Female Shearers Break New Ground with Record in South Otago

A team of four female shearers set a remarkable record on January 30, 2024, at Melrose Station near Owaka, New Zealand, achieving the first-ever eight-hour strongwool lamb record for women. This milestone, now recognized by the World Sheep Shearing Records Society, showcases the growing presence and prowess of women in a traditionally male-dominated sport.

Leading the charge was Te Atakura Crawford, originally from Gisborne. She topped the team’s tally with an impressive 530 lambs shorn, averaging just 54.34 seconds per lamb. Crawford previously made headlines in 2013 by winning the senior title at the New Zealand merino shears, defeating an all-male field.

The team included Ariana ‘Missy’ Te Whata, who contributed 504 lambs. Te Whata hails from Mossburn, Southland, and is related to two world record holders, further establishing a legacy in the sport. Pagan Rimene, a master woolhandler and 2019 world team woolhandling champion from Alexandra, added 481 lambs to the record. Rose Lewis, from Manutuke on the East Coast and now residing in Dubbo, New South Wales, completed the team with 423 lambs. Lewis, a fifth-generation shearer, took up the sport six years ago at the age of 35 and had previously worked as a woolhandler.

The journey to the record was not without challenges. Lewis faced a serious health issue earlier this year, being hospitalized with Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS). Despite this setback, she persevered, adapting her training regimen to ensure she could compete. Initially struggling with the cold conditions of Otago, Lewis soon found her rhythm and expressed her excitement about being part of a record-setting team.

“My father and his three brothers are in the world record book, so it was cool to be the first Lewis female to get in there and make my family proud,” Lewis stated. She emphasized the opportunities within the shearing industry, saying, “It’s a great job, great industry; you can go in so many different places.” Looking ahead, she aims to set more records, including in Australia, stating, “I’ve got some pretty big goals on the world record stage, so setting one with the team was definitely a cool start—you’re not going into it alone.”

The record-setting event is expected to inspire more women to participate in shearing. Referee Neil Fagan noted that the achievement would serve as a benchmark for aspiring shearers. “It’s just great to see those four girls getting out there and setting [a record], inspiring another four girls to have a go one day. They’ve got a target to beat now, which is not an easy target, but it’s something for them to aspire to.”

This event was the inaugural attempt in a series of multi-stand shearing records set for the summer. A second record attempt is scheduled for January 31, 2024, where Shane Ratima, Paerata Abraham, and Leon Samuels will challenge the three-stand, eight-hour strongwool lambs record at Waihelo Station in Moa Flat, West Otago. The current record of 1976 was established by Coel L’Huillier, Kaleb Foote, and Daniel Langlands in 2019 at Puketiti Station near Piopio.

As the sport evolves, the contributions of these pioneering women mark an important step towards greater inclusivity and recognition in shearing, paving the way for future generations.