Champion sheep shearer Matt Smith’s Cornish attempt on an epic world record will be a UK first.

It’s the first time an attempt on the Nine Hour Full Wool Ewe World Shearing Record has ever been made in the UK, or anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere.  

The current world record stands at 721 ewes in nine hours, and was set in 2007 by Rod Sutton of Porangahau, New Zealand.  To beat this Matt will need to shear each sheep in less than 45 seconds.

With the support of the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB), this demanding challenge will take place on July 26, at Trefranck Farm, St Clether, Matt’s home farm.

Matt’s entire working life has been involved in the sheep shearing industry and he already has his name in the record books. In 2010, at the age of 25 he set a world record for the Eight Hour Strong Wool Record in New Zealand, shearing 578 sheep and beating the record by 18.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Matt left school aged 14 and has been shearing ever since. 

It was while he was shearing in Cornwall that Matt met his wife Pippa.  The two are now settled in Cornwall, with their son Dusty, where they farm in partnership on Pippa’s family farm. 

Together they started their sheep farming enterprise with 360 ewes - today they run a flock of 1,385 breeding ewes, primarily Romney’s with some crossed with the Lleyn.

In addition to supporting Matt’s own ambition, this competition is also supporting Children’s Hospice South West.