THURSDAY March 5 2009 

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!"

For all other results and archived video action see http://www.goldenshears.co.nz. 
 
For further information and free higher resolution images 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.

ENDS

CAPTION:

TWELVE-year old Simon Goss of Kimbolton shears his way to second place of the novice shearing final at Masterton's Golden Shears today.