Friday 5 March, 2010 

First Female into Top 30

THERE’S a first time for everything and tonight was that time for Scottish woman Una Cameron when she became the first female ever to make the top 30 in the open shearing heats. 

The 37 year old professional shearer has taken a remarkable path her get to tonight’s event and believe it or not, it didn’t start on a farm.

Una spent her first five years growing up in Germany where her father held an army post. It was later, when they moved back to Scotland and into the small village of St Boswells, near Edinburgh, that her passion for farming, shearing, all things agricultural was born. 

She later spent six years working on a small farm and by 1995 had embarked on her first full season of shearing. That year was also the first time she was introduced to competitive shearing and the first time she came out to New Zealand.

Una’s career as a shearer has steamed ahead ever since. She’s been working for Pahiatua-based shearing contractor Motu Tua for six years and has no plans of moving on any time soon.

One might have thought that to become a professional in a career that is dominated by men would be satisfaction enough for most. But not for Una. 

With the support of her partner, fellow Scot and former world teams champion George Bayne, Una made the brave move of entering into this year’s Golden Shears’ open shearing competition. She was one of only three women to have qualified into the competition and went on to become the first women ever to make it into the top 30.

Una said that whatever the outcome of this weekend’s competition, just making it to the Shears has been a thrill and an honour.

“This is the ultimate. This singlet here, this black singlet, this is what it’s all about,” she said, proudly looking down on her Golden Shears top.

“I don’t think I will ever be wearing this again. It will probably be framed straight away.”

For detailed results to date visit http://www.goldenshears.co.nz/results10/index.htm

For free higher resolution images go to http://pete.co.nz/press/ at http://pete.co.nz/

For more information and specific higher resolution images contact the Golden Shears media group at goldenshears@pete.co.nz or phone 021 488 137. International callers phone 0064 21 488 137.

ENDS