🐑✂️ PORTREE TO HOST WORLD SHEEP HAIRDRESSING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Isle of Skye Tourist Board is delighted to announce that Portree has been selected to host this year’s World Sheep Hairdressing Championships. Skye fought off stiff international competition from Milan, Paris, New York, Dubai and a croft just outside Reykjavik, to secure the prestigious event. Las Vegas withdrew during the final bidding process after organisers discovered they had very few sheep. Milan is understood to be disappointed. Portree isn’t. Competitors from around the world will descend on Skye to compete in several categories, including Traditional Cut, Contemporary Fleece, Creative Styling, Best Fringe and the fiercely contested International Mullet. Local crofters have welcomed the announcement. Donald “Dodo” MacLeod, a veteran crofter from Staffin, said: “We’ve been cutting sheep’s hair here for hundreds of years. We just never realised you could charge folk to watch.” Meanwhile, Angus MacKinnon, 74, from north Skye, remains cautious about some of the more modern styles. “I saw one last year with a pink mohican.” “Perfectly good sheep ruined.” Competition judge - Murdo “Scissors” MacRae, who has apparently been shearing professionally since “before electric was reliable”, said standards would be exceptionally high. “You’re looking for balance, shape and movement, although if it stops moving altogether, that certainly helps.” Local favourite Mairi MacAskill is already attracting attention with her controversial new style, ‘The Portree Perm’. Mairi refused to discuss her technique. Her sheep also declined to comment. Accommodation in Portree is expected to be extremely limited during the championships. Fortunately, anyone unable to find a room can still experience the authentic crofting lifestyle by sleeping in their car for £38. Parking not included. - Isle of Skye Tourist Board "Bringing world-class events to Skye. Whether Skye asked for them or not."