22 November 2024

Yass shearer sets world record for women - 395 Merino lambs in eight hours

| Sally Hopman
Join the conversation
1
Group of people clapping

Nikki Lyons’ support team celebrates her world record shear – 395 Merino lambs in eight hours. Photo: Camilla Duffy.

It’s a scribbled note on the back of a certificate that names Nikki Lyons as a world champion shearer that means more to the Yass farmer than any accolade showered on her.

Written by Dwayne Black – five-time world-record shearer and her mentor – it congratulates Nikki on setting the first women’s record for shearing the most Merino lambs in eight hours – 395.

Nikki, 37 and a mother of four, set the record last Sunday at a shearing shed near Yass – managing to shear a lamb every 72.3 seconds. She is only the second Australian woman to set a shearing record after Jeanine Kimm set a record for shearing the most Merino ewes in eight hours – 358 or 80.8 seconds per ewe.

“The reverse side of my record certificate means more to me than the front,” she said of the words written by “Blacky”.

“That was one of the most amazing performances I have seen. You showed awesome composure, technique and mental strength. You are a champion. Welcome to the club,” he wrote.

READ ALSO Taking it to our streets: Photographers capture real story of regional life

“Thank you Blacky for inspiring me 20 years ago and standing next to me all day and getting me through every sheep to even have this certificate for you to write on,” Nikki responded.

Nikki, who started shearing at age 17, had planned to go to university but fell in love with the industry so spent the next six years following the work across the country.

She left the industry for about a decade to raise her four children with partner Fergus, also a shearer, and live the good life on their 40-hectare property at Good Hope, near Yass. But something continued to gnaw at her. It was something Dwayne Black had said years ago when he was busy setting shearing records – that they were all achieved by men, Nikki said.

She had been “shearing during school hours” while raising her four children, but her love for the skill, support from family and friends and “the fact I got fitter”, encouraged her to give the world record a shot.

Woman shearing

Nikki Lyons shears for the world record near Yass last weekend. Photo: Camilla Duffy.

She started working with a variety of coaches to get herself into not only her best physical shape, but mentally as well.

“Everyone was so supportive,” she said. “My parents came over from Western Australia to help with the kids.”

Despite setting the world record, Nikki said she felt she could have “done better” on the day, adding that the lambs were not in the best condition.

“Even the judge said they were the toughest sheep he’d seen,” she said. “I couldn’t push my handpiece in any further.

Handwritten note

Dwayne Black’s note to champion shearer Nikki Lyons, written on the back of her world-record certificate. Photo: Facebook.

“I didn’t even work up a sweat.”

Nikki said she hoped her effort would encourage more women to enter the industry. Although there were more women in the industry today, she said, men still tended to get the best jobs.

“It’s the sort of industry that you have to prove yourself, make a name for yourself – then you’ll be OK.”

Nikki said she was overwhelmed by the support from locals – and even strangers – for the world record.

“I couldn’t have done it without my support team,” she said.

Original Article published by Sally Hopman on About Regional.

Join the conversation

1
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

You go girl. Well done

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.