Tuesday, 11 October 2022 13:55

Shear grit at record attempt

Written by  Leo Argent

Woodville shearer Sacha Bond is training hard for an attempt to break the women’s strong wool lamb shearing world record in Southland next year.

Coming from a shearing family, Bond has been a dedicated shearer since her teenage years.

She taught herself how to shear when many others in the industry would not lend a hand to teach her.

However, as her shearing skills became more and more apparent, people came around to her talents. She eventually made her way into the first all-women’s shearing course in New South Wales in 2015.

“I can say that even when she was learning she had the determination to be the best that she could be,” says Jim Murray, course instructor and one of the first work referrals Bond received.

Despite her prowess on the course, many still did not want to take a chance on a female shearer.

"I recall ringing about 12 contractors around New South Wales asking for a stand,” she recalls. “But it was clearly obvious to me no one was interested in hiring a female shearer as many other learners secured a stand.”

Nevertheless, or perhaps in spite of this, Bond has proven herself a phenomenal shearer, often outpacing the men and maintaining a professional level of quality.

It won’t be the first time she has had experience with shearing world record attempts. Bond has been a support for four previous attempts, with her work on Bob White’s 2014 Australian record playing a significant part in inspiring her to attempting a world record.

“I had the opportunity to train with him (White) when he did his first world record. He got me into the whole scene of fitness training, and it helped massively toward my shearing career.”

With the aid of Matt Luxton, a personal trainer well renowned in the athletics and shearing industry for his involvement in past world record attempts, Bond has been training seven-days-aweek – strength, conditioning, cardio and mobility – on top of her eight hours of shearing every day.

“Seeing how much work Sacha puts in every single day, she always somehow manages to find or make time to help others, running fundraisers, sharing health advice, teaching learner shearers tips on how to do it an easier way,” he says.

“She is determined and 100% committed. I know she’ll give her everything on the day and I can’t wait to see her do it.”

At Fairlight station on February 4 next year, Bond will have to shear at least 511 lambs in 8 hours – a daunting feat requiring finesse, speed and stamina.

More like this

She's shear class!

The rise and rise of top-class female shearers is a growing phenomenon in NZ – especially during recent times.

NZ shearers welcome in the UK

Much like New Zealand contractors who need nothern hemisphere operators to help with the grass, maize and cereal harvests, the United Kingdom is in need of those with prowess on the handpiece to help take the fleeces off that country's 15 million sheep.

'Shearing' NZ's knowledge

Four Mongolian sheep herders have returned to their homeland with new knowledge and skills, honed in NZ, that have the potential to change their lives and reshape their home country's shearing scene.

'Shearing' NZ's knowledge

Four Mongolian sheep herders have returned to their homeland with new knowledge and skills, honed in NZ, that have the potential to change their lives and reshape their home country's shearing scene.

Featured

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter