Keiss wool handler gets Scotland call-up
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A CAITHNESS crofter is aiming to prove she’s shear class when she takes on the best in the world at a competition in New Zealand.
Sally Crowe (34) is representing Scotland at the world sheep shearing championships which start on February 29 in Masterton.
Miss Crowe, who works on the family farm at Hawkhill, near Keiss, originally thought she missed out on the chance to represent her country when she finished runner-up in the qualifying event at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. But a last-minute change of plan resulted in her getting the call-up.
"It is a massive opportunity for me as the Golden Shears are like the Olympics of the sheep shearing world," she said.
"I have competed at several agricultural shows in the UK and Australia during my career, but coming second at the Royal Highland Show has been my biggest accomplishment to date.
"Originally, they were only going to take the top Scottish wool handler and I wasn’t supposed to be going. But I then got a phone call from squad organisers inviting me to take part as well and I obviously jumped at the chance."
Miss Crowe will be taking part in the wool-handling section of the competition along with fellow squad member Stacy Mundell, from Fintry, and competitors from 29 countries.
The contest involves taking the fleeces from the shearers and then presenting them ready for market.
Judges will mark each competitor on the standard of wool handling in terms of neatness and cleanliness. She is one of six members of the Scotland squad which also includes two machine shearers and two blade shearers.
In preparation for the event, Miss Crowe is planning to do her training on farms in Australia and in New Zealand where she will be staying with Helga Sinclair, from Lybster, who is currently working in North Island.
Miss Crowe worked as a wool handler when she stayed in Western Australia for 18 months between 2005 and 2007.
She expects the competition to be extremely tough, hopes she can give a good account of herself.
"I think that my experiences of working in Australia will stand me in good stead for the competition. I’ll do my best but I’m not saying that I’m going there as one of the favourites to win.
"The Australian and New Zealanders work 365 days a year as full-time wool handlers and their skills are awesome.
"The shearing industry there is all year round and wool is worth far more there than in the UK. But if luck is on my side you never so and it should be a great experience."
Miss Crowe has had to raise her own funds to make the trip to New Zealand and has collected £1500 through sponsorship from Caithness Shearing Association, Caithness Oil and Aberdeen and Northern Marts.
