THERE will be 381 shearers and 78 wool handlers from around the world, fighting it out to win the top spots at one of the star events hitting the Royal Highland Show – the Golden Shears.

Competitors from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolotana, Canada, Chile, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Isle of man, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, USA and Wales, are all heading to Ingliston next week.

With more than 200,000 visitors expected to pass through the gates during the show, the Golden Shears stage will be watched by a huge in-person audience, in addition to tens of thousands of online viewers on the show’s streaming platform, RHS TV. This is only the second time that Scotland has hosted the Golden Shears since its launch in 1977.

Chairman of the RHASS, Jim Warnock, commented: “Scotland is the perfect stage for the Golden Shears and we are delighted to be welcoming shearing teams from more than 30 countries to the Royal Highland Show this June.

“The Golden Shears is an exciting addition to what is already Scotland’s best day out – if you’ve never experienced the thrill of the shearing tent before, make sure to pay it a visit this year as the world’s top talent will be on display.”

team manager for Scotland, David Stewart, is confident that the home team are more than prepared for the challenge that lies ahead.

"Team Scotland are world standard competitors and can hold their own against any country they face," commented David, who works as a self employed sheep farmer and deer stalker from Glenshee. Running 1000 ewes split between Texels and Cheviots, David himself is a past YFC shearing champion at the Royal Highland Show and has represented Scotland as a member of the Scottish shearing team at international level, as well as winning numerous shearing competitions across Scotland over the years.

"I've also had a shearing run of 30,000 sheep per year and have acted as a shearing instructor and judge for over 45 years. Despite giving up contract shearing a few years ago due to ill health, this year I was able to pick up the handpiece and get back on the boards which Im really excited about," he added.