Friday February 28 2008 

Image: Kiwi Matthew Timu running hot today in the Open Shearing Heats of New Zealand’s premier shearing contest, the Golden Shears.

THE WEATHER is hot and so is the competition on day two of New Zealand’s toughest shearing contest, Golden Shears 2008.
Things are in full swing at Masterton’s War Memorial Stadium in drought-gripped Wairarapa as gun shearers from New Zealand and around the world via for victory in the Open event.
The Open title is regarded as the pinnacle of competitive shearing and this afternoon’s heats saw high-calibre performances from a field of 90-plus.
Semi-finalists will be announced tonight and an exciting final is anticipated for Saturday.
The top echelon of Kiwi shearers are all looking likely, including 15-time Shears winner David Fagan, past winners Paul Avery, Dion King and John Kirkpatrick along with guns Dean Ball and Digger Balme.
The action continues tonight with the Trans-Tasman Woolhandling Test, following on a day of good results for local woolpressers.
Jo Ammundsen and Fiona Christensen of Masterton won the Womens Woolpressing Pairs in a well-fought final against fellow Masterton pressers Hinetawirirangi Biddle and Dana Hill. 
Christensen then bet Ammundsen in a closely contested final in the Womens Woolpressing Singles.
Masterton’s Goodyer brothers then kept it in the family in the Mens Woolpressing Pairs and Singles finals.
Jeremy and Warwick Goodyer bet their brothers Vinnie and James in the Pairs and Jeremy aced Lee Paku, also of Masterton, in the Singles.
The 48th Golden Shears runs to Saturday March 1 and sees competitors from New Zealand, Norway, Australia, the UK, Ireland, and South Africa battle it out for the top titles.

For a full programme and live video action see www.goldenshears.co.nz.

For free images or further information contact the Golden Shears Media Group at goldenshears@pete or phone 021 488 137 or 027 5788 137. International callers phone 006421 488 137 or 006427 5788 137.