Saturday March 7 2009

Sweet 16 For Shearing Legend

DAVID FAGAN has done it again. The 47-year old titan of shearing has won the Golden Shears Open Shearing Championship tonight for the 16th time in an unprecedented display of shearing virtuosity.
"I still don't believe this I really don't. Holy hell. I don't know what to say…sweet 16, what do you reckon?" he told a buzzing crowd.
The 5-times world champ fought off a talented field of younger shearers led by fast Napier gun Dion King to take home the coveted title.
The nearest a shearer has come to such an achievement is Brian King who won six Golden Shears Opens between 1965 and 1972.
Fagan was genuinely moved by the win when he took the board to receive his champion's sash and trophy.
"Sweet 16. I've been waiting to say that for a few years."
"It was one of the more memorable ones…along with number 10, that was pretty good too. Yeah, sweet 16."
The TAB had Fagan at number 4 on the card just prior to the event and that must had been a red rag to a bull.
The hard fought contest began with a strong showing from King who looked determined to take back the title he won in 2006.
The field shore in beautiful unison on the first sheep, swinging into the long blow and up the spine together, with King breaking away after the last leg to be first back in the pen for sheep two.
Wanganui's Jerome McCrea was a quick second and commentator Koro Mullins was impressed by his fast pace.
"He's going to put the H back in Wanganui," he said.
King and McCrea maintained their slight lead with McCrea first to sheep five then King to the sixth.
But the old hand had been biding his time and jumped King on the seventh sheep, showing he still had something to prove.
Fagan dominated the mid section of the competition as the shearers dug in for last 10 sheep in the 20 sheep contest.
"Don't breath people, the shearers need all the oxygen," Mullins said.
Meanwhile former Open finalist Dean Ball began to fly a flag from Stand 6, the big-shouldered pig Hunter from Te Kuiti picking up the pace.
King came back at Fagan to be first to sheep 10 and was first again to 11, having shorn 10 sheep in just 7.57 minutes.
Whangamomona-based Scotsman Gavin Mutch plugged away an animal behind and the current World Champ, Stratford's Paul Avery, was his usual careful self at Stand 4, shearing calmly on for the quality points.
Fagan was just a few blows behind King as they took to sheep 12 and gradually gained the upper hand making it first to 13, then 14.
King answered with a furious shear through sheep 14 and made it first to 15, where he switched to a fresh hand piece.
Fagan switched to a new steel himself between 16 and 17 and began to turn on the speed.
But King didn't want to be caught and looked to be widening the gap between himself and Fagan as the crowed roared.
He was first again to sheep 19 and again to the 20th but the titan would not be trounced and Fagan flew into the final blows to finish first with a time of just 15.56.96 minutes.
King was next, followed by Ball then McCrea, Avery and Mutch.
After the quality judging Fagan retained his top spot with 58.098 points, just beating Avery with 58.607.
Ball was close behind with 58.832 and Mutch next with 59.116.
McCrea came in with 61.290 points at fifth place and the speedster King finished sixth with 62.720 points.
Avery also picked up the trophy for top quality points in the open final.

Shearing Guns Blow For Blow Battle

SHEARING guns Ian Kirkpatrick and Bou Dean Hawkins fought blow for blow in a closely contested Golden Shears Senior Final at 49th annual Golden Shears in Masterton today.
Gisborne's Kirkpatrick shore to an early lead in the event with local favourite Hawkins, from Martinborough, close behind.
Kirkpatrick continued to set the pace and at the sixth sheep of the 12 sheep race was still in front but with Hawkins snapping at his heels.
Te Kuiti's Mark Grainger moved in as well, and by the eighth animal Hawkins was just two blows behind Kirkpatrick with the crowd urging him on.
Finally at the eleventh hour and eleventh sheep Hawkins pounced and was first down the belly cut with Kirkpatrick a nano-second behind.
But Kirkpatrick wasn't to be beaten so easily and shore like a man possessed on the final sheep to finish several seconds ahead of Hawkins.
After the judging of the sheep in the pens for the quality of the shear, Kirkpatrick emerged the winner with Hawkins in second.
Alex Reid of Taihape was third followed by Grainger in fourth.
Fielding's AAaron Haynes made fifth and Paul Lewis of Gisborne was sixth.
Kirkpatrick's skill was confirmed when he won trophy for the best quality in the Golden Shears Senior Shearing competition.

