Shear Pace

7 ways to make a great speech if you manage to win this weekend! We’ve all heard the mumbling from the podium, and the thanks to the ladies in the lunchroom (they are important, don’t forget them) – but to make your speech one people will enjoy listening to as much as they enjoyed watching you, here are a few tips. 1. Enjoy the moment. You have worked so very hard to get here, and you deserve to be here – savour it – at least 5 other people don’t get the chance to do this. 2.

I remember watching a play over 15 years ago about a young shearer who was doing really well in a board race, when he fell apart. He was listening to music on headphones, and he threw them off. Someone, probably the woolhandler, said to him, something along the lines of “you were doing so well, what happened?” and he said “John Rowles came on”! I have been thinking about this, so I’ve looked up the research, and most of it that I found says that music does not alter performan

Shearers as we know are among the most elite of endurance athletes – exercising by working every day. Exercise increases the need for sleep – to allow for numerous biochemical processes, including muscle recovery and effects on the sympathetic nervous system (the heart) – I'm guessing you know about the mornings when you are achey, stiff and your heart is pounding in your ears - not from the effects of the night before either - it could be because you didn't get enough sleep

Are you super hot at work at the moment? I've worked out eleven ways you can keep cool in the heat - but I want to know what you think. *Please note this is to keep cool, not as a treatment for overheating. 1. Changing your wet singlets often - at comb changes if necessary. 2. Getting clean dry jeans on - this is more for comfort, as the dampness will keep you cool. 3. Putting ice in your drink bottle and drinking regularly. 4.Eating cold foods, or if it's too hot for you to

Now the Golden Shears is over, the winners are all tucked up in bed with their ribbons, and it's just another week in the sheds. I'm guessing you want to hit the podium again, or if you missed, you are desperate to hit the limelight - I want to see you there, that's for sure. I've seen people winning at their sports day in and day out, and shearing is no different. What I see in the shearing industry, is you men and women on the podium are most often the ones with the best pa

Welcome to Shear Pace! Sheep shearing is a much maligned industry. The historical view of shearers, especially in New Zealand has been that they are rough, tough, hard drinking and often of a low class. I have heard stories of people shearing all day in the UK and not being able to come in the front door to get clean at the homestead of the farm they were at. I often have to set people straight about the reality of shearing, and that beer is not a key feature of the culture