WORLD SHEARING RECORD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18585, 20 December 1934, Page 4

WORLD SHEARING RECORD

433 IN NINE HOURS WORK IN PEHIRI SHED SIX MEN DO 1561 A new world’s shearing record was accomplished this week by Sonny White, who put through 433 Romney breeding ewes in nine hours. This feat was accomplished in Mr. Francis Stafford’s shed on Sherbrooke station at Pehiri on Monday, and the gang of six with which the new recordholder was associated, shore 1561 sheep in the day. The previous record for a ninehour spell was held by B. Higgins, with 407 sheep. Sonny White’s gang comes from the Urewera, and is well known in the Gisborne district. The sheep were all in excellent condition, and there were no dingy or ticky sheep on the board. Two pressers and five shedhands kept the floor perfectly clean throughout. 'The shed was in a simmer of excitement ivhen it became known that the record was being approached. Shearing commenced at 5 aim., and by 4.30 p.m. the record was passed, Sonny White finishing with the remarkablfe total of 433 at the end of the nine hours.

At the completion,of the day’s work, Mr Stafford called the sheafers and shed hands together, ,and congratulated them not only on the great tally, but also on the quality of the work done, adding that he was naturally ,proud that such a record had been created in bis shed, and it was pleasing d ol ' him to have the same gang shearing for him year after year. Mr White, in reply, said that it. was only in such a shed and under such ideal conditions as at Sherbrooke that such a record was possible. The work was strenuous but pleasant. The other members of the gang shore 1128 sheep them, and the total of six, including Mr. White, put through 1561 iu the nine hours. Their tallies were as follow: —Sonny White, 433; Bob Maxwell, 273; Te Hau, 307; Rawhiri, 248; Nathan, 290. About three years ago, the same gang in the same shed did 1586 sheep in nine hours, Mr. White shearing 339. His tally last year was 352. On the standard earnings of 225. per 100 sheep, Sonny White’s earnings would be over £4 30s for the day. In the Sherbrooke shed the shearing was done on a contract basis.