This Friday, close to 100 shearers from the central west, interstate and even overseas will gather at the Imperial Hotel including more than three world record holders.

Defending 2016 opens champion Beau Guelfi, a shearing contractor from New Zealand, is a likely candidate to pick up the major award again having won with a blistering time of 23.36 last year.

For most shearers Friday night will be the first of two days of competition with Grenfell hosting its quick shear on Saturday night with roughly $7000 on offer also.

Organiser Tim Chalker is highly anticipating the event, knowing how popular the 2016 edition was.

“We’re expecting more than 80 shearers,” Tim said.

“Beau [Guelfi] is flying in on Friday, he won it last year. He’ll do Friday night here than Saturday night at Grenfell and then he’ll head back to New Zealand.

“There’ll be more than three world record holders here. Beau Guelfi holds about three world records himself.”

The quick shear includes an open category, senior category and intermediate category to cater for all levels.

Competitors won’t only be judged on the speed they knock wool off a sheep, they also need to be wary of the quality of the shear.

Each category will stage heats before respective finals – two red lights means you’re disqualified, two green means you have qualified.

Depending on the availability of sheep, organiser Tim Chalker hopes to host a local shearers’ challenge with the winner pocketing $500.

T and B Shearing’s Ben Gorham, a NSW representative at last year’s show shear Australian championships, will be one of the leading contenders.

All the action starts from 7pm this Friday night at the Imperial Hotel.

Registrations will be taken from 6pm, but Tim is encouraging registrations to be submitted prior to Friday.

There will be a calcutta auction for the main shear with funds raised going to a charity organisation.

To register your spot in the quick shear, contact Tim Chalker on 0428331500.