Where did it all start Matt?
I grew up on a farm in New Zealand, with two brothers, and started shearing in my teens. By 15, I was shearing full time and earning good money so I decided to commit and started travelling the world at just 17. It’s often confusing at that age to know what to do, but shearing just felt right to me and, with very little investment, I found myself a trade that is still valuable and important to me today. I remember I sheared 300 sheep in a day for the first time when I was 15 and that was a real achievement, plus it showed me that I could earn well if I honed my skills.
So, what does it take to become a world class shearer?
You need the best shearing gear, that you can trust, and you have to shear a lot of sheep. I have worked closely with Heiniger over the years and always found their equipment to be the best for both competition and contract shearing.
It also helps to shear different breeds in different countries, so, by travelling and shearing in Europe, America and in New Zealand, I learned a lot. Like many young shearers I started with junior competitions and then worked my way up to national and international level in New Zealand.
My brother still represents New Zealand and has won the World Championships so I will be competing against him next year. He’s my little brother but he’s 6’7 so, really, he’s my big brother.
How is your preparation for the World Championships going?
I don’t shear as much as I used to, but I have done a couple of months of intense shearing this year to get back in the swing of things. Last year was not the best for me so I wanted to show myself and the other competitors that I am still at the top of my game, and this year I won the circuit to qualify for the England team.
The World Championships is in New Zealand so it’s going to be a bit odd for me. I’ve lived in the UK for over 10 years but it’s still going to be strange. I plan to go out a month in advance and then my family will join me when the competition starts.
Does the England team stand a good chance?
We do! Nick Greaves and I are the machine shearers and will compete individually and as a team. There is also a hand shearing competition and representing England will be George and Andrew Mudge.
Last time I competed with Adam Berry and we came a very close second, so Nick and I are seriously motivated to go the extra mile to win this time. Nick is a great teammate and is very professional. We are committed and, although it’s his first World Championships, I know he will lay everything on the line.
Away from the competitions, do you still shear?
Absolutely. Both on my farm and as a contractor. It’s important to do it for practice, but many forget that it is essential to animal health too. By shearing I see a lot of farms and there is always something about the farm system that I can bring home to my own farm in Cornwall where my wife Pip and I have a flock of 1100 and also rear cattle.
What are the benefits of shearing sheep?
Shearing is necessary to help regulate body temperature, ward off parasites and increase weight gain in sheep. I also find myself regularly using my battery powered Heiniger XCell shears, which I keep on my quad bike, for dagging and to belly out lambs. These are some of the animal health benefits but, for the farm, a high quality fleece can also fetch a good price, so breeding and shearing can be a good supplementary income.
Sheep breeding has moved away from fleece and wool quality and we’ve seen fleece colour start to yellow and smell, which leads to flies and maggots. In my opinion, this is a mistake and will only lead to a greater reliance on chemicals, antibiotics and anthelmintics. Wool is a selectable trait that can be used for breeding healthier sheep that provide better quality wool. Thankfully, wool prices are on the rise so some farms may see this as an opportunity to make more of their wool.
What advice would give someone looking to get into shearing?
Shear as many sheep as you can. Invest in good gear. I have been using Heiniger equipment for both competition and contract work, and I can’t recommend it enough. Keep learning. I run shearing courses at our farm but there are plenty available throughout the UK and more details can be found on the British Wool Board website. Enter as many competitions as you can and watch the other competitors, especially those who compete on the circuit, you can learn a lot by seeing how others shear.
