We’re only a week away from the opening of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and we've already seen a new world record this week when Matt Smith conquered the nine-hour shearing record for ewes.

Matt (32), who originally hails from New Zealand, took the wool off the backs of no fewer than 731 ewes in the nine hours, or a mind-boggling 44 seconds per sheep.

His successful record attempt – the first time a world record of this kind has been attempted in the UK and the northern hemisphere – was fully supported by the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB), and follows the previous nine hour ewe world record, set in 2007, set by fellow kiwi, Rodney Sutton, who sheared 721 ewes during this time.

Matt began shearing at 5am for two hours, followed by four one and three quarter runs, with half-hour breaks in between. It took place at Matt’s home farm in St Clether, Launceston, in Cornwall, where he was surrounded by the support of friends and family, as well as sheep producers and fellow shearers from all over the world.

Originally from New Zealand, Matt settled in the UK three years ago when he married his wife, Pippa. They now farm in partnership together on her family’s farm, running a flock of 1385 ewes primarily Romney’s with some crossed with the Lleyn, on a New Zealand grass-based system.

Matt’s working life has been devoted to sheep shearing, with the nine hour ewe world shearing record being added to his previous world record for the eight hour strong wool record, which he set in 2010 at the age of 25.

In this instance, he smashed the previous world record by 18, shearing 578 sheep in eight hours. However, the title was taken the following year when a new record was set by Stacey Te Huia.