Saturday March 1 2008

GISBORNE shearer Ian Kirkpatrick, 17, lived up to the family name at New Zealand’s premier shearing contest today, the Golden Shears 2008.
A nephew of former Golden Shears Open champ John Kirkpatrick, and son of gun shearer Ian Kirkpatrick, he showed he was cut from the same cloth in the Intermediate Shearing Championship.
The former Gisborne Boys High pupil paced himself well under the bright lights of the event for shearers who have recorded a shed tally of up to 310 sheep in a nine-hour day.
Te Kuiti’s Mark Grainger led in the opening minutes but Tama Nia Nia of Gisborne overtook him with some very fast shearing through the middle of the event.
Through the last quarter Kirkpatrick caught up with his fellow-Gisborne shearer and they worked blow for blow on their seventh sheep with Grainger just behind.
Tom Moorhouse from Pio Pio and Aaron Haynes of Fielding followed, matching one another as Wairoa’s Ingrid Baynes bought up the rear, concentrating on quality as the boys sped on.
On the eighth and final sheep Kirkpatrick gained the upper hand and finished first on the stands followed by Grainger a split second later, then Nia Nia.
Kirkpatrick’s quality was as good as his speed and the final decision gave him a win.
“I’d just like to thank my old man for helping me do my gear…and Johnny and the other competitors and the judges,” he said.
Grainger finished in second, followed by Nia Nia in third and Moorhouse at fourth.
In fifth place was Haynes followed by Baynes at sixth.

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

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