New Zealand shearer Simon Goss set a new nine-hour strong wool ewe shearing record last week at Te Pa Station, Waimarino, New Zealand.
The gruelling feat of endurance saw Goss shear one more ewe than previous record holder Matt Smith in 2016.
As detailed in Table 1, the shearing feat took place across five runs.
It was Goss’s first and fourth run which carried him through, with the record attempt going right down to the wire.
Such record attempts are huge events and take months of planning. An approved international judge has to oversee each sheep being shorn, with any significant faults running the risk of ewes not being counted in the final tally.
Wool content
Each sheep must possess at least 3kg of wool, which is in excess of the average of 2.5kg of wool typically seen on many breeds in the northern hemisphere.
This is calculated on the day before the shearing, when the judge selects a sample of sheep to be shorn, with the wool clip weighed to ensure the average is achieved.
When it comes to the shearing itself, the shearer must handle each sheep from the pen and direct it down the port hole following shearing.
Goss followed a strict routine, including daily gym sessions along with his shearing job and followed a precise diet. The hard worked paid off, with his name now etched in shearing history.
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