Teddies, a trophy and transtasman rivalry
IT features shearing and woolhandling royalty, alongside ‘‘teddy bear’’ novices.
And there is also some ‘‘good oldfashioned’’ transtasman rivalry to boot, as Australasia’s best compete at this weekend’s New Zealand Merino Shearing Championships in Alexandra.
Up to 200 shearers and woolhandlers were competing at the twoday event, including Damien Boyle, of Australia, who had won the event’s open shearing category seven times, event organising committee member Graeme Bell said.
‘‘We’re going to see whether it’s going to be the eighth time, but I hope it isn’t. I hope we do have a Kiwi come through. But Damien is a fantastic shearer, and he’s very much part of our show.’’
Boyle would be competing alongside other shearing greats such as Southland’s Nathan Stratford and Troy Piper, Mr Bell said.
Alexandra shearer Mouse O’Neill was also a ‘‘strong contender’’ for the final.
‘‘He’s a very capable shearer, and being a local lad, everybody will be behind him.’’
World champion woolhandler Joel Henare, of Alexandra, is also competing, as well as compering, and Sir David Fagan will also attend.
The championships finish today, featuring a novelty ‘‘Smokefree Teddy Bear Shear competition’’, where some of the industry’s ‘‘future shearers’’, many of whom are still in primary school, will shear their soft toys.
Tonight’s awards ceremony will include a Master Woolhandler presentation to Alexandra woolhandler and shearer Pagan Karauria, and the presentation of the inaugural Murray McSkimming Memorial Trophy, the recipient of which is still to be announced.