2019 has been a big year for France on the international stage. 

France was the host nation for the Championnat du Monde de Tonte de Moutons (World Sheep Shearing and Woolhandling Championship). Delegations of 34 countries converged at the village of Le Dorat from July 1st - 8th for a week of events occasionally referred to as the Olympics of shearing.

Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers Limited sponsored veteran worlds competitor Donald Metheral of Ontario and Pauline Bolay of Manitoba as Canada’s machine shearers, as well as a woolhandling team consisting of Amber Peterson of Prince Edward Island and Allison Preston of Alberta.

The week began on July 1^st as teams arrived in France and made their way to Limoges a city near Le Dorat for a Speed shear and concert to welcome them. Tuesday, July 2^nd, was a training day, with the teams traveling to local farms to practice on the local sheep breeds that would be used in the competition. While competitors were busy preparing: family, friends, and other supporters were offered a selection of farm tours to the area, as Le Dorat is part of the famous Limousine region of France....

Calgary Stampede North American Sheep Shearing Challenge crowns first female champion

Calgary – There’s a first time for everything.

Pauline Bolay from Manitoba & Don Metheral from Ontario are the top Canadian shearers! 

Congratulations to all of you on a fantastic performance at the Golden Shears and Wool Handling Competition.

Final Canadian Shearing results:

Pauline Bolay 25th with a score of 112.600
Don Metheral 30th with a score of 114.95

Final Canadian Wool Handling results:

Allison Preston 28th with 207.80
Amber Petersen 35th with 233.60

The following picture is one heat out of three overall - Don was 28th & Pauline was 30th.

CanadianTeam Members:  Allison Preston, Amber Petersen, Pauline Bolay, Don Metheral, Phillip Woodward (manager)

Shearers competing at the 8^th Annual Eastern Canadian Sheep Shearing Competition in Holstein, ON
July 5^th & 6^th, 2019

An international event sponsored by
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited.

www.holsteinagroexpo.com 

Allison Preston, daughter of Paul & Viola Preston from Vauxhall, Alberta and grand daughter of Grant & the late Edith Preston from Dundalk, Ontario is currently shearing in Australia.

Recently she competed at the Culcairn Shearing & Wool Handling Competition, placing 1^st in the Novice Division.

She also competed in the Walbundrie Strong Wool Shearing Competition and placed 2^nd in the Novice Division.

(Allison Preston – on left in both pictures)

Holstein Agro Expo 

Sheep Shearing Competition July 6-7, 2018

www.holsteinagroexpo.com

7th Annual Eastern Canadian Sheep Shearing Competition

Left to right:
Don Metheral, Don Lewis, Jerry Kelleher, Sam Sloan, John Kuepfer