Irishman Scott has Kiwis in the corner

July 31, 2016, 6.30pm

Irishman Scott has Kiwis in the corner at World shearing record bid

He may not be a Kiwi, but Irish shearer Ivan Scott’s attempt on the World nine-hour strongwool lambshearing record in England tonight is all-but a Kiwi affair.

Scott’s attempt is managed by New Zealand contractor and regular employer Jeff Dorset, of Rotorua, and others involved include Australia-based New Zealand shearer Cartwright Terry and midweek eweshearing record-breaker Matt Smith and World Champion brother Rowland.

Matt Smith and wife Pippa farm most of the Romney and crossbred sheep and are hosting the event on Trefranck Farm, near Launceston, in Cornwall.

The 35-year-old Scott has shorn in almost every New Zealand summer since he was 19, and has had two successful attempts in New Zealand on the eighth-hour record, including being the holder with 744, shorn at Opepe, east of Taupo on State Highway 5, on January 9, 2012.

His 193 in then opening two-hour run to breakfast today (6pm NZST) was three less than the opening run in the opening run of Hawke’s Bay gun Dion King’s record tally of 866 in January 2007.

But Scott is close to the targets needed to break the ultimate record – an average 37.37 seconds a lamb or under, caught, shorn and dispatched, or at least 96.33 lambs an hour.

The record attempt started at 4pm NZST (5am UK), and including meal and tea breaks is sechuled to end at 4am NZST (5pm UK).

ENDS

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