Kiwi favi

March 1

World shearing championships favourite and leading New Zealand hope John Kirkpatrick heads the field after the first round of qualifying in his quest for an individual title at the championships in Masterton.

After the corriedale and longwool section he was a point clear at the top of the field from surprise performer Evan Jones, from the Falkland Islands .

Former two-times champion Shannon Warnest of Australia was next, New Zealand based Scots hope Gavin Mutch was next, followed by French shearer Thimoleon Resneau, ahead of second New Zealander Cam Ferguson, who said after his shear he hadn’t been troubled by the back injury which knocked him out of a final in the Southland two weeks ago.

Tomorrow the shearers shear a second round of five crossbreds each tomorrow (thursday), the top 12 on combined points going into the semi-finals on Saturday afternoon.

Others currently in the top 12 are Ivan Scott ( Ireland ), Nathan Meaaney ( Australia , Daniel Boillot ( France ), Gareth Daniel ( Wales ), Adam Berry ( England ), Richard Jones ( Wales ), with a three-point gap to 13th man Joseba Ugalde, of Spain .
ENDS