The North Island's Fast Fleecers Fight It Out

THE North Islands top wool handlers fought it out with fleeces flying at Masterton's 49th annual Golden Shears this morning.
The junior, senior and open finals of the North Island Woolhandling Circuit are something of a prelude to the Golden Shears woolhandling competitions, which culminate in the Open Woolhandling Final tonight.
In the North Island Woolhandling Circuit Junior Final this morning a graceful performance from Te Awamutu's Catherine Christey earned her a first place followed by Masterton's Kiley Laris in second then Ursula Taiaroa, Masterton, third and Tane Matiaha-Paku, Masterton, in fourth place.
In the North Island Senior Final, Angela Aldridge of Te Kuiti placed first.
Martha Marshall, Waikaretu, was second and Victoria Kumeroa, Wanganui, was third.
Palmerston North's Kiri Gerretzen finished in fourth.
New Zealand representative woolhandler Joel Henare, Dannevirke, kept his usual high standards to win the North Island Woolhandling Sports Circuit Open Final.
Hanatia Tipene, Porangahau, followed him in second place and Keryn Herbert, Te Awamutu, was third.
2008 Golden Shears Open Woolhandling champ Ronnie Goss, Kimbolton, placed fourth.
The North Island woolhandling was followed by the Golden Shears Contractors Association Teams Event Final.
Paewai Mullins Shearing took out the top spot followed by Shear Expertise in second and the Paewai Mullins Wannabees in third.

Veteran Gun On Form For Golden Shears Battle

SHEARING legend David Fagan laid down the gauntlet last night as he claimed the top qualifying position going into the semi-finals of the world's toughest shearing contest, the Golden Shears Open Shearing Championship.
The Te Kuiti gun and 15-times Golden Shears Open winner placed first among the top 12 shearers going into the semi-finals to be held today at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton, New Zealand.
At age 47, and with five shearing world championship titles to his name, Fagan topped the list of qualifiers ahead of 2006 Golden Shears Open champ Dion King, Napier, who was in the second-top qualifying position.
Whangamomona-based Scotsman Gavin Mutch was next, followed by Nathan Stratford from Invercargill.
Current world champ and two-times Golden Shears winner Paul Avery from Stratford was the fifth qualifier followed by Te Kuiti's Dean Ball and then Alton Devery of Tuatapere.
Kirkpatrick was followed by Fagan's nephew James Fagan, also of Te Kuiti, then Rowland Smith of Ruawai.
Jason Win, Ikamatua, was next with Jerome McCrea of Wanganui qualifying in twelfth.
The top twelve will shear off in two heats this afternoon to further pare down the field to a top six finalists to compete for the Open Championship title tonight.

Friday March 6 2009

New Zealand Beats A Tough Aussie Side In Woolhandling Test

NEW ZEALAND fought off a tough Aussie side to take home the sashes at the Golden Shears Woolhandling test tonight.
Joel Henare and Keryn Herbert worked every inch of the way, finishing behind Australians Rachel Hutchison and Angela Wakely in time, but winning on total points at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton, New Zealand.
The Australians gained a quick lead on their preferred breed, the merino, with a lovely first throw from Hutchison on the table.
The woolhandlers follow the shearer round the animal, ordering the fleece as it fell, as the Kiwis fought to gain ground.
But they were soon a fleece behind the Australians as the shearers swung into the belly blows on the second pair of merinos in the four merino, four crossbred sheep contest.
"What did these Australians have for breakfast? They are having a helluva good time," said commentator Koro Mullins.
The Kiwis worked hard to catch up on the crossbreeds but the Australians finished first.
Speaking after the event Hutchinson said the Australian policy had been one of all guns.
"Just go for it," she said.
Henare said the Kiwis had sacrificed time for quality.
"Quality counts, that's what it's all about. We like to make sure we do a good job for the farmer and put the money in his pocket. But like the Aussie's say, go hard or go home," he said.
Quality did count. The Kiwi took home the victory sashes with just 30 points between them and the Australians, a close margin in woolhandling events.

