New Zealand Shears ready to roll

MEDIA RELEASE

On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand

March 31, 2016

New Zealand Shears ready to roll

Many of the World’s best shearers have qualified for the last stages of the New Zealand Shears Circuit which will be decided at the New Zealand Shearing Championships starting in Te Kuiti today.

The 12 for the semi-final, in an event which decides one of two places in a national side to tour the UK in June and July, includes eight current or former New Zealand representatives and New Zealand-based 2012 World champion Scots shearer Gavin Mutch.

It is one of three titles available to Open-class shearers, with some conjecture as to whether prolific Hawke’s Bay shearer and reigning World champion Rowland Smith can become the first shearer in 14 years to claim the unofficial Triple Crown – the circuit, the North Island Shearer of the Year title, and the New Zealand Open.

Smith has been beaten only three times in 21 finals this season, and will be aiming to crown his 10th season at the top level with his fourth New Zealand Open Championship title, to go with his third Golden Shears Open victory in Masterton on March 5.

The opening day today will be dominated by woolhandling events, with the deciding of the Junior and Senior woolhandling champions and five qualifiers for the Open woolhandling on Saturday night.

The Junior and Intermediate shearing champions will be decidedtomorrow(Friday), which will also feature the North Island Shearer of the Year final, an inter-island match, and a unique World champions invitation match.

The last day will also include the Senior shearing final, and the Open championships from the heats to the final, including deciding another place in the national team, and the NZ Shears Circuit final.

The championships take place in the Waitomo Cultural and Arts Centre, transformed into a woolshed for the week, while on Saturday the 24th Great New Zealand Muster takes place in the town’s main street, including the Sheep Run of over 1000 sheep.

Final placings and points in the qualifying rounds of the New Zealand Shears Circuit (top 12 to contest the semi-finals in Te Kuiti on Saturday) are: 1 Rowland Smith 59pts, 2 John Kirkpatrick 56pts, 3 Gavin Mutch 51pts, 4 Tony Coster 49pts, 5 Nathan Stratford 49pts, 6 Paerata Abraham 45pts, 7 David Buick 45pts, 8 Mark Grainger 45pts, 9 Troy Pyper 45pts, 10 Darin Forde 43pts, 11 Murray Henderson 42pts, 12 Dion King 41pts.

Others: 13 Sam Welch 40pts, 14 Angus Moore 39pts, 15 Aaron Haynes 36pts, 16 Jack Fagan 33pts, 17 Digger Balme 28pts, 18 Axle Reid 20pts, 19 Turi Edmonds 18pts, 20 Andy Mainland 15pts, 21pts Craig Fagan 13pts.

ENDS

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