
Shearer to attempt British solo shearing record in Powys
Huw Jones, from Abergynolwyn, near Tywyn, will attempt the eight-hour solo ewe British record.
Huw's record attempt will take place at Hendreseifion Farm, Llanwrin, near Machynlleth, on Saturday, July 5, beginning at 5am.
Live streaming will be available through the Huw Jones - 8 hours British Shearing Record Attempt Facebook page, where Huw explains that he will try to beat the solo record currently held by Martin Howlett.
In recent years, many shearing record attempts have been attempted, including Lloyd Rees in 2022, who broke the nine-hour British solo record at Blaenbwch Farm, near Builth Wells.
These feats have inspired Huw, who said: 'Seeing Matt Smith, Rowland Smith, Gareth Daniel and Ian Jones achieve their records planted a thought in my mind that I would like to do something like that one day, but realised I was years away from it.
'I finally achieved a long-term goal two years ago in New Zealand, shearing 554 lambs in eight hours.
'But I still wasn't satisfied. I wanted to do 600, so when I got home, I asked my brother if I could try and do a personal best on his sheep. He agreed and in July 2023, I shorn 704 ewes in nine hours.
'That was the big motivation to attempt a record. I set my goal for about two years and chose the record I wanted to attempt to break.'
For approximately six months of the year, Huw's normal shearing routine sees him split time between the UK and New Zealand.
The rest of the year he is on the family farm, along with some contract sheep dipping alongside his brother.
'Farming has always been my main passion,' said Huw.
'I would always be outside farming with my parents and when staying with my grandparents. Luckily for us, mum and dad have always included me and my brother in a lot of farming decisions from a young age (sometimes too young), but it helped us learn how important it is to consider all aspects before making a decision.'
Shearing normally starts for Huw at the end of April, in England, before coming back home to Wales to shear from the end of May.
Huw shears with his friend Gwydion and they've shorn together for several years on local farms. The aim is always to finish shearing at the Royal Welsh Show just outside Builth so he can enjoy the week.
An agricultural engineering graduate from Harper Adams University, Huw added: 'I have a few proud moments in shearing, and winning the Senior Championship in Corwen Shears was a personal highlight.
'There are many shearers and people outside of shearing who have inspired me in different ways, but for me, Rowland Smith has always been a big inspiration.
'Not only is he an outstanding shearer in shows, records and in the shed, but he also has an incredible work ethic.
'I could never manage lamb shearing until I watched 'Rowly' shear lambs in front of me; that is when I finally stopped making excuses of being too tall for lambs and found a way to get it done.'
Proceeds from the event will be shared between the Wales Air Ambulance and Aberdyfi Search and Rescue charities.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Marcus Rashford gets into the action on Barcelona debut as he comes on at half time – but gets subbed after 33 minutes
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MARCUS Rashford gets into the action on his Barcelona debut yesterday — after coming out at half-time for just 33 minutes. The Three Lions striker, on a season-long loan from Man Utd, became the first Englishman to play for the Spanish giants since Gary Lineker between 1986 and 1989. 3 Marcus Rashford takes a shot at goal on his Barcelona debut 3 The Three Lions striker is on a season-long loan from Man Utd Credit: Getty 3 He is the first Englishman to play for the Spanish giants since Gary Lineker Credit: Getty Legend Lineker said: 'I expect Marcus will do well.' Rashford, 27, helped Barca to a 3-1 victory in a friendly in Japan against local team Vissel Kobe. We recently revealed how Rashford has has rekindled his relationship with former fiancée Lucia Loi. She was with him when he signed for FC Barcelona. The Three Lions ace, 27, and childhood sweetheart Lucia, 26, were together during a photoshoot before he was unveiled as the Catalan giants' latest signing at the Camp Nou stadium. She took his photo, then moved behind him to take another and seemingly checked his shirt before the Man United exile posed beside a traditional red British phone box. Rashford was later seen emerging from the kiosk in a post on FC Barcelona's social media, captioned: 'Hello? Barca? For sure, I'm coming.' The Sun understands that Rashford has asked calming influence Lucia, who works in PR, to help him settle in to life in Spain so he can focus on his football. But they were not seen together until they were unwittingly snapped preparing for his phone box stunt. A source said the pair have stayed close, despite their 2022 engagement fizzling out, and have grown close again of late.


Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots Madonna tribute act stalked her estranged husband and his new partner for a year
Obsessed Bryceland even lurked outside their home ABUSIVE SINGER'S SHAME Scots Madonna tribute act stalked her estranged husband and his new partner for a year Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MADONNA tribute act subjected her estranged husband and his new partner to a year-long stalking campaign. Police Scotland worker Kirsty Bryceland, 46, bombarded prison worker ex Jamie Bryceland with 'abusive and derogatory messages'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Kirsty Bryceland stalked her ex-husband and his new partner for a year Credit: YouTube 4 She now faces a battle to keep her civilian job with Police Scotland Credit: Alamy 4 She was fined £500 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court Credit: Les Gallagher She also created fake online profiles to hound his girlfriend, Lisa McWhinnie, and posted images of her alongside vile comments. Obsessed Bryceland even lurked outside their home in Stewarton, Ayrshire. And she sent them a chilling selfie showing she was there. She now faces a battle to keep her civilian job with the force after admitting the harassment campaign that left the couple living in fear. Bryceland was fined £500 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and banned from contacting the victims for a year. The blonde advertises on the website. She offers tribute gigs as the Like A Virgin legend from £180. She hit the headlines in 2016 when she complimented bodybuilding photos illicitly posted on Facebook by caged murderer Jack Cramb. The lifer killed Barry Bradley, grandson on notorious Stirling heroin dealer Margaret 'Big Mags' Haney in 2010. Bryceland posted: 'Ur guns are getting bigger! Well done!' Obsessed stalker faked pregnancy, swerved car into ex & bombarded him with messages in relentless campaign of harassment Cramb replied: 'Thanks Kirsty x.' Bryceland insisted it was a 'coincidence', adding: 'I don't comment on anyone to do with Jamie's work.' Police said: 'A 46-year-old woman has been convicted of stalking in 2023. "She was found guilty in June.'


Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
Vanessa Kirby confirms huge Fantastic Four secret everyone is talking about
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Vanessa Kirby has confirmed the truth behind that Fantastic Four mid-credits sequence. The British actress, 37, plays Sue Storm—or the Invisible Woman, to those in the know—in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Sue makes up one quarter of Marvel's First Family, appearing alongside husband Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), hotheaded brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and human rock face The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as the titular Fantastic Four. With the Fantastic Four's Marvel Cinematic Universe debut out now, audiences have been flocking in droves to witness their arrival. The team may have their hands full battling cosmic world-eater Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), but there'll be an even bigger villain on fans' minds once the end credits finish rolling. With the cat out of the bag, Kirby has clarified what Doctor Doom's cameo at the end of the film means… and confirmed that star Robert Downey Jr. is already very much back. In the first of two post-credits sequences, Sue is shocked to find a menacing hooded figure looming over her young son, Franklin. Fans will already know this to be the Fantastic Four's longtime nemesis, Doctor Doom, who will be played by Robert Downey Jr. in the upcoming sequel, Avengers: Doomsday. Although the villain's face is obscured, Kirby has revealed that it was indeed Downey Jr. behind that hood. 'Yeah! Robert's never not been on set,' she told Variety when asked whetherRDJ was present for the shoot. She continued: 'He's always there. He is our leader. We call him our Godfather. He's looked after us. This sequence was filmed by the Russo Brothers as part of their work on Avengers: Doomsday and shot while Kirby was pregnant in real life. 'It's such a joy working with the Russos and him, because they've had such deep collaboration for so long,' she revealed. 'And it's been amazing being pregnant and working on Avengers. I felt so inspired and so relieved that I've been so taken care of. It's been a really beautiful journey. Robert is just doing incredible work. I'm so excited.' It was announced last year that Downey Jr. would be returning to the long-running franchise, six years after being killed off in Avengers: Endgame. This came as Earth's mightiest heroes faced off against purple menace Thanos (Josh Brolin) for the fate of the universe. This spelt the end of Downey Jr.'s career-defining stint as Tony Stark—aka Iron Man—sacrificing himself at the end of the film to secure the future of reality as we know it. A few years later, it was confirmed that he would be returning, albeit in an entirely different role. The actor's appointment to the post was unveiled at last year's Comic-Con, when a cloaked Downey Jr. removed his mask to reveal that he would be playing Doom, real name Victor von Doom. This character was previously played by late Nip/Tuck actor Julian McMahon in the 2005 and 2007 films and by Toby Kebbell in the 2015 reboot. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Doom's brief appearance at the end of First Steps gives little away as to what he has planned, although we do know it involves Sue and Reed's infant son. He will spearhead a massive cast in Avengers: Doomsday, which is currently set for release on December 26, 2026. More Trending Names already announced include Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright and Paul Rudd, as well as X-Men actors Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden. Of his return to the MCU, Downey Jr. joked: 'New mask, same task. 'What did I tell you? I like playing complicated characters.' The Fantastic Four: First Steps is out in UK cinemas now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Pedro Pascal responds to misconceptions and his answer is so on-brand MORE: Benedict Cumberbatch blasts 'grossly wasteful' film industry MORE: Meet the 'hidden' Russo sibling leading her Marvel director brothers' studio