Country Calendar recently filmed in Central Otago, as local shearer Stacey Te Huia attempted to break a world record with the help of local Mouse O’Neill’s shearing team. 

The Country Calendar episode, which aired on Sunday night, was about Mouse and Jeanine O’Neill’s brother in law, Stacey, as he attempted to shear the most merino wethers in nine hours back in January. 

The Standing World Record is 418 sheep which has been held by Grant Smith for 20 years.

Stacey, an Alexandra local, currently holds the World Record for the nine-hour Merino Ewes (530) and the nine-hour Two Stand record for Strong Wool Ewes with Sam Welch.

Mouse said his team were committed to help out from the get-go, and set the stage for Stacey's attempt.

“We got involved first of all because he married my sister Atiria, he then joined our team at Mouse O’Neill Shearing Limited.

“We were really lucky to have the both them work for us and our business. They would both be one of the hardest working couples we know. 

“But most of all they are our family and we love them both very much. So when the opportunity came up to sponsor Stacey we were in all the way 100% to support his goal.”

Mouse O’Neill Shearing helped set the stage for Stacey Te Huia’s record attempt.

As the episode tells the tale, Stacey was unable to reach his lofty goal.

“Stacey had no choice but to pull out after two runs,” Mouse said. “He had many contributing factors that were making it impossible for him to keep the pace that was needed.

“The Record was originally scheduled to be done five weeks earlier, but the sheep didn’t meet the criteria for World Record Standards wool weight wise.

“Which is a real shame in hindsight as in our opinion he would have exceeded expectation. 

“So it was heartbreaking to watch especially after watching him and his wife put all the hard yards in.”

Photos courtesy Mouse O’Neill Shearing/Facebook.