Student Challenge

Central Hawke’s Bay farm training institution Smedley has claimed bragging rights among the farmers of the future by winning the first title decided at the 61st Golden Shears in Masterton today.

Second-year cadets Scott O’Connor, 19, from Tinui, and Benazzi Ward, 18, from Pirinoa, won the six-team MKM Student Shearing Challenge, claiming the Tikokino operation’s first win in the event.

Pukemiro, which won the first two Student challenges at Golden Shears in 2019 and 2020, was runner-up, with its pairing of Zach Hall and Renee Garrett.

Acclaimed co-educational college Feilding High School, where a campus shearing competition dates back over 30 years, was third, followed in order by Napier Boys High School, Palmerston North Boys High School, and Growing Future Farmers.

There was further good news for the winning shearers, O’Connor ad Ward each making it safely through the Golden Shears Novice heats to qualify for the semi-finals.

It was also a fillip for Smedley, which recently lost a woolshed on one of its blocks to fire.

RESULT:

Student Shearing Challenge (2 sheep): Smedley (Scott O’Connor/Benazzi Ward) 3min 56.319pts, 1; Pukemiro (Zach Hall/Renee Garrett) 7min 26.627sec, 30.831pts, 2; Feilding High School (Camden Bolton-Smith/George Peacock) 6min 39.103sec, 32.955pts, 3; Napier BHS (James Robinson/Max Free) 5min 17.349sec, 33.367pts, 4; Palmerston North Boys High School) 6min 11.211sec, 35.561pts, 5; Growing Future Farmers (George Parke/Ella McMillan) 5min 47.145pts, 6.