Kiwis Win First Ever Wales-New Zealand Shearing Test At Golden Shears

NEW ZEALAND shore up a storm to take out the inaugural Welsh-Kiwi test at the world's greatest shearing contest, the Golden Shears, tonight.
Kiwis John Kirkpatrick and Paul Avery fought a fierce battle with Welsh shearers Gareth Daniels and Nicky Banyon in the first-ever test on New Zealand soil at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton.
Commentator Koro Mullins warned of a determined Welsh challenge as Daniels shore his way to an early lead.
"When they put that red singlet across there heart they become different beings. We've seen it in rugby and tonight we'll see it in shearing,"
"Gareth is really giving it a rumble here tonight," he said.
But the New Zealand team showed the form which earned them the teams World Championship title in Norway last year.
The Kiwis shore in perfect unison as they hit into the final blows of their third sheep and current Golden Shears Open champ Kirkpatrick gained a lead for New Zealand as he went back to the pen for sheep five.
United Kingdom record holder Beyon was holding out for Wales as Daniels chased Kirkpatrick on sheep six.
"Benyon is from a place called Cardiff where they gave the All Blacks a little curry up a few years ago," Mullins said.
"But Paul Avery is flying his fleece away and really starting to wind up now."
The current world champ took over the lead for NZ and held it to finish first on the twelve and final sheep followed by Kirkpatrick, Daniels then Benyon.
The two teams will meet three more times in New Zealand in the test series and Benyon said they'd be back of next year's 50th anniversary Golden Shears.
"They'll definitely be a Welsh team here next year...hopefully I'll get to be the manager," he said.
The Golden Shears is recognised as the worlds premiere competitive sheep shearing contest, attracting shearers from around the globe, and is regarded as one of New Zealand's iconic events.

Flying Scotswoman Foots It With The Big Boys

SCOTLAND'S Una Cameron battled it out with the world's greatest shearers today at the world's toughest shearing contest in Masterton, New Zealand. Cameron, dubbed the "Flying Scotswoman" by commentators, shore in the Open Shearing competition of the international renowned Golden Shears against 15-times Golden Shears winner and 5 times world shearing champ David Fagan. Also on the stands in Cameron's heat was Australian test team member and former world champ Shannon Warnest. Cameron appeared undaunted and flew into her first sheep, keeping pace with her five co-competitors, all men. "Look at her coming down the last side as she really combs it out," called the commentary. The pace quicken throughout the event with Cameron maintaining her cool and shearing for quality but ultimately missing out on a place in the semi-finals The Golden Shears is recognised as the world's premier competitive sheep shearing contest attracting shearers from around the globe and is regarded as one of New Zealand's iconic events.

Brother Versus Brother At World's Premier Shearing Contest

THE old hand carried the day when brother battled brother for the Men's Woolpressing Championship at the 49th annual Golden Shears in Masterton today.
Masterton brothers Jeremy and Vinnie Goodyer fought it out in a close final that had the crowd on the edge of their seats at the Genesis Recreation Centre.
Four-time consecutive champ Jeremy looked calm as he secured his bale for loading while younger brother Vinnie showed he wasn't going to give an inch as he packed armloads of wool into the press.
Vinnie slowly gained a lead but Jeremy seemed to determine to remain unhurried, concentrating on quality.
The brothers leapt into their presses to pack their first load with legs pounding while the commentators cautioned Jeremy.
"The problem with little bros is that they always grow up…and then they take over from you!"
The prophecy looked to be coming true in the time stakes as Vinnie began to pull away from Jeremy and was first to swing the top box around, then first on the crank.
Not to be outdone, Jeremy put on a turn of speed and showed why he was reigning champ as he gathered the press pins and pulled them out in a fan-shaped handful, tapping the press gate open in one fluid movement.
Vinnie whipped round his work area for a clean up and finished first in just 10 minutes and 26 seconds.
Jeremy came in straight behind with a time of 10 minutes and 47 seconds.
While the younger had the pace, the older had the quality; after a bale weigh in and judging Jeremy finished first on total points.
Jeremy's bale weighed in at an impressive 175 kgs against Vinnie's 163 kgs.
"Bloody Vinnie made me work a sweat! I felt a bit of pressure from my younger brother. Nice try Vinnie, maybe next year," Jeremy said when presented with his champion's sash.
The Goodyers were followed by Masterton's Jareth Fox in third and Karl Forward of Napier in fourth place.
The Goodyer brother's teamed up earlier in the day to take out the Men's Woolpressing Pairs final against uncle and nephew pair Paul and Rob Lewis. Tipene Geye and Gary Mita were in third.
It is the fourth time a pair of Goodyer brothers have won the event, Jeremy and his other brother Warwick having claimed the three previous titles.
Warwick was seriously injured in a car accident last year and Jeremy dedicated the Goodyer's winning pairs performance to their brother who turned out to watch the pressing.
The Warwick Goodyer Trust was established to assist with the rehabilitation of the gun presser and the Women's Woolpressing Pairs winners Fiona Christensen and Cushla Gordon of Masterton gifted their winnings to the trust.
Christensen and Gordon took out the Womens final to beat Palmerston North's Kiri Gerretzen and Daisy Taua.
Christensen then went on to beat Gerretzen in the Womens Woolpressing Singles final with a time of 14 minutes and 15 seconds and a bale weight of 149 kg.
Gerretzen came in at 16 minutes and 55 seconds with 129.5 kg bale weight. Gordon was in third.
In the Young Farmers Club Blue Ribbon Shearing final local man David Buick of Pongaroa got a few points up on Waikaretu's Sam Welch to place first.
Angus Moore of Blenheim followed in third and Peter Jackson, of Weber, was fourth.
Te Kuiti's Mark Grainger placed fifth and David Buick's younger brother Mark Buick of Masterton was in sixth.
In the Young Farmers Club Shearing and Woolhandling Teams Event, Waikato took top honours followed by Northland in second and East Coast in third place.
The action continues this afternoon at the world's greatest shearing contest as shearing guns from around the globe compete in the Open Shearing Heats.

