A TWELVE-HOUR charity sheep-shearing event was held at Hallworthy Stockyard on Saturday, August 5 to raise money for Cancer Research UK and CLIC Sargent.

In this case, the cry for help stands for ‘Shear Our Sheep’. Just like BBC’s DIY SOS, it shows that all you need to do is recognise a worthy cause, talk to a few friends, get local businesses to support you — and then in this case, attract the general public to respond to the need, and with their presence give a fantastic financial reward.

Local sheep farmer, Martin Bloomfield from North Hill, knows all too well how devastating cancer can be. His dad succumbed to the disease in 2014, after nine years of fighting it.

Then in 2015, his wife Sarah became terminally ill with it, too. This left him with two children, Kaitlyn and William as a legacy of their married life together.

Local shearing contractor, Glynn Le Marquand, knowing the family well, said: “How about doing something to help?”

So, as in the style of DIY SOS, he spoke to a few of his fellow sheep shearing contractors, then Kivells, the livestock auctioneers, about holding an event at Hallworthy and then other local businesses for their financial support.

So the idea just got bigger and better and was arranged for Saturday, August 5 under the title of ‘Cutting Wool for Cancer’.

The 12-hour shearing marathon started at 6am. Two shearers took to the boards for two hours before another two replaced them and so on, finishing at 6pm. The 12 men were Glynn Le Marquand, Nick Jasper, Dave Best, Richard Northey, Jake Crabb, Greg Hutchings, Ricky Brendon, Graham Cole, Ike Francis, Nick Harding, Joseph Cornelius and Phil Harper, who managed to shear 1,105 between them, which works out at just over 75 seconds each.

But then, this group does shear between 120,000 and 150,000 annually. Nick Jasper supplied the majority of the sheep, also helped out by Matthew Gynn and the Hutchings family, who also paid for them to be done.

All of this needs somebody to keep the place tidy, and so a group of young girls, two at a time, kept the fleeces gathered together, and put into the wool sacks.

Following this, and on into the evening there was a ‘speed shearing’ competition.

In this, two competitors go against the clock with the winner going through to the next round; but it is not as simple as that, because when the sheep leave the deck, three ‘approved’ judges decide whether the job has been done to a recognised standard — so, not all who win against the clock are guaranteed to carry on through the competition.

There were three categories — junior, intermediate and open.

Twelve young men and two girls took part in the first class. The two girls, Beth Cole and Helen Hambly, managed to shear their sheep in under two minutes. The final, though, between Sam Hughes from Davidstow and George Bone of Ashwater was keenly contested, with Sam winning with a time of 38.31 seconds.

The intermediate class saw 18 competitors take part. The final was very close as St Breward’s Henry Nankivell beat New Zealand’s Kieran Gillespie with a time of 30.18 seconds but only by 0.29 seconds, and then both sheep passed the judges!

Eight competitors took part in the Open class. In the final, both men had to shear two sheep.

Nick Harding from Torrington defeated Richard Northey of St Neot with a time of 58.94 seconds. To many people, sheep may all look the same, but you do not know if you have got a `wriggler`, until it is sat on its backside, with its shoulders between your knees — and that can make a big difference!

This part of the event was organised by nationally recognised shearer and judge Martin Sandercock, who in his remarks commented on the number of juniors taking part. The evening concluded with a hog roast and a disco in the marquee.

Speaking after, the chairman Glynn Le Marquand said he was `over the moon ` with the result.

“It was an great team effort and they all appreciated all the support from the local business and local farmers,” he said.

Glynn also extended thanks to the businesses for their support.

Commenting on the day, secretary and organiser, Cat Jasper, said: “The boys worked hard in the week leading up to the event preparing the sheep and the venue and the event wouldn’t have been the success it was without our volunteers and the general public, so thanks to everyone.”

With money still coming in, it looks as though Cancer Research and CLIC Sargent will benefit by over £7,500.