The ‘8-Hour World Lamb Shearing Record’ was most recently held by Jack Fagan who managed a 754 lamb tally back in 2022.
The Staffordshire shearing world record bid, supported by the NFU Midlands region and other rural and agri-businesses, was held on the 29-year-old’s family farm at Amerton Meadows on Saturday 3 August.
The first lamb was shorn at 7am and four shearing runs followed during the day with the last lamb shorn at 5pm.
‘A huge team effort’
Following his achievement, Nick said: “I’m delighted to be a world record holder and can’t quite believe what has happened.
“This has been a long journey that started way before my two-stand record back in 2022 and was always a dream of mine – the entire record’s success is down to a huge team effort.
“This record would not have been possible without the help and support of my wife Kate and the entire family. Thank you, it means so much to me that we have achieved as a family.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to the support and commitment of so many people, too many to name individually.
“This has been a long journey that started way before my two-stand record back in 2022 and was always a dream of mine.”
NFU member Nick Greaves
“From the farmers supplying the lamb, pen men that were here with me all day, the wool wrappers, those supporting me with my gear and all my family and friends – without all of you, today would not have been possible.”
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Celebrations as the clock counts down
Nick focused on the world record
Nick takes a minute at the end of an emotional shearing effort
Family moment following the record announcement
The family celebrating the world record
Photographs: Agri Marketing UK
Speedy work
Shearing over four, two-hour runs, Nick managed 199 lambs in the first two hours, with further runs of 195, 190 and 180 to move clear of Jack Fagan’s record.
Nick also managed to get through more than 32 cutters and 8 combs.
The record was overseen by a four-man panel of referees appointed by the World Sheep Shearing Records Society led by New Zealand official Ronny King.
English Central Board member for British Wool and NFU member Kate Drury said: “On behalf of British Wool we offer huge congratulations to Nick on his successful world record attempt.
“We appreciate the hard work that also goes on behind the scenes in holding a record such as this and therefore offer congratulations to everyone that has helped and supported Nick.”
Fundraising success
Nick has shorn extensively in New Zealand for Hawke’s Bay contractor Brendan Mahony and previously his biggest success came at the Royal Bath and West Show this year when he won the English National, the UK Golden Shears Open, and the Six Nations Championship and he has gone on to be named English Circuit Champion.
There was fundraising throughout the day for Cancer Research UK which is a charity close to the family’s heart.
