World Sheep Shearing Record - Rules
"Skill, Guts & Determination"

2:3.     If an attempt is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, monies will be refunded, less costs.

2:3a.   If an attempt is postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, any extra costs, (incurred by the WSSRS ) payments will be decided by the WSSRS executive committee

2:4..    In the case of failure to attain required quality standards, or failure of the sheep (class, crutching, topknot, belly wool) or wool ( weight )  to meet the specifications, no refunds will be given.

2:5.     On the completion of an attempt that receives the unanimous approval of the referees, the referees may announce that a new record has been achieved and advise the media.

2:5(a)   Any persons with a complaint must personally present his written and signed complaint to the Chief Referee within 10 minutes of the completion of the attempt.

2:5(b)   A copy of any written complaint will be made available to the Chairman to research prior to the meeting of the Records Committee which will officially ratify all successful record attempts

2:6       A report on the attempt must be completed as soon as possible and a copy made available to the secretary and shearer (s).

2:7       The decision of the Records Committee will be final.

SHEARERS
3:1        The shearer or shearer's are responsible for making sure the wool weight is sufficient
3:2        All members of any gang, (i.e. three stands or more) attempting a record must have worked for the 
             one employer for at least, 21 days prior to the attempt
3:3        The shearer may request holding of his/her sheep to the end of the run for inspection.
3:4        All shearer's must catch sheep unassisted
3:5        All shearer's must switch machine off and on, between each sheep
3:6        During the run no other person may assist in any way with the shearer's handpiece or gear
3:7        All shearer's must change combs, cutter's and oil their own gear during a run
3:7a      Blade shears must sharpen their own blades during a run
3:8        All shearer's must put their own sheep out of the porthole. Two per run may miss the porthole.
            Further sheep missing the porthole must be caught by the shearer, if not they will be deducted from 
            the tally
3:9       Only one board wool handler per stand is allowed
3:10      Any abuse of official rules in an attempt to benefit the shearer will receive an official warning. A 
            second warning will disqualify the attempt
3:11      Should a shearer be disqualified, only the sheep he had shorn up to the time of the disqualification 
            can be credited to the gang
3:12      The use of drugs, drips or oxygen is banned in all record attempts
3:13      At all record attempts a random drug test may be required and if it proved positive the record will be 
            cancelled and the shearer shall pay all the costs
3:14      The applicants will be responsible for ensuring that a qualified medical person will be in attendance 
            during the day
3:15      Referees have the right to check the wellbeing of any shearer (s) at any stage during any break
3:16.     In multiple stand records (i.e. stand or more) personal timekeepers will be required to be off the board

SHEEP CLASSES
The referees will have the right to reject sheep that do not adhere to the following classes and class specifications  

4:1.      Strongwools
           (a) Ewes: No less than 18 months old             Averaging no less than 3.00kgs per head of wool  
           (b) Lambs:                                                    Averaging no less than 0.90kg. per head of wool  

4:3.       Crossbreds (50% Merino) 
           (a)      Sheep: No less than 18 months old      Averaging no less than 3.40kgs. per head of wool         
           (b)      Lambs:                                              Averaging no less than 1.00kg. per head of wool  

4:2        Pure Bred Merinos  
            (a) Ewes: No less than 18 months old.            Averaging no less than 3.40kgs per head of wool.
            (b) Wethers: No less than 18 months old.        Averaging no less than 4.00kgs per head of wool.
            (c) Lambs:                                                    Averaging no less than 1.00kg per head of wool

4:4        Referees will be equipped with accurate scales to be used for the weighing at all attempts.
            Wool weights may be checked during the day of the event

4.5        Sheep must be presented dry for wool weight the afternoon prior to the record attempt

Specifications
  1. (a) Sheep: No less than 18 months old. Averaging no less than 3kgs of wool.
      (b) Lambs: Average wool weight of no less than 0.9kg
  2. Crossbred: (50% Merino)
      (a)  Sheep: No less than 18 months old. Averaging no less than 3.4kgs of wool
      (b)  Lambs: Average wool weight of no less than 1kg 
                      
  3. Merinos:   (a) Ewes:     An average wool weight of 3.4kgs.
                     (b) Wethers: An average wool weight of 4kgs
                     (c) Lambs:   An average wool weight of no less than 1 kg
  4. Referees will be equipped with accurate scales to be used for the weighing at all attempts.
     Wool weights may be checked during the day of the event.

