Shear entertainment in Waimate
THE 50th Waimate Shears attracted a large crowd as well as shearing royalty to the new milliondollar pavilion at the Waimate Showgrounds on Friday and Saturday.
The halfcentury was celebrated with the pavilion’s first use for its primary function — hosting the event that remains a prominent fixture on the shearing sports calendar and a big drawcard for the small South Canterbury town.
Sir David Fagan, who was knighted for his services to shearing, was delighted to be a special guest.
‘‘We’ve had a good couple of days,’’ he said on Saturday afternoon, having just competed in the ‘‘father and son’’ event with son Jack.
The Shears began with a din ner on Thursday night, attended by about 200.
‘‘Seeing so many old faces there . . . it was a special night,’’ Sir David said.
A highlight was president Warren White, a Waimatebased shearing contractor who has led the organising committee for 11 years, being made a life member. He was instrumental in joining forces with the Southern Canterbury A&P Association to have the 900sq m pavilion completed on time, after two years’ planning and fundraising.
Mr White was also awarded the honour of shearing the first sheep in it.
Sir David, who has been attending the Waimate Shears since he was in the senior competition in 1980 and won the main title 10 times, said he had some great memories of the event.
The pavilion was ‘‘a real credit to the committee and Warren White, and also the Waimate community and the A&P Association.’’
‘‘It’s an example to the rest of the country. Lots of these competitions have folded. It’s too easy to let these things go.’’
Jack Fagan, of Te Kuiti, who won the Open Invitation Plate, said the pavilion was ‘‘one of a kind’’.
Committee executive officer Eileen Smith said it was ‘‘a great weekend’’. The number of shearers and woolhandlers competing was on a par with other years. Crowd numbers were well up thanks to the golden anniversary and the new amenities.