Young Masterton Shearer Rising Star

MASTERTON'S Matene Mason, 17, continued his rise through the shearing ranks today as the top qualifier going into tomorrow's Golden Shears Intermediate Shearing Final.
Mason placed second in the final of the Junior Shearing Champs at the 2008 Golden Shears where he also picked up the trophy for the Best Junior Local.
Mason showed off the experience of another year in the industry during his semi-final shear today, coming out on top against older shearers after a quick, quality performance.

Thursday March 5 2009

Masterton Novice Takes Home The Trophy

MASTERTON shearer Tane Matiaha-Paku did his hometown proud today when he took out the novice competition of the 49th Golden Shears at Genesis Recreation Centre.
The 17-year old finished first on the stand and kept up his quality to take out the top spot in a field that included fellow Masterton man Conan Gray, who finished in third.
In second was crowd-pleaser Simon Goss, aged just 12, of Kimbolton and fourth was Ireland's Brendan Graham.
Selena Birchler of Eketahuna was fifth followed by Wanganui's Chris Hay in sixth place.
Usually a wool presser, Matiaha-Paku said he blown away by the shearing win.
"It's a huge honour and a privilege to be here in front of you," he said.
"And thanks to my brother for lending me all his gears. Too much bro."

Boy Shearers Start Young At The Golden Shears

THEY start 'em young down at the shears; three 12-year old comb-welders took to the two-tooths this morning in the opening day of the 49th annual Golden Shears.
Masterton's Manahi Fox first picked up a hand-piece at age seven under the watchful eye of his father Sam Fox.
"I've been shearing ever since I was little," he said.
School holidays and weekends saw him add speed and quality to his shearing culminating in his first appearance in the Golden Shears novice heats this morning.
Fox said he thought his inaugural competition run went well and he remembered the advice of his father and uncles.
"Have confidence and keep the bottom tooth down."
Following on the stand were fellow young shearers David Gordon of Masterton and Kimbolton's Simon Goss.
Goss was also introduced to the art of shearing by his father.
"My dad used to be in shearing gangs and go around shearing. We own a farm and we do all our own shearing. I watched and I thought 'I could do this'," he said.
"You can make a bit of money and some times if you're shearing in a gang you get to go round New Zealand and meet new people and visit other places."
He went on to be the top qualifier coming out of the novice semi-finals and then placed second in the final, the youngest competitor to do so in the history of the Golden Shears novice and junior competitions.
The crowd and commentators alike were impressed by the tenacity of the young trio and commentator Nikau Gordon said Gordon was working twice as hard as the other competitors in his heat.
"It seems like the sheep is twice as big as he is. It is like for anyone else shearing a ram!" Gordon had to stand tippy-toes to push the finished sheep through his legs and down the chute on completion.

