Close race in national shearing

All 21 still in the running for McSkimming Memorial Triple Crown

A close battle is expected for the last three places in this year’s Wrightson PGG National when the last of the five qualifying rounds is held during the Pahiatua Shears next week (Sunday, February 28).

Invercargill shearers Troy Pyper and former winner Nathan Stratford head a list of nine who have already sealed their places among the 12 for the semi-finals to be shorn on the last day of the Golden Shears, being held in Masterton on March 3-5. All other 12 entrants still have a chance of qualifying.

The qualifying is based on points for placings in the finewool round at the New Zealand Merino Championships in Alexandra and the longwool round of the Spring Shears in Waimate, both in October, the New Zealand Corriedale Championships at the Canterbury Show in November, the lambshear round at the Rangitikei Sports Shears in Marton two weeks ago, and next weekend’s second-shear round.

The top six in the semi-finals will shear a few hours later in a final over 15 sheep – three from each type of wool.

The National incorporates the McSkimming Memorial Triple Crown, first presented in 1973 to find a nation all-breeds shearing champion, with the major prize being a place in the New Zealand transtasman series team in 2016-2017.

Defending champion and four-times winner Tony Coster, of Rakaia, shares third place with another former winner, Napier shearer John Kirkpatrick, while Taranaki farmer and Scotland international Gavin Mutch is well placed to make a strong bid to become the first shearer from overseas to win the event, after last year becoming the first from overseas to win the Golden Shears Open Championship.

The current Top 12 are:

1 - Troy Pyper(Invercargill), Nathan Stratford(Invercargill) 31pts; 3 equal - Tony Coster(Rakaia), John Kirkpatrick(Napier), 27pts; 5 - Gavin Mutch(Whangamomona/Scotland), 26pts; 6 - Grant Smith(Rakaia), 24pts; 7 equal - Paerata Abraham(Masterton), David Buick(Pongaroa), Angus Moore(Kaitangata), 23pts; 10 - Aaron Haynes(Feilding), 15pts; 11 - Jack Fagan(Te Kuiti), 13pts; 12 - Ringakaha Paewai(Gore), 9pts.

Others:

13 equal - Hemi Braddick(Eketahuna), Turi Edmonds(Raetihi), 8pts; 15 - Colin O’Neill(Alexandra), 6pts; 16 equal - Abraham Berkelaar(Rolleston), Brett Roberts(Mataura), Chris Vickers(Palmerston), 5pts; 19 - Andy Mainland, 3pts; 20 - Eru Weeds, 2pts; 21 - Colin Dennison, 1pt.

ENDS