AFTER years of successful competition and travelling the world, 24-year old Ilan Jones has the same enthusiasm and interest for sheep shearing as he did as a 15-year-old boy shearing for the first time.

From Llansannan, Ilan grew up helping his grandfather on the farm with their pedigree flock of Bluefaced Leicester, showing the sheep in the summer shows with his brother Dion.

At 15, Ilan was first introduced to shearing by a neighbour whilst working wrapping fleeces.

When he was 16, Ilan enrolled on a British Wool shearing course.

Commenting on the professional training he received, Ilan said: “I just loved it - learning the correct techniques, the need for precision and how to maximise the value of the wool.

"I was also very lucky to have brilliant experts to mentor me.

"Gareth Lloyd Evans and his brother Gwion Lloyd Evans were my first instructors and I remember wanting to be just like them.

"They made a huge impression on me and completely inspired me to improve.

“I kept signing up for more courses, starting from the absolute beginner’s course and in 2013 I achieved the gold seal, which is an advanced level, at a course in Glynllifon College with Hywel Jones.

"Every time I attended a training course, it motivated me to get better – you never stop learning and it’s great to learn new things and develop as a shearer.”

Some may say Ilan has no need to continue training, but he would argue.

He added: “I have travelled the world through shearing; I’ve been to New Zealand six times and Norway eight times so far.

"What strikes me is the need to understand techniques so you can adapt to new environments as in New Zealand, it’s very different to the UK.

"The sheep are completely different – they have more wool on their heads and legs.

“In Norway, the work environment is also very different – and the sheep are bigger so it’s more of challenge for me.

"I love it, but without having the foundation of knowing how to shear properly, I wouldn’t be able to work in such different situations.”

Ilan says the training courses also introduced him to the world of competitive shearing, something he hadn’t considered when he first signed up.

"Over the last few years, I’ve done the circuits at the Royal Welsh, Corwen, Lakeland, Great Yorkshire and the Welsh Lamb shows," he said.

"I won the intermediate competition at Corwen in 2015, made the final of the seniors at the Royal Welsh in 2017, won the seniors at the Great Yorkshire in 2017 and achieved my first open final at the Great Yorkshire in 2018.

“Competition is fierce, it’s hard work and you don’t always do well, but it’s very rewarding when you do get placed at such high-profile events.

“I’m already in training for this year’s season, and I’m really looking forward to the Corwen and the Royal Welsh.

"I’m also involved in the Hiraethog shearing event at the Sportsman's Arms on the Denbigh Moors during August. It’s gained quite a reputation with a huge turnout of competitors and over 600 spectators.

“Hopefully I’ll make the Welsh development team in the next few years.

"It’s such an honour to represent your country and so enjoyable to be around such a supportive community of people. That’s definitely my ambition at the moment.

“I am very positive about the industry, we have some amazing people, a sustainable product and a marketplace eager to buy environmentally friendly products.

"It’s really good to see British Wool receiving positive press as consumers become more aware of sustainable products. I am excited to see what the future holds.”