Sheep Shearing champ hopes to conquer five nations

The winner of NFYFC’s Sheep Shearing competition is celebrating a victory on English soil following on from wins at shows in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Dewi Jones, 23, from Brecknock competed in NFYFC’s national final at the Great Yorkshire Show for the first time, beating last year’s winner Murray Craig from Cumbria who came third. It proved to be a good day for Wales, as Sam Jones from Clwyd won second place.

The win follows on from success at the All-Ireland shearing competition last year, the Royal Ulster Show in May and at the Royal Highland show in June. Dewi’s now hoping for a win at the Royal Welsh Show so he can claim to have conquered all five nations!

Dewi shears sheep during the summer months and is involved in a share farming joint venture scheme through Farming Connect in Wales. He has been entering YFC sheep shearing competitions since 2019 and won every time he took part at the County Rally.

“The key to winning is good gear, good composure, keep your head calm and just shear to your pattern and as clean as you can. I think 50% of it is your gear,” advised Dewi.

All competitors in the national final had to have a Blue Seal qualification from British Wool in order to take part. More than 100 YFC members took up British Wool’s offer to YFC members to save 50% on the cost of the training in 2023.

Dewi completed his Blue Seal qualification a few years ago and recommends the courses to others.

“I have been on all the courses and kept in touch with the British Wool course instructor since then. They keep giving you tips and even though you have been on the course with them years ago, they keep in touch.

“My Welsh instructor Billy Edwards was up at the Great Yorkshire Show yesterday just watching me shear because he wanted to. He’s loving seeing me do well, which is good.”