Woman shearer breaks two world records
The woman who broke two world records for sheep shearing in under two months says she says she is more motivated than ever to show rural women that they can excel in a traditionally male-dominated world, in one of the most physical and demanding jobs and sports there is.
Thirty-year-old mum Sacha Bond took out the nine-hour Strong Wool Ewes world record, reaching a total of 458 (exceeding the current record held by Kerri-Jo Te Huia by six) at Pāmu farm, Centre Hill Station, in the Te Anau Basin.
Bond arrived onsite at Centre Hill Station early on the morning of February 9 and began shearing at 5am. She averaged one sheep every 71.1 seconds.
Breaking this record also made her the first woman to hold the ninehour solo record for both lambs and ewes in over 40 years. In December 2023, she smashed the record for the nine-hour Strong Wool Lambs, shearing 720 sheep - 59 more than the previous record holder.
Bond’s manager, Willy McSkimming said he felt extremely proud and never doubted her ability to perform.
“Sacha has a tonne of guts and I had full confidence in the girl. This record is something special.”
McSkimming said “I feel a bit like her really…quite emotional!”
Reflecting on her win as she hugged her daughter Ember close, Bond said she was feeling pretty exhausted and glad the record attempt was over, but it was “pretty special” to have Ember there.
“All of it was pretty hard, but the morning was especially challenging. It was cold and I was quite nervous.”
Originally from Palmerston North and Woodville, Bond moved to Dubbo, NSW, as a teenager to embark on her career in the shearing industry. Beginning as a wool handler, at the age of 20, she picked up a handpiece and her shearing career began. Learning how to shear on merinos, Bond sheared her way around Australia for four years and then the UK. In 2019 she came home and settled in the King Country town of Piopio, mentored by some of the country’s best shearers.
Over the past few years some plans changed with both the birth of her daughter and the COVID pandemic.
Centre Hill Station is a Pāmu property (the trading name for Landcorp Farming Limited) of 4,200 effective ha, with 17,000 ewes plus replacements, 1,000 breeding cows plus replacements, and 700 trading cattle.