UNA GOES FOR WORLD RECORD

Scottish sheep shearing guru Una Cameron from St Boswells in the Scottish Borders has thrown her moccasins in the catching pen for a crack at the world sheep shearing record

Una, who is now 50, has been working as a professional sheep shearer on the world circuit for 28 years, shearing in sheds across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

Having lodged her bid for a record attempt with the World Sheep Shearing Records Society Inc. – the 7th August has been confirmed as D-Day!

“I thought that a chance at a record was a ship that had long sailed But this summer I hosted Kiwis Matt and Rowland Smith prior to the World Shearing Championships and they ensured me that I was good enough,” commented Una, who is the only woman to have made the coveted Top 30 at the Golden Shears in New Zealand

Back in the day very few women pushed a hand piece and treaded the boards in the shearing sheds and at the competitions, but there has been a wave of femininity over the past decade and three other females are tackling solo records on the run up to Una’s:

Una, who took out the Scottish Speed Shear title last weekend at Strathaven Show, blasted her ovine out in 32 seconds She qualified for the Scottish final with a speed of 23 seconds in second place at Bonchester Bridge

Her record attempt will be staged at Matt and Pip Smith’s Trefranck Farm in Cornwall on full wool Romney ewes Following Sacha Bond’s record in, Una will decide whether she is going for 8 or 9 hours

Anyone interested in sponsoring the record please contact Eilidh MacPherson at editor@farmingscotland com or Marie Prebble at marie@kentshepherd.co.uk