Tough Road Ahead For Record Bid Shearer

MEDIA RELEASE

On behalf ofShearing Sports New Zealand

February 12, 2013 - 7.30am

Tough Road Ahead For Record Bid Shearer

Te Kuiti shearer Stacey Te Huia has a tough day ahead if he is to break a World ewe shearing record after falling more than 10 off the pace inthe opening two-hour run at Te Hape, east of Benneydale.

Starting at 5am and needing about 160 ewes to keep on the pace, Te Huia had one sheep rejected and was credited with 149 going into the hour-long breakfast break at 7 o'clock.

Trying to force the pace, he had some difficulty with the machinery locking-up as he chases the solo record of 721 for nine hours set by Southern Hawke's Bay shearer Rodney Sutton six years ago.

Te Huia's best previous tally fo nne hours is 674 in a two-stand record a year ago.

Resuming at 8am he now needs an average close to 82 an hour to break the record. If the pace is not improved significantly consideration could be given to ending the bid early.

ENDS

© Scoop Media