TOP SIRE 2025–2026 INDUSTRY NEWS Photo captions. 1– Nikki Lyons’ in action during her world record attempt. 2– The welcome sign on the day. 3– Nikki and Dwayne Black, who inspired her over 20 years ago, embrace after the last sheep is shorn. 4– Nikki receiving confirmation of her world record claim, having shorn 395 Merino lambs in eight hours. 5– Dwayne was on-hand as her main support during her record attempt. Photos: Camilla Duffy. 3– Nikki first came to NSW a few years later, driving across the Nullarbor Plain to Bathurst where she had two weeks of work lined up shearing goats and sheep. She eventually settled in Yass, where she took time away from the sheds to commit to her growing family. Ten years on, Nikki was ready to get back on the stand. “When my youngest was two, I went back to work shearing during school hours,” she said. “It can be tough – there are times when I get a lot of work and others when I don’t.” “There’s a lot of farmers who are loyal and have me back each shearing.” It was in those times of patchy work that Nikki uncovered her ambition to attempt the world record. “Employment was so patchy so I started training and doing fitness work in between jobs. I had this epiphany where I thought I’m training and shearing well, all I need to do is put it together.” Despite an early setback with knee problems, Nikki’s determination helped push her through a gruelling 18-month training period. “A surgeon told me to quit shearing or I wouldn’t see 40 without knee reconstructions,” she said. “I changed my diet, “ There’s a lot of In a shearing shed in Bowning, near Yass in NSW, Nikki Lyons became the first woman globally to set a record for shearing Merino lambs – and only the second Australian woman to set any shearing record. In November 2024, Nikki set a world record for shearing 395 Merino lambs in eight hours – a feat previously untried by anyone in the world. The record consisted of four runs in two-hour blocks with breaks in between, mirroring a standard work day in the sheds. Surrounded by dozens of supporters, Nikki averaged 72.3 seconds per lamb. She held that record for just five short weeks, but Nikki has refused to let that dampen her motivation, instead setting her sights on attempting a new record. While details are still to be confirmed, Nikki hopes to attempt a world record for shearing as many Merino lambs as possible in nine hours later this year. It’s another record that is yet to be attempted by anyone. “ It’s a new experience – the sky is the limit.” – 20 –
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