Record breaking rural productivity

The received wisdom is that productivity needs to increase to secure the future economic success of the UK, and Welsh sheep shearing is leading by example. 

In less than a fortnight, new records have been set: Two Welsh Shearers team up to achieve a new British Shearing Record - British Wool

On 5 July, Huw Jones set a new  8-Hour Solo Ewe British Sheep Shearing Record by shearing 663 sheep in 8 hours. 

That new record was then smashed on 12 July, when Gethin Lewis (Champion Shearer of Wales in 2023 and 2024) shore 696 sheep in 8 hours.  Over the course of a couple of weeks, the solo record had increased by 157 sheep.

On the same day, Gethin Lewis teamed up with Llyr Evans to set a new Two Stand [where two shearers work side-by-side] British Sheep Shearing record, shearing 1,364 sheep in 8 hours, breaking the previous record set in 2019 by 289 sheep.

To add to the challenge, Gethin and Llyr’s shearing took place on the hottest day of the year in Wales so far, which saw temperatures in the sheep shed easily reach the mid-thirties.

Like all top athletes, Gethin and Llyr relied on a dedicated and specialist team including personal trainers, wool wrappers, pen men, sheep farmers, caterers and a physio team to keep them on track.  Supporters turned out in their hundreds to cheer them on, raising funds for the shearers’ chosen charities: the Welsh Air Ambulance and Brain Tumour Research. 

A formidable target has been set for any shearers looking to challenge the new records but no doubt another team will come along hoping to prove themselves, demonstrating productivity improvements along the way. 

Written by Rosie Lewis (Gethin’s cousin)

The received wisdom is that productivity needs to increase to secure the future economic success of the UK, and Welsh sheep shearing is leading by example.

https://www.britishwool.org.uk/two-welsh-shearers-team-up-to-achieve-a-new-british-shearing-record/