Far North Shearer To Tackle Ewes Record

Far North Shearer To Tackle Ewes Record

Globetrotting Far North shearer Matthew Smith may have to battle a bit of a southerly challenge on Friday (Jan 15) in a bid to become the first person to set a World ewe shearing record in Hawke's Bay.

But the 25-year-old from Ruawai is undaunted by any odds against him in his attempt to shear more than 560 ewes in eight hours to break a strongwool record set by Southland shearer Jimmy Clark two years ago.

It will take place at Waitara Station which, rising to over 600 metres above sea level in hill country between Napier and Taupo, is a site proposed for wind-farming following a successful series of applications which were ultimately decided in court.

The weather forecast is for a southwesterly bringing some rain to the area, already known for the toughness of its sheep.

Smith, a former winner of the Golden Shears open plate, has, however, stacked-up an impressive list of geographic credentials in his young career, in which he has been on the move for much of the time since he first went abroad at the age of 17.

In addition to North America and the U.K., he shears each year in such countries as Estonia, Latvia and Finland, and says there are challenges wherever he shears.

He takes to the board at 7am on Friday aiming to average just over 140 for each of the four two-hour runs, which if successful will see him breaking the record a short time before the scheduled final bell at 5pm.
Clark hit that target from the start of his bid in January 2008, when he hammered the previous eight-hour ewes record of 495 set in 1999.

The record bid under the auspices of the World sheep Shearing Records Society will be overseen by four judges, headed by Australian Peter Black and appointed to ensure the quality of the shearing and integrity of the record.

ENDS