Extra cardio fitness work, weights, yoga and a steely determination to be the best is what has made Daniel McIntyre a National Sports Shearing Champion.
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After competing in the 2014 National Shearing Championships McIntyre won the title of Australian Champion.
It has taken a lot of sweat over the last 16 years but competing wasn’t always on McIntyre’s mind when it came to shearing.
“I am a professional shearer so I do this for a living, so at first I went along to competition for a bit of fun and to socialise,” he said.
“But now I take competition very seriously.”
McIntyre began shearing 16 years ago where he started competing in competitions as a novice.
After competing in competitions across the eastern states of Australia he
moved quickly though the grades and won his way into open competition by the age of 21.
Competitive success soon followed and McIntyre made his first state team in 2004.
In 2005 he represented Australia at the World Shearing Competition which was held in Toowoomba.
In the individual shearing event he placed second in the world and was part of the team that gained first place.
McIntyre has made the state team every year since with the exception of 2006 were he chose not to compete due to a clash in date with a family members wedding.
Sport Shearing is about speed and quality and competitors are judged on having no wool left on the sheep and no skin cuts on the animal.
McIntyre uses everyday combs and cutters and feels his speed and accuracy is attributed to his health and fitness regime.
“Apart from cardio work and weights I practice yoga to keep my body stretched out,” he said.
“Luckily I have had no major health or injury worries over the years.”
McIntyre plans to continue competitive sports shearing and is preparing for future challenges with only success in mind.
“My current aim is to make the Australian team which will be selected this October,” he said.
The team will be selected at the National Championships which will be held in Forbes.