Duncan focused for shear delight
Duncan Higgins is competing against himself, with eyes set on shearing 600 lambs in one day. Photo: Supplied/Billy O’Leary
A talented local shearer is set to hopefully break a personal best and join just a few Marlburians in a record-breaking club.
Duncan Higgins has been training hard and is ready for a big day, gearing up to shear 600 composite crossbreed lams in eight hours.
Keen colleagues are set to help as the personal record-breaking bid gets underway on Wednesday 15th January at the Schollum’s farm in the Howard Valley near St Arnaud.
“I really just jumped at the opportunity to challenge myself against the pure numbers at speed,” Duncan explains.
“Chris and Debbie Schollum have been so great allowing me to set up the shed.
“I’ve lined it all with carpet to restrict airflow - because the warmer the sheep are, the easier the shears cut wool and move across the skin smoother due to their sweat - and have added an extra, smaller, holding pen.”
After guidance from shearing record holders’ fitness guru Matt Luxton, Duncan has spent the last three months preparing.
However, he says this Wednesday will be a different task entirely to his former record of 401 ewes.
“The first run of 150 will be the most nervous I’ll be to get into a rhythm because you don’t know what pace you’re setting until the end of the run, but it will get physically tough in the 3rd run at the hottest time of day.
“If I’m sitting above 400 sheep shorn to standard at the end of the third, I’ll be good, but I’ll also have a good team of 10 or so around coaching and supporting throughout”.
And shearing sheep is not a one-man job, supporter Billy O’Leary says the team spirit will be a big lift for Duncan as the day goes on.
“Shearing is like running two marathons back-to-back, while having sheep try and kick you,” says Billy.
“All 600 sheep will be a marathon effort, but anything over 500 in the day will be a personal record I believe – there’s only a handful of Marlburians to hit 500 tally day so he’ll be the newest member of a pretty exclusive club.
“Duncan needs a mix between speed and neatness, because if it’s not tidy the animal doesn’t get counted, but he’s been preparing for this well with body and mind, will have plenty of support, and he’ll definitely give it a good crack on Wednesday”.