Woman breaks sheep shearing world record in Cornwall

A Scottish woman has set a new world record for sheep shearing in Cornwall. Una Cameron, a 51-year-old shearer, sheared a total of 517 sheep at Trefranck Farm in Launceston, beating the previous women’s solo strongwool ewe record by 59 sheep. The feat took a total of nine hours with Cameron taking only four breaks.

According to Cameron, the experience was unique. “Every shearer when they start shearing has a dream that there might be a world record somewhere, and very few get the opportunity to do it. It was quite painful, but if you’re going to wait until you’re 51 to do stupid crazy things, you can expect a bit of pain afterward,” she said.

The previous women’s solo strongwool ewe record was held by Sacha Bond, who sheared 458 ewes in nine hours. One of the event organizers, Huw Condron, said Cameron’s attempt was the equivalent of “running two marathons back to back”. “Shearing 250 sheep is the equivalent of running a marathon, so what Una is looking to do today attempting to shear close to 500 or over, if possible, is like running two marathons back to back in nine hours,” he said.

Four adjudicators from the World Sheep Shearing Records Society were present at Trefranck Farm to verify the record. Cameron was also raising money for Blood Cancer UK in Cornwall and St. Luke’s Hospice. Her mother, Rose Cameron, said her daughter had “lost three stone” in the run-up to the event. “She’s been having ice baths and training really hard, but she’s looking really trim and good at the moment,” Rose Cameron said.

In conclusion, Cameron was understandably emotional about her success. “It was still a bit like a dream to hold a world record. A very painful dream, but a dream – I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” she said. Cameron was rewarded with a Curly Wurly, which she loves, according to Condron

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