READY TO ROLL: Piopio shearer Sacha Bond is attempting a world record this weekend. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Piopio shearer Sacha Bond has her sights set on a world record.
On Saturday she is tackling the women’s eight-hour strong wool lamb record. Her record isn’t straightforward either; she’s got to get 511 sheep shorn in eight hours to beat Pauline Bolay’s world record, not an easy feat.
Bond, who has been training hard for the event, is amped for the big day.
“I am feeling really excited but nervous. We’ve been doing a lot of organising for the big day, so I feel there’s a lot of weight on my shoulders leading up to it.”
A world record is something she has always wanted her name on and Bond, who first gave shearing a go at 18, was planning to tackle the record a couple of years ago but Covid-19 and motherhood saw her attempts placed on the back burner.
“I wanted to tackle the record a couple of seasons ago, but other things popped up.
I am happy now that a chance to do it has come around and I am aiming to give it my best shot.”
It’s taking place at Fairlight Station in Southland, 50 minutes south of Queenstown, and it is hoped a big crowd will turn out.
To break the record, Bond’s going to need to shear 64 sheep every hour, or one every 56 seconds.
She started off as a woolhandler at 15, taught herself to shear and since then has spent extensive periods in Australia and New Zealand, while also heading to the United kingdom for a season.
Her partner, Coel L’Hullier, a former world record holder himself, will be in Bond’s corner and will provide motivation, having been there himself. Bond said preparation for the event had gone smoothly.
“I have been working every day. Preparation is going well. It’s our busy season for our main shear. I’ve been working closely on my pattern and keeping focused to help deal with the pressure of shearing in front of a lot of people as well as being live streamed to the rest of the world.”
Bond goes to the gym for an hour every day after work following eight hours of shearing and then she heads home to spend quality time with her 18-month-old daughter, Ember.
“The target is pretty simple, beat the record of 510.”
Bond, of Tūhoe descent, took part in several shearing opportunities in 2022 as they all helped her prepare for the big occasion.
With the south lacking rainfall, the conditions on Saturday are likely to be warm, something which should favour Bond as the sheep will be more relaxed and sweating, so it could lead to an easier shear.
She’s been working in Te Anau, acclimatising herself with the conditions and at her fastest can shear a sheep in 27 seconds, although Saturday’s event is more about endurance rather than speed.
Bond’s been part of the support team for four previous world records, which has also helped her decision to give one a nudge.
It starts at 7am and the day will consist of four two-hour runs, with 30-minute breaks for morning and afternoon tea, while there’s a one-hour gap for lunch.
If Bond manages to break the record, it will be the second shearing world record for King Country in the past six weeks.
She is incredibly thankful to everyone who has supported and sponsored her for this event.