Wexford Man's Success At World's Premier Shearing Contest

WEXFORD shearer Brendan Graham has only been in New Zealand for three weeks but has already shorn his way to success at the world's premier shearing contest.
Graham, 19, earnt an appropriately green ribbon when he placed fourth in the 49th Golden Shears in Masterton, New Zealand today.
The Golden Shears is recognised as the world's toughest shearing contest with shearers travelling from around the globe to compete in the iconic event.
The only Irish competitor in the novice grade, Graham shore well in his heat and was the second to top qualifier going into the final.
Shearing on stand two in the final he shore for quality, taking his time with careful blows, a fluid style and a cool head.
Graham finished fifth of six on time but the quality judging in the pens when the clock had stopped proved his method and earned him fourth place.
"I didn't think I'd make it to the finals, let alone fourth," said a rapt Graham after the finals shear.
He said began shearing with his father back in Ireland.
"I started with me father about two years ago, just part-time and after school."
Kiwi shearers in his father's gang organised work for Graham in New Zealand and piqued his interest in the Golden Shears.
"So I came over here to shear better and get some more experience," Graham said.
Today's outing was only his second competition shear and Graham said he was fairly nervous taking the stand under the bright lights and in front of a large crowd. But after his success he said he'd have to enter again.
"I'm here for a year so I'll be back next time for sure," Graham said.
The Golden Shears is regarded as one of New Zealand's iconic events and is closely associated with a country where one of the most significant industries and exports is wool.

Kimbolton's 12-Year Old Shearing Sensation Places At Golden Shears

KIMBOLTON'S 12-year old shearing sensation Simon Goss shore his way to glory at the 49th annual Golden Shears in Masterton today.
The plucky youngster placed second in the final of the novice shearing competition.
He also shore his way into shearing history as the youngest competitor shears spotters can recall in a novice final ever.
Goss was the top qualifier from the semi-finals when he took to the stage at stand three this afternoon.
Up against five older shearers he kept his cool and went for quality with a nice turn of speed on the last sheep of a two-sheep race to finish third in time.
His attention to detailed paid off and the son of 1985 intermediate Golden Shears winner Allan Goss and 2008 woolhandling champ Ronnie Goss placed second.
Goss was rapt with his success and said the Golden Shears was only his second competition ever, having competed in the shearing at the Apiti Sports last weekend.
MC Koro Mullins said Goss's hand piece weighed more than he did and the commentators suggested his shearing skills would win him a place on America's Got Talent.
"His shearing would really spin their heads! The New Zealand shearing industry is in very good hands if our 12-year olds can shear like this."
Goss said he was introduced to the art of shearing by his father.
"My dad used to be in shearing gangs and go around shearing. We own a farm and we do all our own shearing. I watched and I thought 'I could do this'," he said.
"You can make a bit of money and some times if you're shearing in a gang you get to go round New Zealand and meet new people and visit other places."
He said he was rapt with the win and was looking forward to continuing his competitive shearing career.
"It was my first big competition so I was pretty blown away. I'll be back next time for sure!"

German Woman Shears In World's Premier Shearing Competition

FROM historic Vienna to Masterton's Memorial Stadium, Germany's Stephanie Kauschur feels at home.
Kauschur first came to New Zealand to work as a shepherd after studying agriculture at university in Vienna.
"I came to work on a sheep station in the South Island. After half a year I thought I'd give shearing a go and then I got stuck there, I really like it," she said.
Despite today's Golden Shears being her first ever-shearing competition, Kauschur said she was calm.
"I'm not the kind of person who gets nervous."
And it showed on the stand with the commentators praising her speed during the novice heat she competed in.
"Maybe we should have a straight women's heat to keep the pressure off the males!" they said. Kauschur said she shears between New Zealand and Australia with most of her time now spent in the Land of Oz shearing big Merinos.
She said the Golden Shears was a great social event for the shearing community and for novices to pick up tips from the gun shearers.
"I thinks it's really good because most of New Zealand's shearing community is meeting here. They work all over the country so this is a time to catch up with people and see the guns. It's really good for learning too."
"I see shearing more as a sport but a sport that you get paid to practise."
Kauschur was born in East Germany in Halberstadt, two hours from Berlin, and said she was heading back home next week to try and find work in Europe as a shearer.
"So this is my farewell event but I'll be back in September for the next season."

