A Central Otago shearer’s bid for a world record was abandoned after a few hours near Ranfurly on Saturday.
Stacey Te Huia, of Alexandra, was aiming to break a nine-hour merino wethers record of 418 set by Canterbury shearer Grant Smith in 1999.
The attempt was originally scheduled for December 7, but was postponed because the weight would not have been met.
Mr Te Huia started at 5am needing an average of about 47 an hour to break the record.
Conditions in the woolshed were highlighted as a factor by onlookers.
The shed at The Bend, near Ranfurly, was about 7degC as the run started, and the sheep were reported to be sticky, a spokesman said.
By the end of the first two hours to the breakfast break Mr Te Huia was 77 up.
He would continue with the second run of 1hr 45mins to morning tea in the hope the goal could be brought back into range. It was decided the target was well out of range less than halfway through the nine-hour challenge.
The attempt was called off about 9.45am.
Mr Te Huia could not be reached for comment yesterday.
It was the third of four shearing record attempts scheduled over summer; the last for four-stand women’s lamb-shearing, scheduled for January 23.