STANDARDS
5:1       After the official wool weight has been ratified there will be NO sheep shorn or crutched in the
           record shed until the commencement of the record attempt.

5:2        For the official wool weight every 20th sheep will be drafted off to obtain a minimum of 10 ewes or 20 lambs.

If the first wool weight is under the specified weight, a second independent wool weight can be taken before the record mob is resorted. A maximum of 4 official wool weights can be taken before a record is cancelled.

5:3       For blade shearing, machines may be used, (if requested) to do the wool weights.

5:4       Following confirmation of the wool weight no further sorting of approved mobs will be permitted.

5:5       90% of the sheep in all classes must have a topknot and natural bellywool.

5:6       Normal winter crutching, i.e. full belly, half belly, pizzle crutching, front sox on Merinos, must be done at least four months prior to the attempt. When crutching ewes flanking will be allowed with one blow on top of hind leg (flanking must not lead down outside legs)
( A signed letter from sheep owner, or his agent, confirming winter crutching date must be forwarded to WSSRS secretary at time of application.)

5:7       Within four months prior to the attempt record sheep must not be dagged or ring crutched any larger than the official template crutch. The dagging or ring crutching must be the responsibility of the shearer ,or shearer's

5:8        The referees will have the right to dismiss the attempt if the crutching does not measure up to the standard as described in rules 5:7. &  5:10.

5:9        On lambs this will be limited to the lamb crutching template (based on the size a normal closed fist) measuring down from the base of the tail and including the tip of the tail

5:10      On an adult sheep, this will be limited to the standard crutching template (based on the size of a normal open hand) measuring from the base of the tail and including the tip of the tail.
Standard or lamb crutching templates will be provided following applications for the record attempt.
The official template crutching can be supervised by two judges appointed by the records referees.
Checks will be made by the referees prior to the commencement of there record to ensure compliance with the crutching standards. The official crutching template is to be placed horizontally as indicated on the template

5:11      For BLADES only. Pizzle may be cleared no bigger than 50mm on lambs, 75mm wethers.

5:12      Approved mobs must be in view of the shed at all times, except in extraordinary circumstances    
 and agreed to by the referees.

6:1     The shed must be standard design operated as in normal conditions. No alterations can be made for a record, except:
(a) Slight re-location of the shearing plant to achieve the optimum relationship between the catching 
     pen door, downtube and the porthole

          (b) The use of a light catching pen door.
(c) The partitioning of the catching pen so that it contains a minimum of 11 sheep or 22 lambs 
     standing,  comfortably with four feet on the floor, of a particular mob to be used in the attempt.   
     (Partition must be a fixed one)
(d)  Floor to be cut no more than 100mm into shearing board

6:3.    No other alterations may be made without the referee’s approval.

6:4.    During runs no one will be allowed in the catching pen except the shearer.

6:5.    The authorised shedhands will only be allowed in the catching pen for the purpose of filling it.

6:6.    The pen may not be refilled while more than two sheep or five lambs remain in it, except at the beginning of a run when the shearer may start with a full pen.

6:8     Due to animal welfare requirements the restriction of air flow by covering of sheep in the pens will not be permitted

5:15   Heating of sheep to be within animal welfare and health and safety requirements

BREAKDOWNS
PLANT
7:7.    If a breakdown occurs which prevents 8 hours or 9 hours shearing being completed in the allotted time 
          (refer to Runs, Clause 9:4), the attempt will be cancelled
7:8.    Plant breakdowns must be timed by a stopwatch and the time made up at the referees discretion with 
         the shearer concerning shearing solo
7:9     If handpiece jams on short dropper. Separation to be timed and allowed for at the referee’s discretion

