Stratford wins at Waimate
It’s two from two for top Southland shearer Nathan Stratford.
Fresh from a win at the New Zealand Merino Shears at Alexandra, he won the open competition at the Waimate Spring Shears on Saturday.
It’s only the beginning of the shearing season but New Zealand representative Stratford said the competition was ‘‘top level,’’ with plenty of shearers from the North Island on the boards.
‘‘There were four North Islanders and two South Islanders in the final.
‘‘The competition was very, very good.’’ Shearer David Buick, of Pongaroa, was second and Ant Frew, of Pleasant Point, was third.
While Stratford’s season is off to a good start he says winning is all about perserverance and luck on the day.
‘‘It’s about having the right sheep at the right time.’’
Stratford toured the United Kingdom in June and July shearing and won the Great Yorkshire Open, a test between New Zealand and England.
‘‘We only won one test and lost the others but the shearers from the UK are coming here for the summer so we get another chance to shear against them.’’
A team from Wales will compete on the circuit in January and February and New Zealand will select a team for the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in France later next year.
In the meantime Stratford’s shearing for another southern shearing identity, Darin Forde, and competing at the weekends.
‘‘We have to take a day off work shearing, to go shearing. It’s a lot of travel and it’s all at our own expense.’’
Stratford’s next competition will be at the Ashburton A&P Show at the end of the month.