Media Releases

Irish shears champ out to reclaim record

New Zealand-based Irish shearing champion Ivan Scott will try to reclaim the World solo eight hours lambshearing record in a woolshed near Taupo early in the New Year.

From County Donegal and now aged 30, Scott held the record for two years with a mark of 736 at Rerewhakaaitu, south of Rotorua, in December 2008.   But he lost it when World champion Hawke's Bay shearer Cam Ferguson shore 742 at Moketenui, near Benneydale, last January.

Scott, the All Ireland champion also preparing for the next World Championships to be held in Masterton in March, will make his new bid on January 9 at Opepe, just east of Taupo on State Highway 5, and will have to average less than 39 seconds a lamb, which includes catching time between sheep.

Shorn in four two-hour runs, with smoko and meal breaks, it will be the first of three record bids this summer under the auspices of the World Shearing Records Society, which is appointing four judges to oversee the event, including one from Australia.

The society had previously announced Te Kuiti shearer Kerri-Jo Te Huia will tackle the women's record of 470 on January 10 at Te Hape, near Benneydale, and that eight days later in the same woolshed brother Stacey Te Huia and Port Waikato shearer Sam Welch will tackle the two-stand ewes record for nine hours, a mark of 1335 unchallenged for 16 years.

MEDIA ADVICE - World Shearing Records: January 10 and January 18 2012

DIARY NOTE

January 10, 2012, from 7am to 5pm: World solo women's eight-hours lambshearing record attempt by Kerry-Jo Te Huia, at Te Hape Station, 1106 SH30, Benneydale.

Media indending to cover the event contact Lee Cooper ph 07-8787428.

DIARY NOTE

January 18, 2012, from 5am to 5pm: World men's two-stand nine-hours ewes shearing record attempt by Stacey Te Huia and Sam Welch at Te Hape Station, 1106 SH30, Benneydale.

Media intending to cover the event contact Lee Cooper, ph 07-8787428

For further information: Doug Laing, media officer, Shearing Sports New Zealand, ph 0274-690644