Pingelly shearer Luke Vernon sets world record with 500 Merino ewes sheared in eight hours

Gung-ho Pingelly shearer Luke Vernon has broken the world eight-hour record, shearing 500 Merino ewes to break Lou Brown’s previous record of 497 set in 2019. The New Zealand-born 28-year-old became an official world record holder on his first attempt on April 12, in a spectacular performance at Dougal Young and Ashe Young’s Thornton Park shearing shed, near Pingelly. The World Sheep Shearing Records Society has verified Vernon’s 500-ewe tally made up of successive two-hour runs of 120, 125, 125 and 130. Vernon, who shears fulltime for Pingelly Shearing contractor Rob Cristinelli, said he fulfilled a “dream” to be the first man to shear 500 Merino ewes in one day in world-record time. “Luke is my number 1 shearer, who is very dedicated and has an appetite for hard work — he is a great industry man,” Mr Cristinelli said. “He has been a loyal shearer for six years at Pingelly Shearing and was trained by Australian Wool Innovation trainer Paul Hick.” Born in Ettrick, Central Otago in New Zealand, Vernon’s parents are apple orchardists, but he immigrated to Australia when he was 20 and fell into shearing in 2017. His preparation for the world record attempt took long hours of physical and mental attitude and just “staying healthy”. “I had a personal trainer out of the United Kingdom in Matt Luxton — he sent me all my training regimes through an app,” Vernon said. In the aftermath, the emotional new world record holder had no idea he had broken Brown’s record and the realisation hit home hard — “full credit to the team”. The team included mentor Michael-James Terry, at his side, who is the current two-stand record holder — set in 2003 with brother Cartwright, and woolhandlers Maria Ormsby, Raven Waitere, Cyaniquah Rangawhenua, Santi Hemopo, and Pope Hick. Vernon said he was “quite sore” the next day but thanks to a well-deserved deep tissue massage by Justin Keally, his recovery was “pretty good”. “We will get over this one, and see what happens,” he said contemplating another record. The newest world record holder takes pride of place alongside solo nine-hour record holder Floyd Neil, of Boyup Brook, who shore 540 ewes in 2023.