Lockhart shearer Nicki Guttler has had a very busy 12 months on the NSW Sports Shear Circuit.
She has been competing in the senior level against the men in 12 shows, coming first seven times, second two times, third two times and failed to reach the final in one event.
All in all she was the top competitor at the end of the circuit by 28 points.
Nicki put the hard yards in during the circuit working on her technique, footwork, speed and fitness.
At each show the senior level competitors shear four sheep in the heats, six in the semis and eight sheep in the final.
Some of the shearing shows also have a wool handling competition. As this is how Nicki first got into the shearing industry, working in local sheds at Peter Forbes’ and JR Ryan’s sheds, she decided that she would have a crack at that too.
Nicki finished third in this competition at the end of the circuit, which qualified her for the final, also held at Dubbo.
In 2019, she finished third at the State Titles in the Intermediate level. This meant she missed the NSW team by half a point.
Covid then shut down the shows for the next two years.
Last year was a reduced show circuit so Nicki set her sights on finishing in the top two in the 2022/23 Circuit, which then gave her a place in the NSW Team.
At the State Titles on May 19 the top 12 competitors started with a semi-final, with the top six going on to the final. Nicki qualified fifth after not having a very good shear – having to rush back to shear after competing in the wool handling.
But that just spurred her on for the final. The focus and determination showed on her face as she stepped up to shear and she left nothing in the tank. Nicki shore her eight sheep in 10 minutes 19 seconds. Points are awarded for cleanliness and speed.
It was then an anxious wait until the placings were announced. Nicki and her supporters were holding their breath when Nicki once again made it to the top three, and then further relief when she was in the top two.
By doing that she had made the NSW Team but then topped it off with a win by two points.
However there were still the wool handling results to be announced and there she was again in the top two, finishing second which gave Nicki her second spot in the NSW Team.
At the beginning of the year Nicki had set herself the challenge of trying to make the NSW Team in three events. So, on the Saturday, with two under her belt, she stepped up for the Blade Shear.
Competing against a father and his two sons, yet again she finished in the top two, finishing second and completing her trifecta, but it didn’t finish there.
Nicki then competed for the first time in the Open level and was up against the reigning Australian champion and several NSW State Champions.
She couldn’t keep the grin off her face – at last she was shearing with the ‘BIG boys’!
Vicki didn’t disappoint, making the semi-final and narrowly missing the final by 0.2 of a point.
She is the first person to represent at the Nationals in three events.
The National Competition will be held on October 20-22 in Jamestown, South Australia.
While it is not Nicki’s forte, she was also successful at a couple of Speed Shear Competitions this year.
She won the Seniors competition at Gerogery in March and the Open Women’s at Thargomindah, Queensland, in May.
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 7 September 2023.
