Challenge ahead as CP Wool tour heads to Royal Welsh Show

July 18, 2016

Challenge ahead as CP Wool tour heads to Royal Welsh Show

The New Zealand shearing team of Hawke’s Bay guns John Kirkpatrick and Rowland Smith have the challenge ahead of them as they try to win the last two tests of their CP Wool UK Tour and become the first New Zealand team in five years to beat Wales in a series in Wales.

The challenge was thrown-out at the Lampeter Shears on Saturday as Welsh shearers Gwion Evans and Richard Jones won the first test by 3.25pts.

While never having been beaten by a Welsh team in a test in New Zealand, the Shearing Sports New Zealand teams have not won a series in Wales since 2011. The 2012, 2014 and 2015 series’ were all drawn, and Wales won 3-1 in 2013.

Saturday’s win was a significant triumph for Evans and Jones, stopping the Kiwis making it three in a row at Capeli Farm, and giving Wales a big boost going into the second test at the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd on Wednesday and the last at the Corwen Shears on Saturday.

The Welsh shared the roles in their success, Evans the best individual after finishing the 20 sheep first in 12min 57sec, almost half-a-minute quicker than first New Zealander Kirkpatrick, and Jones carding the best quality points.

Kirkpatrick, however, dominated the Lampeter Shears Open final, claiming a £400 purse after beating five Welsh shearers who had all beaten him in the heats. But it was no surprise, Kirkpatrick extending a sequence of wins in the event, with previous victories in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Third to finish in a tight race for time honours and pipped for best points on the board, it was the superior points in the pen that sealed the win, on top of his first Great Yorkshire Show open title four days earlier.

Results from the Lampeter Shears on Saturday, July 16, 2016:

CP Wool UK Tour Test (20 sheep): Wales 103.75pts (Gwion Evans 12min 57sec, 50.25pts; Richard Jones 14min 40sec, 53.5pts) beat New Zealand 107pts (Rowland Smith 13min 40sec, 53.15pts; John Kirkpatrick 13min 25sec, 53.85pts) by 3.25pts. Wales leads the series 1-0. The second test will be at the Royal Welsh Show on Wednesday and the thirst test will be at the Corwen Shears on Saturday.

Lampeter Shears Open final (20 sheep): John Kirkpatrick (New Zealand) 13min 13sec, 47.7pts, 1; Matthew Evans (Wales) 13min 3sec, 48.4pts, 2; Gwion Evans (Wales) 13min 11sec, 49.2pts, 3; Gareth Daniel (Wales) 14min 9sec, 51.15pts, 4; Richard Jones (Wales) 14min 41sec, 51.85pts, 5; Ian Jones (Wales) 14min, 52.8pts, 6.

ENDS

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