Nicki Guttler claims two open shearing titles after major back injury

Riverina shearer Nicki Guttler is thought to have made shearing history by winning both the open machine and open blade titles at the same event. She achieved the result at the 150th Forbes Show, only months after a major back injury had left her struggling with everyday activities.

Guttler, 32, said the injury involved bulging discs in her lower back that compressed her sciatic nerve. She told ABC News Australia that she had difficulty putting on shoes and socks, getting dressed and walking across her home. Sitting was also painful, she said.

After two years of recovery, Guttler decided to return to competition. As the final seconds of the open shearing final approached, she drew inspiration from her late grandmother, Ruth Farrall. “I thought if I'm going to do it, it's going to be now and we're going to do it for Nana,” she said.

Guttler said she felt relieved, proud and excited after the wins, describing the achievement as the result of a long road. Her mother taught her to shear, and she began competing at school and local agricultural shows before progressing from novice classes to open competition. She has won state and national titles, broken the eight-hour women’s solo lamb record by shearing 450 lambs and become Australia’s first woman to win an open speed shear.

Sports shearing involves competitors working against the clock while being judged on speed and accuracy. According to ABC News Australia, the sport has existed in Australia since the late 1800s. Guttler said she had faced doubts and assumptions that a woman could not succeed at the highest level.

She hopes her result will encourage more women to pursue the sport and be judged as capable competitors rather than being defined by their gender. Sports Shear NSW treasurer Carla Boland said open was the highest grade and that Guttler’s performance demonstrated a pathway for women and girls through the competition ranks. Women made up less than 5 per cent of the shearing workforce in 2021 census data, although Boland said their participation appeared to be increasing.