March 01, 2018
Shearing buffs flock to Golden Masterton
Three hundred shearers and wool handlers and wool pressers from arouind the motu – and some from the other side of the world – have descended on Masterton for the 58th Golden Shears.
There are more than 20 events leading up to Saturday's Open Shearing Championship, to be decided in a six-man final over 20 second-shear sheep each.
Doug Laing from Shearing Sports New Zealand says there will be a lot of interest in whether Rowland Smith can maintain an unbeaten run which started in January last year, and whether Joel Henare can win the open class wool handling prize for the sixth time, which would be his hundredth title.
It's also a place to spot emerging talent, such as junior wool handler Tyler Hira from Onewhero in Waikato, who has already secured ther number one slot for the season.
A special event this year is a veterans' competition including among others the 1967 Golden Shears Intermediate champion Hugh McCarroll of Whangamata and fellow Shearing Sports New Zealand life member Robin Kidd, of Taupo.
Copyright © 2018, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com