Switzerland’s star handles the pressure

Pint-sized woolhandler Charis Morrell had a  good excuse for missing school this week. Charis, a pupil at St Gerard’s School in Alexandra, and her mother Gabriela Schmidt-Morrell have been representing Switzerland at the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.

Remarkably, the duo were taught the finer points of woolhandling by Pagan Karauria, Charis’ half-sister, during the school holidays.

This week, they have been thrust into the international spotlight, competing among the world’s best shearers and woolhandlers in Invercargill.

A Swiss team has not previously been entered in the championships and it was decided it would be a fun thing to do, Mrs Schmidt-Morrell said.

The team had two shearers and no woolhandlers, so it was decided Charis and her mother would make their debut.

Swiss-born Mrs Schmidt-Morrell had worked in shearing sheds in Australia when she was young but she had not competed. While Charis admitted to being a little nervous when she faced the crowd in ILT Stadium Southland the first time, nerves were not visibly apparent as she swung into action, much to the delight of spectators.

"I was also really excited," she said.

Mrs Schmidt-Morrell was proud of her daughter, saying she knew she would handle it, while younger sister Jelena was chief cheerleader, waving a Swiss flag.

As to a possible career for Charis as a woolhandler?

"There are a few things I want to do but that’s one on my bucket list. Definitely nothing to do with business and sitting down."

The event concludes tonight with the world championship finals.