Photo: Supplied
A Waikato shearer has become a world record holder after shearing 367 merino ewes in eight hours.
Alexia Phillips competed for the women's world record in Spring Valley Farm, about 200km southeast of Perth on Sunday.
Phillips started at 7.30am and sheared more than 45 sheep an hour, clipping a total of almost 1.6 tonnes.
"You shear for two hour runs, half an hour for morning smoko, an hour for lunch, and half an hour for afternoon smoko.
"I was pretty tired but not as buggered as I thought I'd be so obviously I'm fit enough, it was just an extra big day at work really."
Under World Sheep Shearing Records Society rules, the sheep needed to average at least 3.4kg of wool each according to a sample shear of 10 ewes the day before the record.
Phillips has been shearing for about eight years now, branching-out from shepherding which she started in.
"I did a shepherding course at Otiwhiti Station in Hunterville and we learned how to shear there and I always enjoyed it.
"I got an opportunity to shear overseas so I just jumped on that and the rest is history."
Competing for the record has always been a goal of Phillips.
The record was previously held by New South Wales shearer Jeanine Kimm.
Philips said she was inspired seeing other women do it and so went for it.
When she cracked the record she said she felt relieved and like the weight of the world was off her shoulders.
Back in Aotearoa, thousands of visitors will flock to Masterton this week as the iconic Golden Shears kicks off with a record number of entries.
Former President and World Council Chairman Greg Herrick said there will be 559 competitors across different events.
Herrick said the weather's good in the Wairarapa so everything is lining up.
"There's something there probably for everybody at this stage."
Herrick said records like Phillips' are becoming more common in shearing.
He said it's something a lot of young up and comers want to give a go.
"It's something that's really catching on.
"There's a lot done in the UK, and a lot done here in New Zealand, it's a specialised sort of a thing.
"It's absolutely amazing just how many numbers they put out."
The 63rd annual Golden Shears is on from Thursday to Saturday at Masterton War Memorial Stadium.
Herrick said the industry is also gearing up to host the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in 2026.
The championship will see competitors from more than 30 countries come to Masterton to compete.
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