Alexandra to host 57th merino shearing event
THE 57th annual New Zealand Merino Shearing Championships will have a slight international flavour when shearers and woolhandlers from Australia and France, as well as New Zealand, compete at Molyneux Stadium, Alexandra, on September 28 and 29.
In addition, former multiple world shearing champion and Shearing Sports New Zealand chairman Sir David Fagan will be there.
Organising committee spokesman Graeme Bell said in addition to the New Zealand entrants, Lucie Grancher from France will be competing in the woolhandling competitions, while several Australian shearers and woolhandlers will also be arriving next week to take on the Kiwis.
Mr Bell said the Merino Shears, which is the first round of the PGG Wrightson national shearing circuit, is one of the highlights of the shearing year.
It is a prestigious event on the shearing calendar and has prizes valued at more than $15,000.
‘‘The open shearing and open woolhandling winners also have their airfares (paid for by New Zealand Merino Shears) to
Australia for the transtasman test series added to the value of their prizes.’’
‘‘Up to 200 competitors are expected in the junior, senior, and open woolhandling and shearing and teams competitions,’’ Mr Bell said.
Winners and placegetters in the Perth Royal Show shearing competitions will be heading to
New Zealand to compete in the championships and in the Australia v New Zealand test match and international challenge.
The junior and senior events will be held on Friday, while the open events will be held on Saturday.
He said they would also hold the annual Cancer Society New Zealand Smokefree ‘‘world international’’ teddybearshearing competition, which attracted many young hopefuls who were eager to compete.
‘‘The open shearing and woolhandling finals will be held on Saturday evening, along with the test match and teams events.’’ he said.
Northburn Station is supplying the sheep for Friday, and Earnscleugh Station is supplying them on Saturday.
Beckers Transport has donated the cost of transport.
In addition, the show organising committee is offering a new trophy for a novice woolhandler competing for the first time ever in a competitive show.
The firstever winner of the Merino Shears in 1961, Murray McSkimming, who passed away last year, will be honoured when his chromed handpiece, which he used for 50 years, will be presented to someone the McSkimming family consider has earned the respect of the industry on Saturday evening.
Mr Bell said Mr McSkimming’s son, Lane, who is the current Merino Shears junior vicepresident, is following in his father and grandfather Fred’s footsteps, both of whom had devoted much of their lives to the industry and the competition.
‘‘Fred McSkimming has the McSkimming Triple Crown Trophy named after him.’’
In addition to the main competition, 17 judges will attend a training session on Thursday evening, which focuses on finewool woolhandling standards.
The doors to the stadium will be open from 7.30am.