02-07-2025
Rhayader farmer aims to break British sheep shearing record
A TWO-time Welsh champion shearer from Powys is teaming up with a national team colleague to try and set a British record.
Gethin Lewis, a farmer from Rhayader, will be attempting the 8-hour two stand British ewe record, along with Welsh team-mate Llyr Evans, next weekend.
The event will take place on Saturday, July 12, at Glan Elan Farm, Cwmdauddwr, just outside Rhayader, where Gethin, 29, has farmed his whole life.
Gethin has already achieved many feats in the shearing world, including becoming back-to-back champion shearer of Wales at the Royal Welsh Show, in both 2023 and 2024.
He has also represented Wales for three seasons in New Zealand and was part of the first-ever Welsh test match team to win on Kiwi soil.
After 12 months of training and preparation, the duo will now attempt the 8-hour two stand British ewe record, while raising money for the Wales Air Ambulance and Brain Tumour Research.
'Since being involved with Nick Greaves and Llyr Jones' nine-hour lamb record in 2022, it inspired me to want to attempt one myself,' said Gethin.
'So, in 2023, we set out a personal best/tally day to see if I could shear 700 ewes in nine hours. I managed to shear 737, which motivated me further to try a record attempt with Llyr (Evans), who had shorn a tally of 734 in 2024."
Llyr, from Trawsgoed, near Aberystwyth, said: 'I have helped with several records and enjoyed being involved and supporting the attempt.
'I always enjoy being surrounded by hard-working people, which makes me push myself a bit more to get to their level.'
Gethin grew up on the family farm at Glan Elan, which has over 1,000 breeding ewes and a 60-head suckler herd.
He started shearing aged 17, after leaving college, and currently runs a shearing business in partnership with a friend, which was passed down to them in 2022.
Shearing season begins in mid-May and finishes just after the Royal Welsh Show, at the end of July.
'I have been a part of the Welsh speed shearing team for two seasons, winning speed shear test matches in New Zealand and in Australia at the Wagga Wagga Speed Shear in 2024,' added Gethin.
'I have also (recently) become a shearing instructor, which I enjoy.'
Llyr lives on the home farm of Hendre Rhys and starts his season shearing around the UK, before returning home in June.
Llyr has completed six seasons shearing in New Zealand and has also shorn in Norway and Denmark.
Gethin and Llyr's attempt at establishing the first British record at this discipline will start at 7am on July 12, with the first run.
The second run will be from 9.30-11.30am, the third is from 12.30-2.30pm and the final run is from 3-5pm.
