Three Hawke's Bay shearers have taken out the world three-stand shearing record after eight gruelling hours in the woolshed west of Hastings.
At Big Hill Station the sun was high and the scene set for a shearing showdown.
Outside, the mercury bolted into the 30s. Inside, the heat and pace were blistering.
The trio started early – by townie standards, at least – at 7am.
In the beginning they wrestle a Romney about every 50 seconds – short back, no sides – then onto the next one.
But as the hours tick over, their times slide. It's only a little but this is a numbers game and the timekeeper knows it. The aim is 1500 sheep in eight hours.
The ewes weigh more than 55kg each and it's back-bending, gut-busting, sweat-inducing stuff.
The veteran of the trio – the guy who talked the other two into it – has almost 20 years on them and thinks this is the dream.
When the buzzer finally goes off at Big Hill Station it's a big deal – with a final sheep count of 1347, plus three hot, sweaty, knackered world record holders.
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