Devon duo set for Sheep Shearing "Olympics"

International champions aim for world title

A formidable father-and-son sheep shearing team from Devon is preparing for the World Championships.

George Mudge and his son Andrew will swap the rolling hills of Tavistock for the global arena next March, as they head to New Zealand to compete against the best shearers on the planet.

The pair are no strangers to the pressure of the shearing pen. Between them, they have already secured multiple international titles, but the New Zealand trip offers the ultimate test of their craft.

Competitors are judged on a grueling combination of speed and precision, tasked with giving six sheep "new haircuts" in a matter of minutes.

Every second counts, as any nick or tuft of wool left behind could mean the difference between a podium finish and disqualification.

The Mudge family has been raising sheep and running their business for 50 years, even branching out to manufacture and sell their own professional shearing equipment.

George is a true veteran of the circuit, having represented England at the World Championships on numerous occasions.

Now, competing alongside Andrew, the duo represents a rare multi-generational talent that has dominated the industry for decades.

Often considered the "Olympics" of sheep shearing, the World Championships will see the Mudges face off against the world’s elite in a country where the sport is a national obsession.