In the world of New Zealand shearers, Joel Henare is considered the Jonah Lomu of sheepfolds, with his 132 victories on the clock at the age of 31 in competitions for shearing and sorting sheep’s wool.
The New Zealander started at the age of 12 in these championships. Considered the best in his discipline, wool sorting — an art of speed — he won the Golden Shears event in March, a prestigious event that attracts wool shearers and sorters from around the world in Masterton, a farming town of 27,000 people.
He begins his work with an elegant flick, spreads the tangled fleece on a table, before skillfully pruning it, cutting and slicing the scraps. In less than 60 seconds, he moves on to the next one.
“You have to be good in your body, but also have good mental strength,” he told AFP, panting after winning his ninth wool sorting title in a row. “Consistency is the key. You have to be quick-witted at all times.”
New Zealand, home to five million people and 25 million sheep, is one of the world’s top wool exporters, with $284 million in sales last year worldwide.
But the number of head, which reached 72 million in the 1980s, fell as the cost of livestock increased and the price of wool fell.
Despite this drop, wool shearers and sorters remain in high demand, thanks to their specific skills, Mark Barrowcliffe, president of the New Zealand association Shearing Contractors, told AFP.
Shearing competitions are serious business in a country that has a specific sports federation.
Professional shearers must use dexterity and incredible stamina to shear hundreds of sheep — each weighing around 60 pounds — in a day’s work.
Golden Shears organizers describe Joel Henare as “the Jonah Lomu of mowing sports”, evoking the legendary legacy of the New Zealand rugby great.
Four years ago, the champion quit his job as a full-time shearer and now competes as an amateur.
Techniques, tips and tricks for handling sheep and their wool are passed down from generation to generation in New Zealand sheepfolds. Coming from a real dynasty, Joel Henare learned everything from his grandmother, sorting champion before him, or from two of his great-uncles who were finalists for the shearing of the Golden Shears in the 1960s.
And the next generation is already emerging. Reuben Alabaster broke the solo world record last December by shearing 746 sheep in eight hours.
“You feel a little bad at the end, but you persevere if that’s the dream you’re pursuing,” said Reuben Alabaster, 19. “It’s amazing what the body can do.”
Like Joel Henare, the young man grew up in the middle of sheepfolds, learning his trade from childhood with members of his family.
Mowing is also a matter of technique. “It’s much more pleasant for the sheep if you hold them correctly”, explains the young shearer.
“Some people just have character and don’t want to be shaved at all,” he laughs. And “even the best shearers in the world still get kicked.”
27/03/2023 13:12:57 – Masterton (New Zealand) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
