Young shearer Josh Clayton on mission to break world record, raise awareness

He'll shear a normal day between the hours of 7.30am and 5.30pm in an attempt to break New Zealander Cartwright Terry's record of 466 ewes which has stood since 2003.

A shearer's day is split into four two-hour runs, with two half-an-hour breaks, for morning tea and afternoon tea, and one hour for lunch between 12pm and 1pm. 

Now in the final stages of his preparation, Clayton, who has been shearing for 20 years, said he's done the maths and he's confident that he's on track to pass Terry's long standing record.

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Hundreds of people are expected to turn up in a show of support, with the event also raising money for Motor Neurone Disease, a disease which took the life of Clayton's partner Hayley.

He's since oragnised a fundrasier in Young last October and is now combining his passion of shearing with an opportunity to raise awareness and money for families battling the disease.

The record attempt will take place at Oxton Farm on the Wombat Road towards Harden.

Clayton thanks John and Paul O'Connor for supplying the amount of sheep and also the venue. 

He said shearing this season has been "more shearer friendly" due to the tight condition for farmers, and he doesn't expect any dust or dirt to have any impact on his Heiniger gear.

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Clayton says he'll have to shear one sheep per minute, that includes gear changes, a quick drink and "catching and dragging" the next ewe, all day to set a new world record.

​"I've done 11 months training. Obviously years have gone into building yourself up to even have an opportunity, and once you find the amount of sheep, one of the hardest things, then you can put the rest in motion."

Clayton has organised a team of about 40 people to help him.

The record has been attempted unsuccessfully three times since 2003.