HANDPIECES or BLADES
8:1     No time will be allowed for handpiece breakdowns, but any expert may repair a handpiece for a
          shearer provided it is returned to him unloaded
8:2      Only two handpieces may be used during a run
8:3      (a) Only 3 pair of blades may be used during a run
           (b) Blades to be marked before each run for identification
8:4      (a) If blades gap during shearing they can be repaired, after certification by referee
           (b) If blades break or gap beyond repair they may be replaced during the run at the referee's 
                discretion.
           (c) Twisted blades may repaired by expert after certification, but must be tried at least twice before 
               being replaced
8:5      The sheep that is partly shorn when a breakdown occurs may be restarted in the uninterrupted 
           position

RUNS
9:1      The starting time will be arranged with the record referee on the previous day
9:2      The record referees will have the final decision on whether the sheep are dry and in a fit state for
           shearing.
9:3      All records will be based on either:
           (a) Eight hours -  Four two hour runs with 30 minutes for each smoko (2) and 60 minutes for lunch
           (b) Nine hours  -  A two hour run followed by four one and three quarter hour runs, with one hour
                breaks for breakfast and lunch and thirty minute breaks for each smoko
9:4        The eight hour day may be worked any time between 6 am and 6 pm and the nine hour day between,              5am and 7 pm.
             In extraordinary circumstances the referees may delay start time to no later than 10am
9:5        Start time  outside of  9.4 in special or extraordinary circumstances must be decided by the 
             Chairman and Secretary

TIMING
10:1      An accurate clock will be used to precisely time the runs which will start and stop on the call of the 
            referee
10:2      The shearer will start with his hand on the closed door and will get the catch if his hand is on the 
            door before the referee calls TIME, provided his last sheep is shorn and the machine is out of gear


WORKMANSHIP
11:1     A high standard of quality work will be demanded with penalties being assessed on the normal 
           competition basis
11:2     The sheep will be tallied out every half hour for inspection and given a rating
11:3     The sheep will be assessed standing except where the referee may require the sheep to be turned up
            for further inspection
11:4      Any individual sheep at a countout which exceeds 15 for strongwools,18 for Crossbreds, 21 for 
            Merinos per sheep, will be deducted from that tally before the pen is rated. (As per current rules 
            sheep are judged in a standing position)
11:5      More than 10 rejects under rule 11:4 disqualifies this attempt. Except in the last half hour when 
            subsequent rejects will each mean the loss of 5 sheep from the tally
11:6      If any count out of Strongwool sheep which receives a rating greater than 12, the shearer will receive 
            a warning which is to be recorded. 
11:6a    If any count out of Merino sheep which receives a rating greater than 18, the shearer will receive a 
            warning which is to be recorded
11:6b    If any count of Crossbred sheep which receives a rating greater  than 15, the shearer will receives a 
            warning which is to be recorded
11.7      A second warning will cancel the attempt. Except in the last half hour when a second warning will 
            mean the ''loss of five sheep'' from the tally.
11.8      The ratings will be recorded and should be included in the certificate recognizing the tally.
11:9      Any sheep with a cut teat, pizzle, or shearcut requiring to be stitched, will be shorn to a quality 
            standard, raddled and deducted from the tally as a reject.
            Under this rule only five sheep may be rejected, except in the last half hour when subsequent
            rejects will mean the loss of five sheep from the tally
11:9a    Any sheep with a cut requiring stitching, if  raddled, and stitched by the shearer (during a run) to the
            referee’s satisfaction, will be counted and added to the tally
11:10    Any damaged sheep (as described in rule 11:9) found in the counting out pen unmarked could 
            constitute a warning and this could cancel the attempt
11:11    If a shearer(s) quality rating is over the quality standard in the last 1/2 HR countout of the last run, 
            any substandard  sheep will be deducted from the tally until the rating is down to the quality 
            maximum rating allowed for the breed.
            Such sheep deducted under this rule will not be added to the reject count unless rule 11:6, 11:6a or 
            11:6b apply

Tallies and ratings will be made available to the shearer's during a run, if required

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