Southland shearer takes home South Island title
After years of being a bridesmaid, Southland shearer Nathan Stratford finally got married to a title he has been after for a while.
Stratford was crowned the South Island Shearer of the Year at the Southern Shears held at the Gore A&P showgrounds on Saturday.
In the 20 years Stratford has competed, he has been in the finals 18 times.
In 2006, he came within 0.03 of a point of winning against Southland shearer Elton Devory, which was the last time a South Island shearer won the competition.
Stratford described it as being a bridesmaid many times but never actually managing to get married.
The title was something he has strived for since he started shearing in competitions, Stratford said.
It was a busy day for Stratford, who also competed in the open shearing finals where he placed fifth and the North Island vs South Island team shearing competition which the south lost.
Stratford was up against some top competition for the shearer of the year title competing, against the likes of David Buick, Johnny Kirkpatrick and Casey Bailey.
He now has his eyes set on the Golden Shears set to take place in Masterton in March and the New Zealand Shearing championships in April. ‘‘Any title is a good title.’’ Stratford said it was great to have the support of his mum and family when he won the title.
The woolhandling section of the Southern Shears brought plenty of surprises when three woolhandlers in Saturday’s final were gunning for their first open win in New Zealand.
Milton woolhandler Cheri Peterson became the latest addition to the ranks of open class winners.
The South Otago rookie won by just over 15 points against runnerup - South Island-based Foonie Waihape, of Gisborne, and third placegetter Candy Hiri, of Gore, who were separated by just 0.53pts.
The 2017 runner-up, Chelsea Collier, of Gore, was part of a mass elimination of high-flyers in the heats, with there being no semifinal.
The other early departures were former world titles winner Sheree Alabaster, of Taihape, fellow former national representatives Pagan Karauria, of Alexandra, Angelique Miller, of Gore, and Tia Potae, of Milton, and 2017 World championships third placegetter Tina Elers, of Mataura.
Hometown competitor Ebony Turipa won the senior final, her fifth in the class, guaranteeing her promotion to open class next year.
Tyler Hira, of Onewhero, returned to the scene of her first win when she successfully defended the junior title.