Shearing: Alexia Phillips to attempt solo women’s eight-hour merino world record

Alexia Phillips will attempt a women's merino ewes shearing record in West Australia on February 22.

At least one more world shearing record attempt is planned in the summer Downunder, with a solo women’s eight-hour merino bid confirmed with the World Sheep Shearing Records Society this week.

Alexia Phillips, from Waikato, but based in West Australia, will make the attempt on February 22 at Spring Valley Farm, Capercup Rd North, Darkan; about 200km south of Perth and 70km north of notable shearing townships Boyup Brook and Kojonup.

The target is the 358 shorn by Jeanine Kimm in New South Wales who established a record for the category on May 4 last year.

The society currently recognises more than 40 men’s and women’s records.

They cover the standard work days of eight and nine hours, and different breeds of strong wool and crossbred wool, ewes, wethers and lambs, with machines or blades and shorn in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and South Africa.

The shift of focus back to Australia follows three strong wool lamb record attempts in New Zealand in the last month — all unsuccessful — on two-stand and three-stand records before Christmas and Monday’s solo men’s nine-hour strong wool lambs record bid near Dannevirke.

Phillips’ attempt follows 14 months of writing and rewriting the book for women’s shearing records.

She set new marks for the solo eight and nine-hour lamb and ewe categories in New Zealand.

She also set the eight-hour merino lambs and new ewes records in Australia, and a new nine-hour strong wool ewes record in the UK.

At least one other record attempt is being considered for West Australia in April but no date, plans, or whether it will go ahead have been announced yet.