people can pass away is worrying.”
270,000 people in the UK are living with or in remission from blood cancer, which is the UK’s third-largest cancer killer. The charity, Blood Cancer UK is a community dedicated to beating, leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, all types of blood cancer.
Nine-hour challenge
270,000 people in the UK are living with or in remission from blood cancer, which is the UK’s third-largest cancer killer. The charity, Blood Cancer UK is a community dedicated to beating, leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, all types of blood cancer.
On the day, Ms Cameron will be shearing adult Romneys, which must have at least 3.1kg of wool each to be of world-record standard.
International judges will also be flying over to scrutinise the quality of her work and ensure the rules governed by the World Sheep Shearing Records Society are followed. An animal welfare officer will also be in attendance.
Ms Cameron’s nine-hour day will comprise five separate shearing ‘runs’. The first is two hours long and subsequently lasts one-hour 45 minutes, each separated by half-hour or one-hour breaks.
An eight-hour day is generally more common in day-to-day work, one the farmer is well used to from three decades of shearing.
Rhia Stankovic, fundraising manager for Wales and the South-West at Blood Cancer UK, said: “We wish Una the best with her world record attempt. Every penny raised for Blood Cancer UK will help power world-class research, helping people affected by the UK’s fifth most common cancer.
“Without the support of people like Una, we wouldn’t be able to make the breakthroughs in treatments.”
The event takes place on 7th August, at Trefranck Farm in Launceston, Cornwall, with Resilient Romneys UK sheep enterprise.
Ms Cameron’s record will be the sixth shearing world record to take place on their farm.
