It's a fantastic feeling when you find a skill you have a talent for and it's amazing how much confidence you gain.
My confidence improved when Wales YFC introduced the Wool Handling competition in 2015. The older members of my club encouraged me to have a go at the competition as I wrapped wool for shearing contractors, including my dad, during the summer holidays.
To score well at Wool Handling competitions, you need to work under pressure very quickly, while looking after the shearer, and following the rules.
The quality of the wool handler’s work affects the value of the end-product, which is why points are given for presentation.
Scoring is split between Board, Table and Time. Board marks are given for how tidy you keep the board the shearers are shearing on; Table marks are appointed for the flatness of the fleece you put on the table and how tidy it is rolled; and finally your speed is scored because it’s important to keep up with the shearer.
From the first time I competed at Wool Handling at the County Rally, I loved it and I have taken part every year since. I enjoy the thrill of working quickly under pressure and the social side of the sport.
In 2018, I eventually won the county round and progressed to representing Radnor at Wales YFC competitions. I have been placed in the top three every year since.
Winning the County Rally gave me the confidence to enter my first novice wool handling competition outside of YFC at the Royal Welsh Show. After winning that competition, I have entered wool handling shows across Wales and was successful at the Royal Welsh Show in 2022 – winning the intermediate competition and the YFC competition for the first time.
My enthusiasm for this competition has fuelled a passion for the shearing and wool handling industry. I have worked as a wool handler and a wool grader in New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, Southern England as well as Wales – allowing me to see different countries and to meet so many new people.
I have also been involved in charity events. I was asked to wool handle for a fellow Radnor YFC member during his 24hr shearathon, where 1,143 sheep were shorn in 24 hours, raising £22,000 for the Welsh Air Ambulance.
I am always eager to encourage other YFC members to get involved in the competition. I joined the county competitions committee and have held wool handling training nights on my family farm to support other members.
When I saw the competition was increasing in popularity, and a lot of younger members were showing potential, I proposed we offered the competition to two members per club. This proved to be a massive success, and this year 22 members took part in the competition, with Listers sponsoring it too.
It was fantastic to see members entering the novice competition at the show this year where there was a record 42 entries. The future of Welsh wool handling looks promising and it's amazing how popular it has now become in Wales!
This 2023 season I have been competing in the open class, which is the highest level you can achieve.
I have had a great season this year, travelling all over the country competing. My best achievement was qualifying third in the heats at the World Championships at The Royal Highland Show in the open competition. There were 56 competitors in my class from all over the world.
I came fourth overall in the Welsh Open Wool Handling Circuit, which hopefully means I have qualified to be in the Welsh Development Wool Handling team. If I qualify, I will represent Wales next season in a Development test match against another country. And that would be a dream come true!
