Shear Brilliance – a summer of shearing records

Following on from Meirion Evans’ successful new British Shearing Record that took place in Machynlleth during July, we saw two World Record attempts taking place in August.

Please see below details on both Nick Greaves and Una Cameron’s World Record attempts:

Staffordshire shearer sets a new World shearing record
 

Staffordshire based shearer Nick Greaves was top of the world after achieving his dream by setting a new World Shearing Record which took place on his home farm in Stafford during August.

An experienced shearer, Nick successfully set a new 8-Hour World Lamb Shearing Record by shearing 764 lambs beating the previous record held by Jack Fagan of New Zealand in 2022 by 10 lambs.

At the end of his successful record attempt, Nick said: 

“I’m delighted to be a World Record holder and can’t quite believe what has happened.  This has been a long journey that started way before my two-stand record back in 2022. It was always a dream of mine and the entire record’s success is down to a huge team effort.”

Nick continued: “This record would not have been possible without the help and support of my wife Kate and the entire family.  Thank you, it means so much to me that we have achieved what we have here today as a family.  I’d also like to pay tribute to the support and commitment of so many people, too many to name individually.  From the farmers supplying the lamb, pen men that were here with me all day, the wool wrappers, those supporting me with my gear and all my family and friends – without all of you, today would not have been possible.”

Cancer Research UK was the record attempts nominated charity with fundraising taking place during the day. More information is available from Nick Greaves Solo 8-Hour World Lamb Shearing Record Attempt www.cancerresearchuk.org

Una shears 517 to achieve new World Record
 

Scottish sheep shearer, Una Cameron, who is the only woman to qualify in the top 30 at the coveted Goden Shears in Masterton, New Zealand has smashed a World record set by Kiwi Sacha Bond in Southland, New Zealand on February 9th this year.

Fifty-one-year-old Una has certainly not let her age define her, she has been in training for the past year, lost three stones in weight and honed her shearing skills gained over the past three decades.  She triumphantly surpassed Sacha Bond's tally of 458 by four in the afternoon, giving her an hour on the clock to raise the Solo Women's Nine Hour Strong Wool Ewe Record by 59 to a staggering tally of 517. 

Shearing Romney sheep at Trefranck Farm in Cornwall, Una tallied 113 in the opening run of two hours and followed with successive 1hr 45min runs of 105, 101, 104 and 94.

With a support crew of around forty from the shearing fraternity from as far as New Zealand, the Falklands and Norway, Una was delighted to accomplish her dream and said:

"I had a wonderful team behind me, and they believed that I could do it. I was focused on passing the 458 mark, but always wanted to shear 500. I can't thank everyone enough, especially Matt and Pip Smith, who hosted the event on Trefranck Farm.”

Una also achieved the British Record.

Gareth Jones, Head of Member Engagement, British Wool said:

“On behalf of British Wool, we offer huge congratulations to Nick and Una on their successful World Record attempts.  This was a display of high-quality shearing and both should be very proud of their achievements.”

“We appreciate the hard work that also goes on behind the scenes in holding records such as this and therefore offer congratulations to everyone that has helped and supported Nick and Una in successfully setting their new World Shearing Records.”

Una was fundraising for Blood Cancer UK & St Luke's Hospice Plymouth. If you would like to join in and support please follow the Donation Link: https://gofund.me/4ea1e73a