Shearers flock back as iconic event returns
The Golden Shears is back and as enthralling as ever, write Virginia Fallon and
They make it look so easy, this dance. It begins from the moment the sheep appears through a hole in the wall, and then it’s on the boards, the shearer manoeuvring it between his legs, sweat pouring from his brow.
There are the careful blows from the razor-sharp handpiece, single sweeping cuts that first take off the belly wool, then move up the back legs and onto the body. The fleece comes off in a single snowy piece and the bare sheep is hauled away.
All this happens in under 40 seconds and then it’s on to the next one.
The scenes playing out inside Masterton’s War Memorial Stadium look easy because they’re performed by elite athletes competing for titles in all things sheep.
It’s a triumphant return for the Golden Shears competition after the pandemic forced a twoyear break in its 60-year run, and yesterday, the whole place was thrumming.
Over the previous few days more than 370 shearers, wool handlers and wool pressers vied for titles and broke records in front of spectators watching online and in person. Everyone’s thrilled the competition is finally back.
Especially chuffed is Eleri Bradley, still fizzing after taking the title in Thursday’s novice woolhandling event.
The 28-year-old registered nurse says her Golden Shears entry was a last-minute decision: ‘‘Last time I entered because competing makes it cheaper to attend – this time I thought I’d better put some work into it.’’
Bradley learnt the tricks of the trade on her family’s Papatawa farm, then worked in woolsheds to pay her way through uni. Her three siblings and mother have also taken titles in the past and her dad was part of a young farmers team who won in 1995.
The event often dubbed ‘shearing’s Wimbledon’ began after a group of young farmers organised a competition at Wairarapa’s annual A&P Show in 1958. It was so successful that a bigger venue was secured and the name Golden Shears was agreed upon.
These days the event attracts competitors from around the world.
One of the spectators yesterday was shearing legend Sir David Fagan, a 16-time Golden Shears champion and 10-time world record setter.
Fagan, who retired from competitive shearing in 2015, says the event’s return marks the end of two lean years for shearing events around the country.
‘‘There’s something about walking into this stadium that sends a shiver up your spine . . . it’s brilliant to be back.’’
In the crowd were Floyde Neil, 30, and Simon Goss, 26, both recognised with World Shearing Record certificates. Originally from the King Country, Neil now works on a shearing run in Western Australia.
It’s a long way to travel but he said that to be recognised for his trade is worth it.
Goss, from Manawatu, said the recognition was great reward for hard work.
‘‘Obviously this is my way of putting food on the table for my family and there’s no getting around that it’s tough work, but if you succeed here in any award, you’re not just a shearer, you’re one of the top shearers in the world.’’
Abby Curnow, 21, from Victoria, Australia won the junior wool handling final by a staggering 50 seconds ahead of her next competitor.
‘‘It’s been so much fun here. It’s definitely different but I’ve learnt so much.’’