First-generation shearer Alexia Phillips holds a new solo eight-hour women’s Merino ewe shearing world record

A first-generation shearer has broken the solo eight-hour women’s Merino shearing world record, clipping the fleeces of 367 ewes in Darkan on Saturday. WA-based Waikato New Zealander Alexia Phillips sheared an average of 92 ewes — about 80 seconds per animal — for each two-hour run over the course of the day, which began at Spring Valley Farm shearing shed on February 22. The new world champ out-sheared the previous record holder, New South Wales’ Jeanine Kimm by nine sheep, breaking Ms Kimm’s record of 358 ewes set in May last year. Ms Phillips kept her numbers slightly ahead of Ms Kimms during each two-hour shearing interval and was surrounded by her team and a large group of friends, family and people from the agricultural community. Ms Phillips said she was amazed by the support. “It feels pretty surreal at the moment, I don’t know if it’s sunk in,” she said. “The days leading up were quite overwhelming but really good, when seeing my team come together and people flew over from New Zealand. “Everybody’s here to do everything for me and I had to make my peace with that, but I’d ask do I even deserve it, it was hard not to feel bad. “I just can’t believe everyone went out of their way so much, it was amazing and pretty hard to put into words.” The 27-year-old said watching her friends attempt shearing records inspired her to train for her own with others in the industry encouraging her to reach her potential. Ms Phillips — who underwent a nine-month high-intensity strength routine that included cross-fit training after a full day working in the shearing shed and incorporated aspects of Olympic lifting and explosive cardio — said she strived to reach the “pinnacle of shearing”. “Whatever career I do I want to make the most of it and be as successful as I can be,” she said. “I didn’t want to get out there, do a day of shearing and not get it, that would have broken my heart. “I just wanted to make everyone proud.” Ms Phillips said she hoped more people appreciated that Merino wool was “the heart of our industry” and “the way forward” with her shearing shirt made from the sustainable, odour-neutralising, temperature regulating, and fire-retardant natural fibre. Two ewes were disqualified for having wool still attached.