Henry Mayo was disappointed when he didn’t qualify for the inaugural Young Farmers' national Sheep Shearing competition last year.

But he had the perfect response by winning it this year.

The Sturminster Newton YFC member beat off stiff competition to take the top prize for Dorset at the event at the Great Yorkshire Show.

“It was overwhelming,” he said. “I was ecstatic when I found out I'd won it.

“I just went in to try and just do my best. I knew if I did my best, I’d be in with a good chance. I felt fairly positive about the whole job – I just gave it everything.”

Henry, a dairy farmer, has shorn for the past three seasons in England and for the last two in New Zealand.

And, while he hasn't yet had a chance to take advantage of any of the training discounts that British Wool offers to YFC members, he is delighted that they are involved.

“British Wool do a hell of a lot for the shearing industry,” he said.

British Wool provided a 50% discount to YFC members on training for a Blue Seal qualification in sheep shearing and also provided branded vests for the participants in the national final.

Richard Schofield from British Wool said: "British Wool enjoy supporting this competition because it's very important that we encourage the young farmers of this country to learn this skill and to demonstrate the career opportunities available in shearing. It's a great way to travel the world and earn money while doing an enjoyable job.

"We were delighted so many YFC members took up the opportunity to have discounted training through British Wool and then continued to compete and represent their Areas at the national competition at the Great Yorkshire Show. The standard of entrants was exceptional and fantastic to see such high levels of skills being used even among many of the younger competitors."

It was an amazing achievement for all four of the YFC members who received a place cards as they battled through the many heats at the national final.

Stuart Persey from Devon came second with Henry Crocker from Cumbria and Declan Gill from Yorkshire coming third and fourth respectively.