A BEDDGELERT man is preparing to represent Wales at the World Shearing and Wool Handling Championships in New Zealand next week.

Gareth Owen is already on the other side of the world as he puts in some final practice before he flies the flag for Wales at the championships, which are to be held at ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill, starting on Wednesday, 8 February.

In the lead up to the championships, Gareth and the rest of the Welsh team, along with competitors from the other 32 competing countries, will be getting in some final shearing practice on farms and by competing at local competitions.

Whilst over on the other side of the world, team manager, Martyn David, from the Vale of Glamorgan, will be keeping a close eye and giving plenty of encouragement and support to Gareth and the five other members of the Welsh team as they prepare for the championships.

Gareth is set to compete alongside compatriot Elfed Jackson, from Bethesda, in round one of the World Blade Shearing Championships on Friday, 10 February.

The last rounds and semi-finals of the World Championships will be held during the day on Saturday, 11 February, with the grand finale on Saturday evening with both the team and individual world championship finals being held for all three disciplines.

Read the full story in this week’s north editions of the Cambrian News