An experienced Brecon shearer will be making a record-breaking attempt to shear more than 873 lambs in nine hours later this month.

Llandefalle-based Lloyd Rees, who is 28 years old, will be attempting to beat the current nine-hour solo British Lamb Shearing Record set by Stuart Conner in 2021.

Lloyd started shearing around home with his dad and uncles, and, at the age of 16, attended a British Wool training course with Greg Evans near Llandrindod Wells.

Competing from an early age, Lloyd soon realised he needed more training and several British Wool courses with Hywel Jones helped him move from propping up the bottom of the tables to a winning position.

In 2012, aged 18, he took his first trip to New Zealand and returned from his tenth season in February this year.

Lloyd said: “I enjoy the physical and mental challenges of shearing. A particular favourite is racing other shearers, both in work and in the shows.

“If I’m not shearing then I’m usually at home farming with Mum and Dad and will just get on with whatever Dad throws at me!”

Since being part of the four-stand team that set the British record in 2019, where Lloyd sheared 725 lambs, he has had the solo record in his sights.

Lloyd said:“The main motivation behind attempting the record is that I want to challenge myself to see if I can shear the most lambs ever in an official nine-hour day, while also raising money for two charities that are very important to me - Parkinson’s UK and the Wales Air Ambulance.”

On advice for any young shearers Lloyd commented: “Get on as many British Wool courses as possible as bad habits seem to come a lot easier than good ones - if you can start the right way, it’ll put you right for the future.

“I would also say it’s important to travel - if you are serious about shearing it’s a must!”

Richard Schofield, Shearing Manager, British Wool (one of the event sponsors) said: “Record attempts are an excellent opportunity to showcase the highly skilled individuals driving the industry forward while also helping to promote the quality of British wool to wider audiences.

“As a key industry body, we are totally committed to supporting champions as representatives and ambassadors. We’re delighted to be supporting Lloyd to help him achieve his goal and wish him the very best of luck.”

A spokesperson for Wynnstay, another of the sponsors, said:” As a leading supplier of agricultural products and services Wynnstay Group plc are pleased to be able to support Lloyd In his record attempt. It’s great to know that the proceeds raised from the event will be going to two very worthy causes in the Welsh Air Ambulance and Parkinson’s UK.

“I’m sure it will be a huge challenge for him both mentally and physically and so we would like to send him our very best wishes for his big day.”

Lloyd added: The shearing community is a great community to be involved with - it’s like a big family really, but my biggest inspiration has to be my grandfather, Ken Rees. ‘Pap’ as we call him is an ex-Wool Board instructor and was one of the original teachers of the Godfrey Bowen style, having been taught by the man himself.”

The event will take place at Blaenbwch Farm near Builth Wells on August 19, by kind permission of Rob and Tracy Powell. This was the venue for the four-stand YFC record that we set in 2019, so there’s a great shearing stand and set up already there.

The record attempt is run under the World Sheep Shearing Records Society and British Isles Shearing Competitions Association.

In addition, the wool shorn off the lambs must make a certain weight which is weighed the day before - if the weight can’t be reached, the record is cancelled. All lambs are tailed (cleaned around the tail) to a set template to ensure that each one is the same - and after that it’s a case of Lloyd shearing as many as he can in the set nine-hour day.

The event is being run as a charity fundraiser - for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity and Parkinson’s UK.

Three of the main sponsors for the event are British Wool, Lister and Wynnstay.

Some of the other key sponsors include:

• Aleks Shikov - AS Sheep Dipping Ltd

• Malcolm, Jean and Evan - MV & JM Davies & Son Ltd, Forestry Contractors

• Paul Jones and Family - GP Biotech

• Gareth and Donna Jones - GT Jones Contracting