Big Guns Take Red Ribbons at Hawke’s Bay Show

Big Guns Take Red Ribbons at Hawke’s Bay Show

Former World champions Cam Ferguson and Joel Henare have retained the Great Raihania Shears open shearing and woolhandling titles respectively at the Hawke’s Bay Show in Hastings.

Their wins on Friday (October 24) came in front of Rimitiriu Raihania, great-great grandson of Rimitiriu “The Great” Raihania, after whom the event was named when the shearing competition at the Hawke’s Bay Show was revived in 2004.

Rimitiriu “The Great” Raihania won a shearing event at the Show in 1902, thought to have been the first machine-shearing competition in the World.

Ferguson, from Waipawa, was for some time seriously challenged for time honours by workmate Tysson Hema, who was in his fourth Open final since winning the Golden Shears and New Zealand senior titles in 2012.

But ultimately Ferguson, 31, had a 1min 19sec margin at the end of the four-man, 20-sheep race, which as it eventuated was just enough to hold-off Te Kuiti legend David Fagan, who, having just turned 52, produced comfortably the best quality points.

Henare celebrated his 23rd birthday with an absolutely commanding performance throughout for his fifth win in a row since premature elimination from defence of the World woolhandling championship in Ireland in May.

Maryanne Baty, of Gisborne, was runner-up, and 2007 Golden Shears champion Huia Whyte-Puna, of Napier, celebrated a second final in a week by beating the fourth finalist, New Zealand trantasman team member Keryn Herbert, of Te Awamutu.

Three of the other five titles were won Ngati Pahauwera competitors from Raupung, including 15-year-old junior shearing winner Hemi Lambert and sister Teresa, 21, who won the junior woolhandling final. Elder brother Willie, 24, was later fourth in the senior shearing final, and mum Rosalie was among the judges.

Carlton Aranui, 19, also of Raupunga, won the intermediate shearing title, while Robert Mudgway won the senior final, and Ana Braddick, of Eketahuna, won the senior woolhandling final.

Results of the Great Raihania Shears at the Hawke’s Bay Show in Hastings on Friday, October 24, 2014:
Shearing:
Open final (20 sheep): Cam Ferguson (Waipawa) 18min 56sec, 76.3pts, 1; David Fagan (Te Kuiti) 20min 40sec, 77.5pts, 2; Tysson Hema (Waipukurau) 20min 15sec, 78.65pts, 3; Pete Chilcott (Whananaki) 21min, 79.3pts, 4.
Senior final (8 sheep): Robert Mudgway (Taihape) 15min 5sec, 17.028pts, 1; Michael Rolston (Levin) 12min 54sec, 22.252pts, 2; Mohi Gray (Waipukurau) 12min 31sec, 29.741pts, 3; Willie Lambert (Raupunga) 12min 1sec, 32.855pts, 4.
Intermediate final (5 sheep): Carlton Aranui (Raupunga) 8min 11sec, 43.75pts, 1; Marley Waihape (Mataura) 7min 59sec, 46.75pts, 2; Liam Quinlivan (Waipukurau) 9min 52sec, 48.8pts, 3; Cayzer Wedd (Napier) 9min 22sec, 58.1pts, 4.
Junior final (2 sheep): Hemi Lambert (Raupunga) 4min 53sec, 31.15pts, 1; Laura Bradley (Woodville) 5min 49sec, 38.45pts, 2; Khochyce Forward (Hastings) 5min 39sec, 38.45pts, 3; Carmen Smith (Pongaroa) 5min 29sec, 38.95pts, 4.
Woolhandling:
Open final: Joel Henare (Gisborne) 112pts, 1; Maryanne Baty (Gisborne) 184pts, 2; Huia Whyte-Puna (Napier) 208pts, 3; Keryn Herbert (Te Awamutu) 210pts, 4.
Senior final: Ana Braddick (Eketahuna) 155pts, 1; Rahna Williams (Flaxmere) 207pts, 2; Erana Smith (Flaxmere/Ruatoria) 214pts, 3; Emma Mason (Masterton) 246pts, 4.
Junior final: Teresa Lambert (Raupunga) 189pts, 1; Danielle Fox (Gisborne) 203pts, 2; Bon Horo (Gisborne) 207pts, 3; Sarah Sears (Taihape) 243pts, 4.

ENDS

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