They took part in their first official competition this weekend, at the well-known Te Puke A&P Lifestyle Show agricultural fair.
- Making the most of the New Zealand shearing season, in the coming days they will start shearing and handling the wool of the local sheep
- The aim is to develop and perfect technique, dexterity, precision, physical endurance and agility for the World Championship
- The shearers and wool handlers will take various courses to sharpen their technique as much as possible and to learn the characteristics of the local wool
- The party has shared shearing techniques and experiences with shearers and wool handlers from England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France and New Zealand
The shearers and wool handlers of the Euskal Herria team are in full preparation in New Zealand and have already begun their special sessions ahead of the Golden Shears World Championship, to be held from 4 to 7 March in Masterton.
They took part this weekend in their first official competition, at the well-known Te Puke A&P Lifestyle Show agricultural fair. The shearers and wool handlers of the Euskal Herria team competed alongside shearers from several countries. It was their first contact, in competition, with the local breeds.
“We competed in a great atmosphere and with real excitement. It is not a large competition, but we were up against shearers and wool handlers of an excellent standard. For us it was our first official contact with the local breeds. It helped us adapt our gear to their characteristics and, at the same time, improve our shearing movements and positions. It has been a very enriching experience for all of us,” said the shearers of the Euskal Herria team.
They shared shearing techniques and experiences with shearers and wool handlers from England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France and New Zealand. An exchange between the shearers and wool handlers of Euskal Herria and the rest of the world.
Training and adaptation
The shearers and wool handlers of the Euskal Herria team are in the middle of settling in and, with New Zealand in the height of its shearing season, they will start shearing local flocks and handling the wool over the coming days. They will also take various courses to sharpen their technique as much as possible and to learn the characteristics of the wool.
The shearers and wool handlers of Euskal Herria will work to develop and perfect dexterity, precision, physical endurance and agility. It will be a thorough preparation.
“We will work alongside experienced shearers over the coming weeks to improve our technique on the local sheep and to gain practical experience. With the welfare of the sheep in mind, we will work on the positions, the handling and the movements needed to take the fleece off efficiently. We will also prepare ourselves to understand the characteristics of the wool and to grade it as efficiently as possible,” said the shearers and wool handlers of the Euskal Herria team.
Shearing sheep may not fit the model of a traditional sport, but it richly deserves to be classed as one. The rigorous preparation, the physical effort and the competitive character show clearly the athletic talent it takes to excel at it. The shearers and wool handlers of the Sheep Shearers’ Association of Euskal Herria are ready to compete both in Euskal Herria and internationally.
Our partners
The Euskal Herria team is supported by EKFB-Union of Basque Sports Federations, the Basque Government-Euskadi Basque Country, the Provincial Council of Araba, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, Laboral Kutxa, the Bizkaia Rural Development Association-Bizkaimendi, Abadiño Town Council, the Juan Celaya Foundation, EHNE Bizkaia, Gu ere bai, Gure Esku Dago, Ea Town Council, Arrasate Town Council and EITB.