Three Thousand Sheep Descend on Masterton

THREE THOUSAND sheep descend on Masterton as the 49th Golden Shears swings into action today.
The world's premier shearing competition sees around three thousand woolly competition sheep carted, corralled and shorn over three exciting days.
Meanwhile caterers will produce some 1200 hot meals to feed volunteers and judges in addition to the 200 kilograms of chicken drum sticks and 100 dozen soft drinks sold front of house.
"And we've lost count of the chips!" said Ambassador Catering boss Tweet Bird.
He said as well as the regular fare he would be selling Tui Brewery's new gourmet 250-gram Tui pie.
Golden Shears entertainment and finance officer Greg Herrick said around 250 hard-working volunteers made the iconic event happen each year.
He said some volunteers had given in excess of 25 years service, which worked out to around two years worth of volunteer hours throughout their involvement.
When all the hours were tallied, over 100 years worth of volunteer work had gone in to the Golden Shears since the first competition in 1960.
Golden Shears International Shearing Championship Society president Mavis Mullins said the next few days would be a great opportunity for Wairarapa people to connect with their famous event and keep it country.
"We used to say the divide between town and country was growing bigger. It's even happening in our small towns. Let's not be guilty of that and take our kids down to the Golden Shears," she said.
Mrs Mullins said the competition wasn't just for the young viewers, she could recall being impressed by more than the shearing skills of competitors at her first Golden Shears.
"I remember thinking 'wow!' all these hot guys in tight pants, glistening with sweet!"
"These guys are elite sports people doing an elite sport and it's happening right on Wairarapa's doorstep."
Golden Shears secretary Pip Dalgliesh said among the more usual entries from New Zealand, Australia and the British Isles there were also shearers from Finland, Germany and the Czech Republic set to compete.
"We've got one Czech guy who's entered. His English isn't too good so we'll have to try and translate for him during the competition," she said.
Mrs Dalgliesh said competitor numbers were up and ticket sales were going well.
A rise in foreign entries reflected the Golden Shears growing international profile in the build up to the 50th anniversary event next year.
The Golden Shears is recognised as the world's premier competitive sheep shearing contest attracting shearers from around the globe.
It is regarded as one of New Zealand's iconic events and is closely associated with a country where one of the most significant industries and exports is wool.

Wednesday March 4, 2009

TAB Odds

In-form Hawke's Bay shearer John Kirkpatrick has been made a hot-favourite to win his third Golden Shears open title, in the TAB odds announced today on the eve of the start of the 49th international shearing and woolhandling championships in Masterton.
Kirkpatrick, the winner of 13 open finals in 17 competitions in New Zealand this summer, has opened paying $1.60, more than a clear point ahead of fellow two-times winner Paul Avery, of Taranaki, who opened at $4.00, having won six finals in New Zealand since beating Kirkpatrick in the World Championships final in Norway in October.
Te Kuiti veteran and former New Zealand open champion Dean Ball has edged into third on the list an $8-shot to win the coveted title for the first time, after winning the highly-ranked Pahiatua Shears title last Sunday, resulting in the TAB offering surprisingly lucrative odds on 47-year-old David Fagan, who after winning the Rangitikei Sports open last month and maintaining regular form among the top competitiors, is a $10 shot to win the title for a 16th time.
Kirpatrick, 38, won the title for the first time in 2002, when he became the first person to beat Fagan in the 20-sheep Golden Shears open final since Southland shearer Edsel Forde won in 1989. Kirkpatrick won the title in an all-conquering season last year,beating Avery who had won in 2005 and 2007.
Te Kuiti showman Digger Balme, who has one win behind him this year, joins the only other former champion in the field, Napier shearer Dion King, and the South Island's leading hope, Invercargill shearer Nathan Stratford on the fifth line at $15.
All will have to make it safely through three qualifying stages in the championships which start with novice and junior class events tomorrow (thursday). More than 80 shearers will compete in the open heats on Friday, many aiming just make the cut of 30 for the quarterfinals that night. the semi-finals for the top 12 will be on Saturday afternoon, leading to the naming of international shearing's most elite six for the final on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Stratford has opened a warm favourite for the PGG Wrightson National final which will also be shorn on Saturday night, the first time the TAB will have run pools on two events at Golden Shears.
It has gone with Stratford's place as the top qualifier among 12 for Saturday morning's national semi-final, after five qualifying rounds at Alexandra (merino), Waimate (long-wool), Christchurch (Corriedale), Raglan (lambs) and Pahiatua (second-shear). But no South Islander has won the National since 2004, despite a perception it favours the merino shearers of the south.
Stratford, who was top qualifier in the first two rounds of heats, starts at $2.20, with last year-s runner-up, James Fagan, who won the New Zealand Merino Championships final at Alexandra, second favourite at $4.
Kirpatrick and Avery were given exemption from competing at the opening event at Alexandra because oftheir absence at the World championships,have both reached the National semi-final, but are not known for their expertise on the merino sheep which comprise half the sheep in the semi-final, while the final is over three sheep from each of the five wool types.

