Manawatu¯ woolhandler Goss dies
Respected Manawatu¯ woolhandler Ronnie Goss has died.
Goss, amaster woolhandler, former world championships runner-up and 2008 Golden Shears open woolhandling champion, died suddenly on her 53rd birthday on Friday while at the Taumarunui Shears, where she had competed in the woolhandling.
Shearing Sports New Zealand chairman David Fagan expressed the shock, grief and condolences among the shearing community after Goss’ death.
Shearing Sports New Zealand records show Goss won 53 open finals, including her Golden Shears open title, New Zealand open championships finals in Te Kuiti in 1999 and 2003, and several North Island woolhandling circuit finals.
She reached the Golden Shears open final six times, and as well as the 2014 world championships in Ireland, represented New Zealand in 10 trans-tasman woolhandling test matches.
Husband Alan also won a Golden Shears title in the 1985 intermediate shearing final.
Her first open final win was at the
Wairarapa A and P Show in Carterton in 1995, and her most recent at her home show at piti in 2017.
It was fitting that the open final at piti on Saturday was won by niece Angela Stevens, who was taught by Goss.
There was aminute’s silence at the piti show on Saturday.
David Fagan was at Taumarunui on Friday judging shearing events and described the loss as a ‘‘huge tragedy’’.
‘‘Naturally we’re all feeling deeply for her family, and the whole of the shearing community will be supporting Alan and the family,’’ he said.
‘‘The whole community is devastated, and it was the right thing to cancel the woolhandling final on Friday. The competitors and the judges were in complete shock.’’
Fagan said the acclaiming of Goss as a master woolhandler was ultimate recognition of her achievements and mana, via nomination from her peers and unanimous vote by the sports national committee.
‘‘Both personally and on behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand, I offer our sincere condolences.’’
Former Golden Shears championships society president Mavis Mullins, who was also twice a Golden Shears open woolhandling champion, highlighted the grief.
She said there were no words to describe the sorrow in the community, given the respect held for Goss across the industry and sport.
‘‘We are a tight community, and we all know each other, globally. Ronnie is a legend.’’
Goss is the mother of New Zealand rugby sevens captain Sarah Hirini and Manawatu¯ rep Rachael Rakatau.