HAVING turned 21 just after the New Year, Hamilton shearer Caleb Morgan had set himself the goal on January 15 of getting through 600 composite lambs in eight hours at Mawarra station at Konongwootong - but was forced to admit just days before the date, that his target wasn’t a realistic one.

But it wasn’t because the number was too high - the reason was he had already reached 600 a week earlier at Harmil Park near Drumborg as a warmup, so he knew he could go harder - a lot harder.

So with a new target of 700 to better his previous shed record of 552, there was still a surprise in the works on the Monday - because within a quarter hour after the first run started, it became apparent Caleb was on an even stronger pace with an astonishing 27 lambs already in the letting out race without a fleece on their backs.

That’s 33 1/3 seconds per sheep - which was well on pace for 800, possibly higher.

“After the first run (200) I was on track, so I thought I’d keep it up,” Caleb said.

Mawarra owner, David Bunge, said he was very impressed with Caleb’s technique, especially when transitioning from the back leg to the neck.

“It’s really efficient, it’s really quick,” he said.

“That’s where you make up some time, because the key is to keep the sheep in the right position, so you’ve got that handpiece in wool the maximum amount of time. He’s extremely good in that.”

David said he was also amazed how tenacious Caleb was to come back the following day to finish off the lambs and then on Wednesday set to work on shearing ewes.

“He just set a personal best for a run in the ewes before lunch of 151 which would relate to 600 in a day,” he said.

“We will run out of sheep before we get to that!”

Caleb said he’s been working his way up in competitions gradually making his way into open grade events; at this stage he’s won seven and has even represented Victoria nationally.

He set himself up for a good chance of getting to 800 in the last run of the day, getting another 200 in the second, and then powering through 203 after lunch.

Then the fight was on to tough it through the last two hours; he got to the target with barely a minute to spare, adding one more just seconds before 5.30pm.

“I’m pretty sure it’s the first 800 done in eight hours,” Caleb said.

“Maybe three or four, not even that - that I know of - that have done 800 in nine hours.”

“I know of three or four others in the world that have been done (800 in eight), but not in Australia.”

Asked by The Spectator if he thought he could go even more in the future, Caleb was optimistic.

“I didn’t think I was going to get here this quickly, so it’s possible,” he said.

The record isn’t an official tally, but with the Marrawa shed record smashed and Caleb’s young age in his favour, there’s every reason to watch for his name to factor in future shearing competitions.