For further information:

Shearing Sports New Zealand publicity: Doug Laing 0274-690644
TAB Sports Betting: Kevin Gutschlag 0274-432104.

Sunday March 1 2009

The World's Greatest Shearing Competition This Week

THE world's greatest shearing competition swings into action this week when the 49th Golden Shears in Masterton, New Zealand, begins.

The Golden Shears runs from Thursday March 5 to the always-spectacular finale on the night of Saturday March 7.

An added attraction this year will be the inaugural test between Wales and New Zealand on Friday night.

Golden Shears president Mavis Mullins said hot competition in the top grades at shears around the country during the last month would make for an exciting show.

"It's wide open in the open grade. There's been a sharing around of the spoils at competitions, John Kirkpatrick and Paul Avery have featured a lot but Dean Ball won in Pahiatua at the weekend," she said.

"No one's giving in so that's keeping the blood pressure up."

Kirkpatrick would be looking to defend his 2008 Golden Shears title while Avery will want to finish the competition season on a high note after his 2008 World Championship win.

Mrs Mullins said a big turnout was expected on the Friday and Saturday nights of the competition and people unable to get to Masterton would be able to watch the action live, as in 2008, via the Golden Shears website at www.goldenshears.co.nz.

"It's all on track and people are really excited. There's a real feeling it's going to be a great event," Mrs Mullins said.

The competition starts with the Department of Labour novice shearing heats just before 8am on Thursday and runs through shearing, woolhandling and pressing competitions and entertainment to culminate in the thrilling Golden Shears Open Shearing Final.

Shearing, woolhandling and pressing competitions are scored on a combination of time and quality penalties. The lowest score wins

Tuesday February 17 2009

Points and scoring systems

By Doug Laing

Scoring systems in shearing, woolhandling and pressing competitions are based on combinations of time, job and quality penalties. The lowest score wins.
In shearing time is calculated at a point for every 20 seconds, and job and quality points an average per sheep shorn, based on performance penalties recorded by judges on the board as the sheep are shorn, and quality penalties by judges in the pens after each the sheep have been shorn.
In woolhandling the time penalty is a point for every five seconds, and pressing it is a point for every 10 seconds, with judges, as they do in the shearing, noting penalties for faults or omissions which could detract from the value of the wool at sale.
While results at many shows are still calculated with pen, counter and calculator in hand, there are two electronic scoring systems for shearing.
Golden Shears is one of nine shows using the North Island system, operated by Lance Waddell, and 11 shows benefit from the duplicate South Island system, operated by John Lawton. Mr Waddell and assistant Marie Clarke took the North Island system to Australia for the World Championships in Toowoomba in 2005.
During all shearing heats at Golden Shears, the public see each shearer' s time and board points amassed as the sheep are being shorn, the board points sent to the system by remote hand-held counters. When the numbers on the display above each stand change from black to red moments after the last sheep is dispatched, it s the total score, including pen points.
In finals, pen points are withheld from the display in finals to maintain an element of suspense in prizegiving ceremonies.
It is hoped woolhandling will be integrated into the system in time for the 50th anniversary Golden Shears next year.

