MEDIA RELEASE

On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand

February 24, 2012

World champs hopefuls on the road for busy week

More than 100 overseas shearers and woolhandlers are expected to compete in at least one event each in a hectic weekend heading into the Golden Shears and World Championships which start in Masterton on Wednesday.

But many will take part in all three in a triple-header which starts today with the Taumarunui Jamboree Shears in the King Country.

Effectively a travelling roadshow, the buildup will gather momentum through the Apiti Sports Shears in Northern Manawatu tomorrow, and on Sunday the separate Pahiatua Shears and the Pre-Shears Woolhandsling Championships about 30km away at Massey University's Riversdale Farm.

Competitors will include many members of the teams from 25 countries which will compete in the World Championships, and for whom there will be little rest as they take part in training days on farms near Masterton on Monday and Tuesday.

Competitors will also include dozens of other overseas shearers and woolhandlers, some making an annual pilgrimmage to Golden Shears and others realising a dream by competing at the World's greatest shearing sports carnival for the first time.

The four day Golden Shears will include six World championships events in machine shearing, woolhandling and blade shearing, along with more than 20 other events held each year at the Shears.

ENDS