Boort Show: Bob Rollinson’s shear vision a cut above

SOME of the best blade shearers in the world are coming to the Boort Show to compete. But they could be upstaged by Bob Rollinson, a bloke about to turn 85.

Competitive clicks: Bob Rollinson during shearing at Concordia in the Mysia district of Central Victoria last month. Picture: Dale Webster

SOME of the best blade shearers in the world are coming to the Boort Show to compete on Saturday.

But they could be upstaged by a bloke about to turn 85.

Bob Rollinson, principal of Concordia Merino stud, at Mysia in Central Victoria, said he would consider bending his back to shear a sheep on the day — but only at the right price.

“I could be persuaded if the money was there — not for me, for the show society,” Bob said.

“We’re hoping some of our sponsors might dig a bit ­deeper into their pockets for a good cause.”

The Boort A&P Society introduced blade shearing to its program for the first time last year, attracting 15 ­competitors.

With prizemoney increasing this year to $3000 for the main event, shearers are coming from as far away as the UK and New Zealand to chase what is believed to be Australia’s richest blade shearing purse.

The best of them should have the fleece off the big, heavy cutters Bob has lined up for them in about five or six minutes, compared with three minutes it would take a good shearer to finish a sheep with a machine handpiece.

“All the best stud Merino rams are shorn with blades still, so the people who will be in this competition will be a good cross section of the grazing community — owners of stud sheep, managers of studs, as well as professional shearers,” Bob said.

“It will be a very good spectacle — a lot more ­relaxed than the speed shear events.

“There are no loud ­machines, just click go the shears.”