PGG Wrightson National Shearing Championship

By Doug Laing

The PGG Wrightson National, first contested as the McSkimming Memorial Triple in 1973, is New Zealand's premier all-breeds title, with the winner each year taking one of the three places in the New Zealand team for the home-and-away trans-tasman tests.
Expanded over the years, it now covers five qualifying rounds, with entrants amassing points based on placings in the open heats at the New Zealand finewool Merino championships in Alexandra, the New Zealand Spring Shears in Waimate and the national Corriedale championships before Christmas, the national lambshearing championships in Raglan in January, and last Sunday's Pahiatua Shears.
The top 12 qualify for the semi-finals to be held at the Golden Shears, leading to the final on Saturday night.
The 19 shearers in this year's series do not include David Fagan, who last year won the title for the ninth time and then gifted his place in the NZ team for the tests against Australia, in Hay (NSW) in November and here at the 2009 Golden Shears, to nephew James Fagan, who was runner-up. But they do include John Kirkpatrick and Paul Avery, who were exempted from the otherwise compulsory opening round in Alexandra, which was held on the same weekend they were winning their World titles in Norway.
Placings and points before the final qualifying round on Sunday were: 1 Nathan Stratford 35, 2 James Fagan 32, 3 Tony Coster 30, 4 Grant Smith 24, 5 John Kirkpatrick 21, 6 Alton Devery 19, 7 Sam Lewis 16, 8 Adam Brausch 15, 9 Colin O?Neill 14, 10 Cam Ferguson 13, 11 Gavin Mutch 11, 12 equal Dion Morrell/Chris Brears/Paul Avery 9, 15 equal Paerata Abraham/Matt Timu/Matthew Tumohe 6, 18 Chad Waihape 4, 19 Roger Neil 3.

Wednesday February 3 2009

A Month of Sleeps to the Golden Shears

HANDPIECES are honing and the sleeps and sheep are being counted one month out from Masterton's internationally renowned Golden Shears.
The world's top shearing contest takes place at the Genesis Recreation Centre on March 5, 6 and 7 2009.
Golden Shears Society president Mavis Mullins said the event was shaping up to be a big one with the added attraction of an inaugral Welsh/Kiwi match.
“For the first time ever there will be a Welsh versus New Zealand test to take place on the Friday night.”
“The Welsh are as passionate as any people found in the whole wide world and you can bet your boots they'll have something to show for it. We've even got a singer lined up for the Welsh national anthem” she said.
Wales hosts the 2010 World Shearing Championships and Mrs Mullins, herself a former Golden Shears woolhandling champ, said various members of the Welsh shearing fraternity would be in town.
“They’ll all be here in Masterton to check out the event and get hot tips on the organisation, as well as to check out the shearing talent.”
Adding to the excitement is a fiercely contested competition season between 2008 Golden Shears champ Johnny Kirkpatrick and current world champion Paul Avery.
The rivals shore side by side to win the teams event at last year's world champs in Norway but have battled the rest of the season in competitions throughout the country with Kirkpatrick maintaining the lead. Avery won the Agrodome Shears and the Taihape A and P title late last month heading off Kirkpatrick's three wins in three days early in January in Southland and Levin.
Kirkpatrick then hit back with a win in Danniverke last Friday.
The Golden Shears will be the biggie though, with competitors expected from around the globe. “It is seen as the pinnacle of the international shearing calender and we've had an increasing international presence at the competition,” Mrs Mullins said.
“One thing we are also very keen to see is for the Wairarapa to embrace the Golden Shears as its own. This is a Wairarapa event to be proud of,” she said.
Mrs Mullins said Masterton shearer and woolhandler Cushla Gordon would be the one to watch for locals.
“She has really been hitting her straps with a win in the junior lambshearing finals at Raglan and success in the woolhandling.”
Gordon, 19, won last year's Golden Shears novice shearing final and has gone from strength to strength since.
She bought home the New Zealand Lambshearing Championship junior trophy after a quality shear at Raglan's Western Shears last month.
Her win follows victories in the novice sections of both the shearing and woolhandling at the North Island Championships in Feilding last year.
Mrs Mullins said there was already a buzz around Golden Shears 2009 as it comes hot on the heels of the world champs.
New Zealand's Shear Blacks dominated the worlds with Kirpatrick and Avery's win in the shearing teams, Avery's first in the shearing individual with Kirkpatrick in second and a win in the woolhandling teams from Joanne Kumeroa and Sheree Alabaster.
Alabaster won the individual woolhandling followed by Kumeroa in second and Peter Race and Bill Michelle were third in the blade shearing.
Mrs Mullins said the Golden Shears organising committee had been working hard on the 2009 event and a good turn out was expected.
“It's all on as per usual. We believe numbers will be up this year, which is the way the shows have been trending.”
“That's good for the industry and good for the Wairarapa and the Golden Shears,” she said. Next year's Golden Shears will be the event's 50th birthday and the committee were continuing to work towards that.