NEXT month, 33-year-old Gareth Daniel and 36-year-old Ian Jones will work in tandem to shear as many lambs as possible in nine hours. Their aim is to set and secure a new British shearing record.
This challenge will take place at Llysfasi Agricultural College, Ruthin, Denbighshire, on Friday August 19.
The two competitors are high-fliers in the world of sheep shearing having both achieved a number of shearing honours over the years. 
Gareth, from Penegoes, near Machynlleth in Wales, took up shearing aged 20 as he realised this was his passport to New Zealand. 
Initially taught by family members, he first travelled to New Zealand to shear in 2004 returning many times in recent years. Today, with his fiancé and two daughters, he is a beef and sheep farmer and contract shearer.
His partner in this shearing record attempt is fellow farmer Ian Jones, from Hundred House near Builth Wells. Ian manages a flock of predominantly Beulah Speckled Face sheep and finishes store calves at the home farm with his wife and two daughters. 
At 17, Ian was taught to shear by his uncle before attending a number of BWMB shearing courses and travelling to New Zealand to shear on many occasions.
The British record attempt is being supported by the BWMB. 
BWMB chairman Ian Buchanan said: “Record attempts such as Gareth and Ian’s are hugely important to the wool industry. Not only do they highlight the highly skilled individuals that are driving the industry forward, they also help promote the quality of British wool to a wider audience.”
The duo are currently busy preparing for their record attempt with both Gareth and Ian carrying out contract shearing work. 
Individually, Gareth has been awarded Champion Shearer of Wales three times and represented Wales at four World Shearing Championships. His proudest moment was however winning the Open Championship at Corwen Shears being the first Welsh winner, and only the second UK winner of this competition. More recently, Gareth won the All Ireland International Shearing Competition at Tullynally Estate in Ireland.
Ian has championed the Welsh Lamb Shearing Circuit four times with one of his most memorable achievements winning the French Open Shearing Championships in August last year.
Bedwyr Jones, BWMB Welsh Northern Board Member, commented: “We’re delighted to be supporting Gareth and Ian to help them achieve their goal of setting the Nine Hour Two Stand British Lamb Shearing Record.