FORD PILES VICTORY ON GRUELLING VICTORY -  BY Margaret Way        Back A NEW world ewe shearing record, two open final victories, and for some light relief to conclude, a win for the team in one of those shearing/eating/drinking contests down at the local. That's how the last week of January panned out for Darin Forde. The 31-year-old Southlander with a taste for tough tasks kicked off his week with a win in the open final at the Tuapeka Shears in Lawrence. Two days later, Tuesday January 28 1997, he shore 720 ewes for a new world record at Wairaki Station. Blackmount. The following Saturday he won the Waikaka Shears; he admitted following the 20 sheep final to feeling "a bit drained", then lined up at Lester Routlege's Bottom Pub in Winton the next day, adamant he wouldn't let the side down. He had the same feeling on his record day as he sat at lunchtime pondering the job ahead of him that afternoon. He was between four and six sheep (depending on which way you calculated it) behind to break Dion Morrell's record of 716 set on the same stand at Wairaki two years before. It was, as chief referee Doug Oliver later said, " a pretty steep hill".  He'd had a great start, shearing 161 in the two-hour run before breakfast. But he couldn't keep his breakfast down, and went into the second run unsettled. Cramp and tension set in during the second run - he shore 139 but one did not pass the close inspection of the judges. Morning smoko wasn't long enough. He was having trouble focusing, he said. No camera flashes. The gear that had been going so well the day before didn't seem to be cutting. He asked for minimum movement and talking around him. He just wanted to hear that voice inside his head, driving him on. And the words of his "second", big brother and former record holder Edsel. The year before, Darin Forde and mate Wayne Ingram lined up at Wairaki Station for a successful two -stand ewe record. Darin's 688 tally on that day - which had been his final inspiration to have a tilt at the ultimate individual - was a walk in the park compared to this. Run three, he notched up 137, all counted. Forearm cramp and the absence of a smooth flowing rhythm resulted in grim faces and furrowed brows from team members like physio Chris Gibb, organisers Peter Black and Brendan Potae and fiancée Julie Coleman. At lunchtime he didn't want to talk, but listened when Edsel - who knew about things not quite gelling on record day - talked about a record still being within reach, provided he wanted it "bad enough". Edsel reminded him of the time David Fagan had been eight down on a lamb record at lunchtime, and still got back up to break it. Wayne Ingram chanced a chat too and just before Darin set sail into his fourth run, David Fagan, who'd flown south just for Darin's day, was seen on the board offering encouragement and empathy too. Dion Morrell summed up as Darin dug deep in that phenomenal run after lunch: "What he's going through right now is going to be what is going to make it special." Visibly fading, but hanging on relentlessly, Darin Forde shore 143 to set himself back on track for a new record. He hadn't sweated for years in the shed and months in the gym and swimming pool for nothing. "And I was pretty worried about letting a lot of people down," Darin said later. Darin's tally for the last run was 141. At about three minutes to five he dropped 716 out the porthole and the huge crowd, which had been muted with the well-spread word of Darin's request for quiet earlier in the day, went wild. After waiting the required half hour for any written protests to be lodged, Doug Oliver announced Darin Forde's new world record, subject to a clear drug test. Dion Morrell graciously congratulated Darin, and thanked him for the day. " It’s good to watch someone else," Morrell said. It had been a gut wrenching, emotional day. If there were any eyes still dry Darin Forde took care of that with a remarkably frank and composed speech of thanks to a multitude of people, before presenting flowers to his woolhandler, Raelene McConachie and fiancée Julie Coleman. "Records," said Edsel Forde, "are supposed to hurt. If they didn't everyone would be having a go." Heads are now nodding sagely. This is one record, which will stand for some time. Unless Dion Morrell decides he wants it back. Watch this space at about this time next year.