Agricultural
22 August, 2024
Wagga v Wales in shearing
Local shearers group Wagga Wagga Speed Shear Sport NSW travelled to Wales for a series of shearing competitions.
The 2024 Wagga to Wales International Shearing Competition was held across the final week of July, from Saturday 20 to Saturday 27.
Local shearers group Wagga Wagga Speed Shear Sport NSW travelled to Wales for a series of shearing competitions, including The Welsh International Speed Shear Test and the Royal Welsh Show Open Shearing contest.
Chad Marshall, local shearer, participated in the international competition.
According to Chad, there were over 80 people in his category alone, with hundreds attending the events in total.
“It was an awesome event,” Chad said. “Probably some of the best shearing sheep that I’ve come across.”
Across the week, both speed shearing and show shearing events were held.
Speed shearing is a sprint: it involves shearing a single sheep as fast as possible, while maintaining quality.
Show shearing is more like a marathon, shearing multiple sheep in quick succession to a high standard.
Chad set a personal best during the championship, completing a speed shear in 17 seconds.
“Welsh people are really nice people; they really try to make you enjoy [the competition].”
Chad has been shearing for 20 years since he was 14 years old, and competing in the opens section for over ten years.
In that time, he has been part of “hundreds” of competitions, Chad said.
Currently, outside of shearing competitions, he works for Shearers Supply in Dubbo.
“I think it’s in [my] blood, but it’ll stop with me too, ‘cus my kids don’t want to do it.”
The Wagga Wagga team came home with a ribbon, and each member of the team performed wonderfully.
Congratulations to the entire team for their performance in Wales.
