The historical Old Errowanbang Woolshed is hosting the 2014 Sport Shear Australian Association (SSAA) National Shearing and Woolhandling Championships this weekend at Carcoa, near Bathurst.
Set in the beautiful Errowanbang Valley, the competition will see the best in action and is being held to coincide with the Old Errowanbang Woolshed annual open day.
New Zealand and South African teams are ready to take on the Aussies in machine shearing, blade shearing and woolhandling matches on Saturday and Sunday.
Reigning World Champion blade shearer, South African Mayenzeke Shweni, loves to shear with the blades. "With the blade, you control the sheep through the skin" he said. "With the machine, it feels like it's chasing me, but with the blade, I'm in control.
Mayenzeke Shweni
But wait, I know what you're thinking. He's crazy, right? Wrong. Mr Shweni can shear 110 to 150 sheep per day by hand.
Seventy per cent of South Africa's wool clip is still removed by blade. President of the South African Shearers' Federation says blades remain popular because of their simplicity. "It's very easy, it's cheap and he can go and shear anywhere" he said.
Easy?
It would be interesting to see all these men in action.
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