Meet Welsh Shearer: Elgan Roberts

Sheep shearing is a skilled profession carried out by professionals who have been trained to shear carefully and sympathetically. British Wool is the approved provider for shearing and wool handling training in the UK, with a programme designed to support trainees of all abilities.

We caught up with 22-year-old Elgan Roberts a Welsh Shearer from the Llyn Peninsula about why he enjoys shearing and his achievements to date.

Q: What are the details of your farming and shearing business?

A: On my farm I keep cows and sheep, selling sucklers calves and fat lambs. My shearing business started in 2019 when I was 16 years old, and I took over my cousin's shearing run. I currently cover the Gwynedd area with my shearing business.

Q: What has been your personal and professional achievements?

A: One of my biggest achievements in the shearing industry was winning the intermediate in the Royal Welsh, that was a dream come true. Another achievement I gained this summer was winning the intermediate class in Corwen and qualifying for the final in the senior’s class.

Q: How long have you been a farmer?

A: I was born on a farm and have been farming with my father since I was a young child.

Q: What motivated you to enter a shearing competition?

A: My motivation with the shows was to make new friends and to learn and develop my shearing.  There is so much to learn in shearing especially listening to the open shearers talking and giving out tips.

Q: What advice would you give to young up-and-coming shearers?

A: Don’t start too early, and don’t push yourself too young, attend as many courses as you can, watch videos of good shearers on YouTube, and always enjoy it - you must enjoy shearing to get a passion for the job.

At the start of the season, I went on a British Wool course with Gareth Evans in Denbigh - the course was fantastic, and I learned so many tips from Gareth and it improved my shearing in just two days, in my opinion, I wouldn’t have achieved this year’s accomplishments if I hadn’t of been on the course!

Q: Who has been your inspiration?

A: There are a lot of people who inspire me in the shearing industry. One of the biggest is Rodney Sutton, and I had the privilege of shearing for him over in New Zealand last winter!