"We were working with native Icelandic sheep that are rather like Cheviots. They come off the high land and were pretty wild. The flocks are clipped and winter-housed in November and then clipped again in March before they lamb in May.
"The Icelandic farmers were great to work with and we were made very welcome," said Chris who undertakes contract shearing in the UK every summer.
But despite his experience he reckons there's always more to learn.
"I've been on a British Wool Marketing Board training course every year. There are always people there who are more experienced than you are and you never stop picking up tips. It's the best way to keep improving your standard of shearing."
Gordon Nichol, whose family run Blackface ewes and suckler cows at Lawston Farm, Newcastleton, has been contract shearing for three years and also runs a contracting shearing business in the UK each summer.
"Going to Iceland and seeing a different farming system was great experience. And it was a good boost for British shearers. The UK is now getting a wide reputation for the standard of its shearing," said Gordon.
And he knows that his three-month trip to New Zealand will certainly keep his shearing skills up there with the world's best. He'll be working with a large shearing gang who will shear tens of thousands of sheep in the coming months.
"It's hard work but it's a great opportunity to really put your shearing skills to thetest," said Gordon.
BWMB shearing instructor Richard Schofield of Tosside near Settle, North Yorkshire said the trip to Iceland was a real "feather in the cap" for British shearers.
"These two young men did a great job and flew the flag for British shearers in a country that hasn't used our expertise before.
"Their standard of shearing is very high and made a good impression on the Icelandic farmers, " commented Richard Schofield.
British Wool Marketing Board
marketing@alchempro.com
