Irish team prepares for World Shearing Championships

The team representing Ireland in the World Shearing Championships, which takes place in Invercargill, New Zealand, from 8 to 11 February, is making its final preparations. Team manager Mike Walshe says the mood in the camp is good, with a number of the team already in New Zealand and concentrating on gaining some experience of shearing and handling of wool in a different country. The greatest challenge will be in shearing Merino sheep, which are included in many of the competitions.

The squad will compete individually and also as part of the team across machine shearing, blade shearing and also wool handling disciplines. The team has a good mix of experience and new blood with the experience of shearing in the world championships held in Gorey four years ago hopefully giving an edge against competitors from 31 other countries.

New Zealander Rowland Smith is the holder of the Golden Shears world shearing title and the Kiwis will be keen to repeat the performance on home soil.

Machine shearer Ivan Scott, who only marginally missed out on the final in Gorey, has been in flying form since. His machine shearing teammate Stanley Allingham will also be hoping his New Zealand experience will stand to him.

A brief profile of the team and Irish judges is outlined below.

Mike Walshe – Irish team manager

Mike has been the Irish team manager since 2014. He has vast experience with development and six nations teams in both blade and machine and will be travelling in confident mood that Ireland can replicate recent achievements in European competitions.

Ivan Scott – machine shearer

The Donegal man needs little introduction after being crowned All-Ireland Open Shearing Champion for the ninth time in 2016. Ivan’s feat in setting a new nine-hour strong wool lamb shearing record brought an already impressive list of accolades to new heights. He has competed against the world’s best on numerous occasions and is well accustomed to New Zealand shearing.

Stanley Allingham – machine shearer

Another man with lots of experience, Stanley has shorn for six years in New Zealand and four years in Australia shearing Merinos. Hailing from Fermanagh, he has represented Ireland in three six nations and two world championships.

Joe Boylan – wool handling

Joe has been making strides in shearing, winning the junior championship at the German Shears in 2015 and the intermediate class at NISSA shears in 2016. Equally competent in wool handling, the Cavan man, who studied agriculture in Ballyhaise, will be representing Ireland for the first time in the world championships in wool handling.

George Graham – wool handling

The oldest competing member of the team, but that will not let competitors be lulled into a false sense of security. George has years of experience in wool handling competitions. Also representing Ireland for 22 years on the Golden Shears World Council, it will be the Wexford man’s ninth time to represent Ireland in the world championships.

Peter Heraty – blade shearing

Peter, who also farms in Mayo, is skilled using both machine and blade. He has won an international blade final and four all-Ireland blade finals, including three in a row. He has good experience, having finished fifth with Seamus Joyce in the world blade shearing teams final in Gorey.

Noel Joyce – blade shearing

Also from Mayo, Noel performed excellently on the 2016 shearing circuit to claim his position. A full-time farmer, he is described as one to watch for the future. It will be his first time to represent Ireland in the World Shearing Championships.

Godfrey Potterton – judge

Godfrey has been a judge for five years and this will be the Kildare sheep farmer’s second world championships, having judged in Gorey.

Tom Dunne – judge

Currently chair of the Irish Sheep Shearers Association, Tom has also represented Ireland as a judge in previous competitions.