Ferguson wins as shearing mates tipped-up

Ferguson wins as shearing mates tipped-up

Former World and Golden Shears shearing champion Cam Ferguson has won his first North Island Championships open final at the expense of a close mate in Marton.

The Waipawa gun failed to qualify for the top-six showdown on Saturday, but was promoted after Porangahau contractor Adam Brausch, who had been top qualifier, was tipped-up for not tipping-up, and was penalised five points.

It was a massive hit for Brausch, dropping him from top of the list to seventh, a day after the former Golden Shears and New Zealand Championships lower grades winner had beaten Ferguson the previous day in the open final at the Dannevirke A and P Show to claim his first win in four years.

Brausch was, however, not the only shearer to offend the judges in a rare clampdown on a requirement that all competitors must tip-up sheep in the next event to assist the judges inspecting the shorn sheep. It is requirement put in place to ensure busy competition programmes run to time.

Of the 12 semi-finalists, there were three that failed, with James Ruki, of Te Kuiti, also losing a place in the final, while Southland visitor Eru Weeds was also penalised, although he had already been eliminated.

It wasn’t just the open-class shearers who suffered, judges confirming two senior shearers also had their hopes dashed when penalised for failing to tip-up for the next event after their semi-final.

Ferguson seized the moment, shearing the 20-sheep open final in 16min 58.37sec – 14 seconds ahead of next-man-off Gavin Mutch - and carding the second-best shearing board judging points.

It gave him victory by 1.286 points over Te Kuiti legend David Fagan who, at 53 and having last week announced he will end a 37-year competition career at the end of this season, was the only other finalist after Ferguson and Mutch to cut-out in under 18 minutes, shearing his 20 in 17min 27.09sec.

Mutch, who had also been promoted into the final field after originally failing to qualify, was placed third when all time and quality points were counted.

The win was Ferguson’s 6th of 2014-2015, putting him one win ahead of Fagan in a season which has been missing new World champion Rowland Smith(on family time-out) and World Championships teammate John Kirkpatrick(injured).

There was a major surprise in the Open woolhalding final where Cushla Abraham(nee Gordon), of Masterton, had her first victory since winning four senior finals in early 2012.

“This really is a surprise,” she said emphatically.

The runner-up was first-time open finalist Aria Mullins, of Dannevirke, while third and fourth were internationals Keryn Herbert, of Te Awamutu, and Sheree Alabaster, of Taihape.

The senior shearing final was won by Robert Mudgway, of Taihape, the intermediate final by Ramone Smith, of Gisborne, and the junior final provided a maiden win for English teenager Ross Thomson, from Dawlish, Devon.

Junior shearing final runner-up Connor Puha, of Kimbolton, went one better later in the day to win the senior woolhandling final, while Jessie Dean, from Masterton - “too shy” to compete for the eight years since her only prevous competition – won the junior woolhandling final.

Results from the North Island Shearing and Woolhandling Chapionships at the Rangitikei Shearing Sports in Marton today (Saturday, February 7):

Shearing:

Open final (20 sheep): Cam Ferguson (Waipawa) 16min 58.37sec, 63.569pts, 1; David Fagan (Te Kuiti) 17min 27.09sec, 64.855pts, 2; Gavin Mutch (Scotland/Whangamomona) 17min 12.76sec, 65.388pts, 3; Murray Henderson (Feilding) 18min 37.45sec, 67.123pts, 4; Troy Pyper (Invercargill) 18min 2.14sec, 69.407pts, 5; Aaron Haynes (Feilding) 19min 13.49sec, 69.625pts, 6.

Senior final (10 sheep): Robert Mudgway (Taihape) 13min 26.52sec, 48.926pts, 1; Ethan Pankhurst (Masterton) 12min 33.19sec, 49.86pts, 2; Floyd Neil (Taumarunui) 12min 21.6sec, 50.68pts, 3; Bevan Pere (Gisborne) 13min 19.6sec, 51.58pts, 4; Scott Wilson (Scotland) 12min 20.5sec, 53.525pts, 5; Gavin Kelly (Taihape) 12min 55.38sec, 56.069pts, 6.

Intermediate final (6 sheep): Ramone Smith (Gisborne) 8min 42.83sec, 35.809pts, 1; Marshall Guy (Kaeo) 7min 40.05sec, 36.67pts, 2; Tegwyn Bradley (Woodville) 9min 44.07sec, 38.871pts, 3; Larry Fleming (Gisborne) 8min 16.91sec, , 42.013pts, 4; Anaru Wakefield (Porangahau) 10min 3.3sec, 43.665pts, 5; Jaycob Brunton (Levin) 11min 6.18sec, 43.809pts, 6.

Junior final (three sheep): Ross Thomson (Dawlish, England) 6min 51.06sec, 31.553pts, 1; Connor Puha (Kimbolton) 7min 19.34sec, 35.634pts, 2; Laura Bradley (Woodville) 7min 15.61sec, 37.114pts, 3; Sean Gouk (Pahiatua) 8min 2.02sec, 38.435pts, 4; Ricci Stevens (Gisborne) 7min 20.39sec, 40.686pts, 5; Jeremy Morton (Gisborne) 7min 35.71sec, 41.119pts, 6.

Novice (one sheep): Hazel Wood (Ruawai) 6min 5.63sec, 39.282pts, 1; Cody Greig (Levin) 3min 13.06sec, 42.653pts, 2; Darren Bryant (Levin) 5min 40.53sec, 46.027pts, 3; Robbie O’Brien (Whanganui) 3min 57.11sec, 51.856pts, 4; Reuben Alabaster (Taihape) 2min 46.91sec, 52.346pts, 5; Johnathan Hicks (Marton) 6min 7.5sec, 62.375pts, 6.

Woolhandling:

Open final: Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 53.57pts, 1; Aria Mullins (Dannevirke) 58.826pts, 2; Keryn Herbert (Te Awamutu) 74.18pts, 3; Sheree Alabaster (Taihape) 76.43pts, 4; Pania Piwari (Omahu) 85.09pts, 5; Ngaio Hanson (Eketahuna) 96.44pts, 6.

Senior final: Connor Puha (Kimbolton) 36.006pts, 1; Ana Braddick (Eketahuna) 50.12pts, 2; Jimmy Samuels (Marton) 50.95pts, 3; Erana Smith (Ruatoria/Flaxmere) 53.93pts, 4; Adrienne Samuels (Marton) 61.44pts, 5; Naima Titter (-) 71.06pts, 6.

Junior final: Jessie Dean (Masterton) 54.13pts, 1; Marika Braddick (Eketahuna) 57.94pts, 2; Nera Hitaua (Te Karaka) 86.53pts, 3; Lee George (-) 96.762pts, 4; Georgie Sciascia (-) 108.28pts, 5; Hannah Spiers (Taihape) 108.34pts, 6.

Novice: Cynna Haney 59pts, 1; Johnathan Hicks (Marton) 62pts, 2; Tilly Thwaites (-) 68pts, 3; Tia Wright (Eketahuna) 73pts, 4; Hazel Wood (Ruawai) 78pts, 5; Willow Cottle (-) 78pts, 6.

ENDS

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