Friday, March 29, 2024

10,084 lambs clipped at charity shearathon

Neal Wallace
The hardest period for Cole Wells during the 24-hour shearing marathon over Waitangi weekend was between 2am and 6am.
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A scene from the Shear 4 Blair charity shearathon held in West Otago over Waitangi weekend are, from left, shearers Brayden Clifford, Cole Wells, Eru Weeds and David Gower. Photo: Standish Photography

The hardest period for Cole Wells during the 24-hour shearing marathon over Waitangi weekend was between 2am and 6am.

Wells, along with Brayden Clifford, David Gower and Eru Weeds, were the core of a 24-hour Shear 4 Blair charity shearing event in West Otago, helping to raise about $130,000 for the Southland Charity Hospital.

Together with casual shearers and a small army of supporters and support workers, they clipped 10,084 mostly ewe lambs.

Wells, who shears part-time when not running a dagging, tailing and conveyor business from Roxburgh in Central Otago, says he pushed through pain and mental barriers, for a personal tally of 1435.

“It was really draining from 2am to 6am, but once the sun came up it got me going again,” Wells said.

The four who worked the full 24 hours shore a combined 6476, with Weeds clipping 1891, Gower 1607 and Clifford 1543.

Wells said work commitments limited his preparation, which he paid for, nursing a painful back and legs.

“I had a wonderful support crew and during my breaks I would go and get a massage,” he said.

Despite that, he set a personal best, shearing 500 lambs in the first eight hours before going on to easily better his goal of 1000.

Event organiser Jared Manihera said they had hoped to raise up to $90,000, but that will easily be surpassed such was the support of sponsors.

He said the community rallied behind the event, providing shed hands, food and support for the wellbeing of the shearers and shed hands.

The event was held on a farm owned by Nelson and Fiona Hancox and Manihera said at the end of the 24 hours there were 12 lambs left unshorn, which were finished by volunteers in the audience.

Wells was this week recovering and with the pain still raw, doubts he would do it again, but he put his discomfort in perspective.

“What I put in at the weekend was nothing like someone battling cancer,” he said.

“It was worth it.”

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