Shears record not out of reach, says former holder

MEDIA RELEASE

On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand

January 14, 2011.

Shears record not out of reach, says former holder

An Irishman's dream of becoming the World's fastest shearer in a woolshed near Taupo vanished in despair as he gave up early today.

But a former record holder who was his right-hand man believes he will come back, and the World record of 866 lambs in nine hours he hoped to beat will be broken, and possibly go over 900.

The vanquished today was 29-year-old Ivan Scott, who comes from Kilmacrennan in County Donegal, but who lives mainly in New Zealand.

Starting at 5am at Opepe Trust Farm, east of Taupo, he had managed just 333 in the two runs to morning smoko, totalling 3hrs 45mins. It was 33 down on the comparative tally of Hawke's Bay gun Dion King when he smashed the record at Moketenui, King Country, four years ago.

Scott had also had 10 lambs rejected by the World Sheep Shearing Records Society judges and been given two warnings about the quality.

Southern Hawke's Bay farmer Justin Bell, who had held the record from 2004 until King's triumph, said the early abandonment of two attempts at the record this season does not mean the ultimate shearing record is out of reach.

But to succeed, challengers had to have everything right on the day, he said. He believes Scott has the heart to "have another crack," and that the mark will some day go over 900, an average of 36 seconds per lamb.

King set a two-hour run record of 196 when he opened his record bid in January 2007, and today Scott was well off the pace from the outset, with 185 shorn by breakfast at 7am, and then losing three in the judging in the pens. As the pressure went on to catch up more mistakes followed and he was credited with just 151 in the 1hr 45min second run before the event was called-off.

It was the last of five record bids in New Zealand notified to the society this summer, and no others are likely.

ENDS

© Scoop Media