Saturday March 1 2008

IT was the supreme double act from Kaiwaka’s lightening Henderson brothers at New Zealand’s premier shearing competition today, the Golden Shears 2008.
Tane and Toa took first and second place respectively in a hotly contested Senior Shearing Championship in Masterton’s Memorial Stadium. 
The former Otamatea High School pupils were a class act, shearing with skill, speed and high quality against four others up under the bright lights of the competition stands.
Tane, 23, was a favourite after a good season in the lead up to the Shears. He won the Seniors at the Pahiatua Shears last Sunday after taking out the same event at the Apiti Shears the day before. He also won at five other shows earlier in the season.
Toa, 17, said he’d been shearing for three years but he kept close on the heels of his more experienced elder brother.
The pair shore against a strong field including Masterton’s Mark Buick shearing in his hometown, Maaka Rangiwa from Matatura, Te Kuiti’s James Ruki and Stewart Smith of Mataura.
The commentators had the Kaiwaka boys pegged right from the start.
“These Hendersons aren’t going to muck around, they’re putting the hammer down tonight,” said commentator Michael “Screamer” Maihi.
Ruki was first in to the pen for his first, second and then third sheep, closely followed by the Hendersons.
The situation was the same on the fifth sheep.
The Hendersons were a marvel of synchronicity on their sixth sheep, with two stands separating them, they tore down the final shoulder together.
“These more power in these guys than the hydro lakes,” called Screamer.
On the tenth and final sheep Ruki finished a split second before Tane who was quickly tailed to the buzzer by his brother.
Ruki had a quick easy style but it was no match for the Hendersons in quality when it came to the judging of their work.
Tane finished in first, Toa in second, followed by Rangiwai in third, Smith in fourth, Ruki in fifth and Buick in sixth.
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.