A TWO-month overseas working holiday has produced an incredible moment for Naracoorte woolhandler Shannon Donoghue.
On the weekend she won the all-nations senior woolhandling title, held in conjunction with the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in Le Dorat, France, from about 25 competitors from across the world.
She took one minute and 10 seconds to throw the fourth and final fleece shorn in the competition, skirt it, sort the pieces and bellies and clean up the board, before putting her broom down.
"It's such an amazing feeling to win a competition like this," she said.
Ms Donoghue nominated for the competition back in March when she first lined up a job in England.
"The world champs is the place to be if you're into shearing and woolhandling competitions," she said.
"You meet the best of the best there and you can learn so much from them all."
Ms Donoghue says the Royal Edinburgh Show in Scotland, last month, where she finished second in the novice woolhandling was great practice for the event.
She has been a woolhandler for five years and in March gained her woolclassers' stencil.
An eye for detail,keeping an open mind and always learning are important traits to succeed as a woolhandler according to Ms Donoghue.
"I always like to observe my work mates and pick up techniques they use to improve my skills," she said.
"I also believe being a team player is an important part of being a good woolhandler."
Tora Lambert, Penola, who has only been shearing for about 18 months, also achieved international success, finishing eighth in the All Nationals womens shearing competition.
The 25-year-old has been shearing in the UK since April and has participated in some local country shows in the UK coming first at the North Somerset Agricultural Show in the junior machine shearing, against both men and women.
Dane Fredrickson, Tumby Bay also competed in the all-nations senior shearing competition and Kate Turner, Millicent competed in the all-nations senior woolhandling event.
SA blade shearer John Dalla, Warooka, was the star performer in the Australian team placing fifth in the championship round. In the teams event he combined with Ken French from Glen Isla, Vic, to finish fourth.
