Female Shearers Set Strongwool Lamb Record in South Otago

A group of four female shearers achieved a remarkable milestone by setting the first-ever record for the eight-hour strongwool lamb shearing category on January 23, 2024, at Melrose Station, located near Owaka in South Otago. This record, now recognized by the World Sheep Shearing Records Society, highlights the growing prominence of women in a traditionally male-dominated sport.

Leading the team was Te Atakura Crawford from Gisborne, who secured an impressive total of 530 lambs sheared, averaging just over 54 seconds per lamb. Crawford previously gained recognition by winning the senior title at the New Zealand Merino Shears in 2013, defeating an all-male field.

In addition to Crawford, Ariana ‘Missy’ Te Whata contributed significantly to the team’s success with a total of 504 lambs shorn. Te Whata hails from Mossburn, Southland, and is related to two world record holders, adding a legacy of achievement to her own accomplishments.

The team also included Pagan Rimene, a master woolhandler and the 2019 world teams woolhandling champion, who sheared 481 lambs. Rounding out the group was Rose Lewis, originally from Manutuke on the East Coast, now residing in Dubbo, New South Wales, where she works shearing merino sheep. Lewis, a fifth-generation shearer, entered the sport at the age of 35 after beginning her career as a woolhandler.

The journey to this record was not without challenges. Lewis faced serious health issues earlier this year, being hospitalized with Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS), which temporarily limited her training. Despite this setback, she persevered and described the experience of being part of the record-setting team as both overwhelming and exciting.

“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 said. “It’s a great job, great industry, you can go in so many different places.” She also expressed her ambition for future records, including potential attempts in Australia.

The referee for the event, Neil Fagan, noted the increasing participation of women in shearing, emphasizing that this record would serve as a source of inspiration for future generations. “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,” he remarked. “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 marked the first of two multi-stand shearing record attempts scheduled for the southern regions this summer. On January 31, 2024, a team consisting of Shane Ratima, Paerata Abraham, and Leon Samuels will pursue the three-stand, eight-hour strongwool lambs record at Waihelo Station in Moa Flat, West Otago. The current record of 1976 lambs was established in 2019 by Coel L’Huillier, Kaleb Foote, and Daniel Langlands at Puketiti Station near Piopio.

The accomplishments of these female shearers not only set a new benchmark in the sport but also pave the way for future female participation, demonstrating that with determination and skill, boundaries can be pushed and records can be broken.