Gore shearer Megan Whitehead is well into her final run and on target as she attempts to beat the solo women’s strongwool lamb shearing record of 648 lambs shorn in nine hours today.

The record attempt is taking place today at the Grant Brothers woolshed where a supportive crowd has gathered to support the 24-year-old.

The current record was set on November 27, 2007, by Waikato shearer Emily Welch and has gone unchallenged for 13 years. Before then, the previous record was 541 lambs shorn, set in 1989.

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Whitehead is already the joint holder of one world record, the four-stand nine-hours women’s record of 2066 lambs, set in the central North Island on January 23 last year. Her contribution on that day – a personal best of 608, the best of the day – gave her the confidence to push for the solo record. Her average last year was 67.56 lambs an hour. She needs to complete 72 lambs an hour today to claim the record.

She made a strong start to that goal today, completing 153 sheep in her first run. Welch achieved 144 in her first run of the day in 2007.

Whitehead has continued to maintain that edge with 132 in run two (Welch 125), 126 in run 3 (Welch 123) and 125 in run 4 (Welch 127). She needs to complete 113 lambs to specification by 5pm to achieve the record.

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