Irish Shearer's Tally Cracks Record

A New Zealand-based Irish shearer has set a lamb-shearing record after a marathon effort today, but only just.

Twenty-seven year old Ivan Scott, from County Donegal in Ireland, had to shear more than 731 lambs to break the eight-hour strongwool lamb shearing record, held by New Zealander Justin Bell. He finished with a tally of 736 sheep, just five above the old record. Bell was present at the central North Island venue to see his old record go.

Under the watchful eye of three World Sheep Shearing Records Society judges, today's bid comes just four days after Taranaki-based Scotsman Gavin Mutch, 28, abandoned his attempt with 542 shorn in six hours, considering 190 in the last run to be out of reach.