Top shearers set for fast-paced speed shearing at Southern Field Days
Organisers are expecting another full field of 40 of the country’s top shearers for the popular Speed Shearing event at this year’s Southern Field Days at Waimumu.
"Shearing as a demonstration sport has gone viral," says Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson, with the Australian, UK and US media picking it up.
"I've had interviews with BBC regional stations but am being interviewed by Skype for BBC One.
"I've also checked Google News and shearing sport has generated at least 262 news items. From ESPN and a Washington Post blog to Britain's Daily Telegraph, you can say it has grabbed imaginations the world over.
"Some of it may drip with sarcasm but it's giving us the chance to tell people overseas that sheep don't die for their wool. Unbelievable as it may sound to Kiwi ears, some people overseas believe wool is like fur.
"While wool is natural, renewable and completely sustainable, it needs more and perhaps sport provides that magic.
"Our shearing athletes, men and woman alike, are in peak physical condition. When people wear New Zealand wool it has come from the work of people like of Ivan Scott and Kerri-Jo Te Huia.
"We can also add Stacey Te Huia and Sam Welch. Yesterday, they broke a 16-year world record for two-stand nine-hour ewe-shearing.
"I'm under no illusion that this will take time but given the big eight sheep counties are China, Australia, India, Iran, Sudan, New Zealand, Nigeria and the United Kingdom, shearing is more global than many people think," Maxwell says.
