Amy Silcock, a 37-year-old from New Zealand, is aiming to break the world record for ewe-shearing. She started shearing at 28, and her passion has taken her to the UK and Australia. This Sunday, she will make her third attempt at the world record in four years at Ross na Clonagh Farm, near Pahiatua.
Silcock has already made her mark in the shearing world, having won two junior competitions in 2014 and setting a record for shearing 423 ewes in nine hours in January 2020. Last year, she attempted to break the solo eight-hour ewe-shearing record but fell short, managing to shear only 348 ewes compared to the record of 370 set by UK farmer Marie Prebble. Despite this, Silcock remains undeterred and sees it as a learning experience.
This time, she plans to shear about 13 ewes every 15 minutes, which would put her ahead of the current record pace. She hopes to shear a total of 410 ewes for the day. Champion speed shearer Jimmy Samuels will be timekeeping, and she hopes to average 120 ewes per run.
Five record attempts are scheduled in New Zealand in the next five weeks under the World Sheep Shearing Records Society. Silcock’s attempt is on Sunday, January 7, from 7am-5pm at Ross Na Clonagh Farm. Catherine Mullooly will also attempt the Women’s solo 8-hour strongwool ewes record on Wednesday, January 10, at Nukuhakari Station. Other attempts will be made by the Forde Winders Shearing crew, the Sutton Shearing crew, and Sacha Bond.
