SHEARING EXTRAORDINARY.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 December 1917, Page 4

SHEARING EXTRAORDINARY.

WORLD’S RECORD BROKEN. A few days ago it was predicted in these columns that the world’s best previous tally would be broken by one of the Dominion’s champion shearers in a Taihape shed_ It is with pleasure we are able to record that Mr W. Vella, who was out after the record tally at Mr J. McCarten’s s-hed yesterday finished up with the world’s "record tally of 339. The previous best tally was 333, put up by Riano, but Riano’s tally was made on lambs. 'V'ella’s performance is the more meritorious when it is considered that five hours were occupied on big ewes and this in the latter end of the day, when he would be feeling t he strain of his strenuous efforts. Had the shearing been all lambs five or- six would have been added to the already remarkable tally. On the same board three other well-known shearers also ’put up first rate performances under like conditions as regards shearing big ewes. Their tallies would likewise have been five or six on with picked lambs; The tallies for the full board of four shearers for the day were: W. Vella, 339; J. Skinner, 304; J Queenan, 264 with two breakdowns); L. Amundsen (with one breakdown). The performance of both Skinner and Queenan is excellent, taking into consideration that Skinner was shearing practically on one leg only, and Queenan lost considerable time through breakdowns.

It is safe to say that the above board can put up a better average performance than any board of similar number in the Dominion. The above gentlemen are all well-known in this district, having shorn here for many seasons past.