Saturday March 1 2008


THE top guns of Kiwi shearing are oiling their hand pieces tonight in the lead up to the world’s greatest shearing competition at New Zealand’s Golden Shears 2008.
Six of the best have qualified for the Open Shearing Championships at the Golden Shears in Masterton, an event that is regarded as the pinnacle of competitive shearing around the globe.
Past winners Paul Avery, Dion King and John Kirkpatrick, as well as 15-times Shears winner David Fagan, qualified for the event after a rigorous round of heats and semi-finals.
They are joined by fellow New Zealander Dean Ball and naturalised Kiwi, Scotsman Gavin Mutch.
It is a class line up and in the know punters say the title could go anywhere.
Avery was the top qualifier followed by King, Kirkpatrick, Ball, Mutch and Fagan.
The Open Final is scheduled to begin at 10pm tonight and results should be posted within 30 minutes of the official announcement. 
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.co.nz or phone 021 488 137 or 027 5788 137. International callers phone 006421 488 137 or 006427 5788 137.