A SPEED shearing event organised by a village community last year proved so successful, it is returning this year.

The Newbridge-on-Wye Speed Shear was a smash hit in 2022, raising £7,000 to be shared among a number of charities.

The event will be held at the New Inn car park on Friday, August 25, from 6pm.

The British Heart Foundation received £5,000 last year, with the event held in September, while the Newbridge Carnival committee was handed £1,150 and the Newbridge Christmas lights crew got £1,000.

There will again be local groups benefitting from this year’s event, while the main beneficiary will be Brain Tumour Research, with the issue close to the hearts of organisers.

“Brain Tumour Research is very close to the heart of the community after local farmer Ian Fairclough, of Bryncoch, Newbridge, suffered a brain tumour in March 2021, at the age of 46,” said Danielle Samuel, one of the event organisers.

“Ian accessed life-saving treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in a specialist unit where he underwent two operations to insert a shunt and follow up surgery to remove the non-cancerous tumour.

“Without the Brain Tumour Research Ian wouldn’t be here with us today.”

Of this year’s event, Danielle added: “Donations will also be made to Newbridge Primary School, Newbridge Carnival and Newbridge North Christmas lights.

“We ran it for the first time last year and it was a huge success. We raised just over £7,000 for the British Heart Foundation and two other local charities.”

Jayne Lewis, of the British Heart Foundation, said: “It was wonderful to meet the Newbridge-on-Wye Speed Shear committee who presented a wonderful £5,000 to British Heart Foundation Cymru.

“The committee chose to support our lifesaving research as one of the members of the club, Roger Abberley, suffered a heart condition.

“Thank you to all the members of the committee and the local community for raising this wonderful total and also for the welcome I received on the day. Thank you all so much.”

The August 25 speed shear begins with booking at 6pm followed by a 6.30pm prompt start, with the event likely to finish at midnight.

A bar and burgers will be available, while entertainment will be provided by The Twurzels.