NSW shearers make history with world record 2,301 lambs shorn in eight hours

A team of five shearers in Southern New South Wales has set a new world record by shearing 2,301 Merino lambs over the course of eight hours.

It is the first time the record - in the five-stand, eight-hour category - has been attempted, setting an impressive benchmark for aspiring teams to challenge.

The group included New Zealand shearers Cameron Hicks and Benjamin Duncan, along with Australians Lochie Robinson, Toby Walker, and Nick Lehmann.

On average, each of them sheared roughly one sheep per minute as they worked through the grueling eight-hour stint.

Lochie, 29, a shearing contractor in the Riverina, said days later his body was still recovering from the mammoth effort.

“It took a good three or four days before I started to feel half normal again,” he said.

“Obviously, it was very physically demanding. My body was in a lot of pain throughout the day, and the mental side of it was pretty tough as well, because everything was saying stop, but you just had to keep going."

Having assisted at similar attempts in the past, Lochie said he had a rough idea of what he was getting into.

“I was involved in helping out with a few world records over the past few years, and about 12 months ago, we sort of began hunting around to see if there was one that might fit for a few of our guys," he said.

"We came across the five-stand Merino lamb record, which hadn't been set yet, so we saw an opportunity there and started to see if we could put it together."

However, he said the logistics and costs of organising the attempt ended up being bigger than anticipated.

“I think we underestimated the extent of the things we had to do to get it going," Lochie said.

"In the end, it probably cost around $25,000 to put the day on the way we did. Outside that, we’ve raised about $12,000 for charity—the local Ronald McDonald House in Wagga and the local school where the farmers’ kids go that helped us put the day on.”

On the day of the shear, after almost eight months of training - a regime focused on shearing and workouts tailored to the muscles used most - Lochie said it was overwhelming knowing the day had finally arrived.

"I actually had a little cry to myself in the drive on the way down," he said. "I was a bit overwhelmed, but it was all finally good to go.”

The eight-hour effort was split into four two-hour runs, with short half-hour breaks in between for the men to rest and have a bite to eat. Lochie said the longer, 60-minute lunch break presented its own challenge, giving them more time to reflect on their exhaustion.

"I think we were all just trying to work out how we were going to pull any more energy out of our bodies," he said.

After it was all over, Lochie said he and his teammates were proud of what they had achieved.

"I'm pretty proud of what we produced," he said.

"We ended up having five or six hundred people come out and take a look at what we were doing throughout the day. It turned out to be a pretty good community event."

As for being a world record holder, Lochie said it was something he never thought he’d be able to say.

"I reckon it’s something I never thought I’d get the chance to do, but we hunted around and found something we could have a go at," he said.

"And I think we produced a pretty good tally, and there are still these types of records out there that can be set. If you’re thinking of it, just have a crack at it. It’s an awesome experience. I’ll remember it forever.”