Sheep shearing pitched as NZ Olympic sport

[csv8]

From: AAP January 16, 2012 3:38PM

SHEEP shearing could be the next big Olympic sport, according to a New Zealand farming lobby group.

Federated Farmers thinks shearing has the potential to become a demonstration sport at the Commonwealth Games, or even the Olympics.

The group's meat and fibre chairwoman Jeanette Maxwell says shearing requires both skill and physical effort.

Newly-crowned world record shearers Ivan Scott and Kerri-Jo Te Huia demonstrate the sport's athletic prowess, she said.

"People like Ivan Scott, Kerri-Jo Te Huia and our world championships team are athletes who take it to another level."

Earlier this month, Mr Scott sheared 749 lambs in eight hours to beat the previous solo lamb shearing world record, while Ms Te Huia sheared 507 lambs in the same time to claim the women's world record.


Ms Maxwell says if shearing gets a shot as a demonstration sport, it would elevate the status of shearing and shearers on the world stage.

The idea was first mooted by Sports Shear Australia in 2008.

The shearing world championships will be held in Masterton in March.

[05_ENFORCER]

You're not taking thu puss are ya cuz

[ebxr8240]

Not shearing mine...

[69XWGT]

Won't happen, they don't shear them with anybody

[EASYBOSS]

It is for real

http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/6270...ympic-shearing

When thinking of sheep shearing, the words elite sport don't immediately come to most people's mind.

New Zealand's Federated Farmers is hoping this will one day change with the push for shearing to become the next big Olympic sport.

Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre chairwoman Jeannette Maxwell said shearing was a sport that deserved international recognition and has potential to become a demonstration sport at the Commonwealth Games, or even, the Olympics.

"I can testify to the physical effort shearing takes. People like Ivan Scott, Kerri-Jo Te Huia and our World Championships team are athletes who take it to another level."

Maxwell said competitive shearers clip up to 700 sheep over an eight-hour period, in a feat that has been likened to running two marathons back-to-back.

Earlier this month, Irishman Ivan Scott sheared 749 lambs in eight hours to beat the previous solo lamb shearing world record, while New Zealander Kerri-Jo Te Huia sheared 507 lambs in the same time to claim the women's world record.

The idea was first suggested by Sports Shear Australia in 2008, but the Australian Sports Commission rejected it in 2009.

The shearing World Championships will be held in Masterton in March.

[BA-XT]

This thread could get interesting.... Lets see where it goes!

[wrongwaynorris]

Nowhere near as silly as Beach Volleyball & Ice Dancing , What next ? Beach throwing a frisbee for the dog to catch . I am sick and tired of people turning passtimes / hobbies into sports .

[BHDOGS]

I agree id hardly call soccer an olympic sport either or ice hockey

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

I agree id hardly call soccer an olympic sport either or ice hockey

You would not call one of the most popular sports on the planet (soccer) an Olympic sport?

[Baby Oil]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

Nowhere near as silly as Beach Volleyball & Ice Dancing , What next ? Beach throwing a frisbee for the dog to catch . I am sick and tired of people turning passtimes / hobbies into sports .

How about rotator cat

[05_ENFORCER]

WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


.

[wrongwaynorris]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

You would not call one of the most popular sports on the planet (soccer) an Olympic sport?

NO definitely NOT in its current guise . If you read the Olympic charter it clearly states NON professional athletes . The Olympics has been a hollow sham for decades , the ultimate example of this was a US basketball team with a nett worth in the billions masquerading as amateurs . Add the blatant cheating that has been allowed in sports such as swimming with the stupid suits / floatation devices ( now banned I believe ) and its demonstrates just how insignificant and meaningless the Olympics have become .

[wrongwaynorris]

Originally Posted by Baby Oil

How about rotator cat

And its GOLD GOLD GOLD for Australia .

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

NO definitely NOT in its current guise . If you read the Olympic charter it clearly states NON professional athletes . The Olympics has been a hollow sham for decades , the ultimate example of this was a US basketball team with a nett worth in the billions masquerading as amateurs . Add the blatant cheating that has been allowed in sports such as swimming with the stupid suits / floatation devices ( now banned I believe ) and its demonstrates just how insignificant and meaningless the Olympics have become .

Ok, thats fair enough from that aspect and I can see your point (you were not clear on that in your post). The problem you have is that would affect half the Olympic sports. It was decided a long time ago that professionals would be allowed to compete in the interest of having the top level competitors from all sports. Right or wrong that is the way it is and has been for a long time. Look at cycling, triathlon, basketball, tennis etc, so many athletes that compete are professional athletes.

At the end of the day, all ideals aside, the olympics is big money and it is a spectacle that attracts income. The better the athletes, the bigger the spectacle, bigger the spectacle, the more money attracted.

[Baby Oil]

[quote=05_ENFORCER]WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hi Mr Enforcer how are you going? Rotator Cat is a sport that whilst being contained and only played in a small locality near Penrith requires great skill, strength, stamina and very quick hand speed. We are very hopeful that once Timmy Cohering is on board, his promoting prowess will put us on the world stage. Though some are worried about his plans to introduce COTF ( cat of the future) and the impact this will have on the integrity of our sport.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

I am sick and tired of people turning passtimes / hobbies into sports .

What? I’ve been dwarf throwing for years and now you say that it isn’t a sport. I feel totally ripped off.

[05_ENFORCER]

[quote=Baby Oil]

Originally Posted by 05_ENFORCER

WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hi Mr Enforcer how are you going? Rotator Cat is a sport that whilst being contained and only played in a small locality near Penrith requires great skill, strength, stamina and very quick hand speed. We are very hopeful that once Timmy Cohering is on board, his promoting prowess will put us on the world stage. Though some are worried about his plans to introduce COTF ( cat of the future) and the impact this will have on the integrity of our sport.

Yep, but I still don't see what it has to do with sheep shearing in NZ



.

[mytoolsupplies]

shearing an Olympic sport , not possable as there is no two sheep the same ,therefore no true comparasins could be evaluated. As a demonstration of skill yes .Think of something else