Speed shear attracts top shearers

Record entries of over 40 shearers reflected the respect in which the late Koro Mullins was held when the Aotea Sports Club Speed Shear was held on Friday January 31.

The very best shearers stayed behind from the main A&P Show shearing competition including Rowland Smith who had won the Open Shear earlier and went on to win the Open Speed Shear setting a time of just over 21 seconds for a lamb.

The shearing facility was chock-ablock by 6. 30pm when Manahi Paewai explained the significant role the late Koro Mullins had played in shearing, for the Aotea Sports Club and Dannevirke in general. The 160 lambs to be shorn came from Koro’s property.

With two lambs to be shorn per contestant and strict judging the momentum built as first the intermediate, then the women and seniors took place with the open finale.

Times had improved markedly and when Rowland Smith cracked the 22-second mark in the open final the crowd was gobsmacked. A video of his final shear has gone viral.

There was a strong competition in the women’s section with Laura Bradley winning over Amy Silcock. Laura also qualified for the open final in the Senior Shear.

Interspersed between shearing grades Wayne McDonagh raised money for Hawke’s Bay souvenirs — a signed Magpies rugby jersey going for $240 and a signed Magpies rugby ball going for $130.

Manahi Paewai said the evening was a suitable tribute for Koro and the club made money to go towards its new clubrooms.

Results:

Women’s Results — 1: Laura Bradley, 2: Amy Silcock. Intermediate Men’s — 1: Cullum Pritchard, 2: Matene Munday, 3: Devon Taiaroa. Senior Men’s — 1: Kahu Grant, 2: ConnorPuha, 3: Paora Moanaroa. Open — 1: Roland Smith, 2 Paerata Abraham, 3 Jimmy Samuels.

The first of the Intermediate shearers to start the competition set a cracking pace.

There was hardly a seat in the shearing facility by 9pm as the Open section was beginning.

Tuma, Punga and Mavis Mullins sit with Mayor Tracey Collis at the Koro Mullins Memorial Speedshear on Friday January 31.

Manahi Paewai explains Aotea Club’s decision to make the Speedshear a Memorial to Koro Mullins.

Laura Bradley shows the way winning the Women’s Section.

The Open Shear list reads like a who’s who of national and local top shearers.