Napier gun's king-hit as shears showdown looms

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On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand

Sunday, March 21, 2010. 8.30pm

Napier gun's king-hit as shears showdown looms

The cautionary New Zealand Shearing Championships odds on Napier shearer Dion King looked well-founded when he won the the latest lead-up event in Raetihi on Saturday.

The 35-year-old, who was a $7 fourth-favourite last week when the TAB opened betting on the April 10 championships showdown in Te Kuiti, was winning for the fourth time in 10 finals he's contested since returning from Australia mid-season with the goal of a place in the two-man machine-shearing sector of Shearing Sports New Zealand's team for the 14th World Championships in Wales on July 19-22.

Central Hawke's Bay gun Cam Ferguson claimed the first spot when he won the Golden Shears open final a fortnight ago, pitching King into a sudden-death battle in Te Kuiti with the likes of five-times World champion and King Country hero David Fagan, and 2008 World champions Paul Avery, of Stratford, and John Kirkpatrick, of Napier.

At the Waimarino Shears on Saturday, the 48-year-old Fagan, the TAB's $2.50 favourite for the Te Kuiti final, had to settle for second, nephew James Fagan nipped-in for third, and Avery tailed the four-man field in the final pover 20 sheep each.

King, who won the Agrodome Shears in Rotorua, the Southern Shears in Gore and the Apiti Sports open final a week before the Golden Shears where he was fifth after being top qualifier for the final, finished in 17min 42sec on Saturday, beating David Fagan by 11 seconds and also recording the best quality points to take victory by 1.3pts.

Kirkpatrick faiuled to reach the final for the first time in 17 contests this year, while Ferguson had his second miss in two outings since winning the Golden Shears.

Avery, who had bounced back from missing a place in the Golden Shears by beating Fagan, Kirkpatrick, King, Ferguson and company at Kumeu last week, was still able to celebrate on Saturday, after son David scored his first win, in the Waimarino Novice final. Fagan's son, Jack, was second in the Junior final.

There was an upset in the intermediate final when Golden Shears winner Wi Poutu Ngarangione, of Gisborne, was beaten for only the second time in 15 finals this season, victory going to finals rookie Nukutai Tuhura, of Ruatoria.

The 19-year-old Ngarangione was still able to put another nick in the belt, by winning the intermediate final of a new Central North Island circuit, the senior final of which was won by fellow Gisborne shearer Tama Niania, who also won the Waimarino senior final.

The road to Te Kuiti continues with a double-header next weekend at the Waitomo Caves Shears and the Taranaki Shears, and the Royal Easter Show in Auckland a week later.

Results:

Waimarino Shears finals:

Open (20 sheep) Dion King (Napier) 17min 42sec, 61.5pts, 1; David Fagan (Te Kuiti) 17min 53sec, 62.8pts, 2; James Fagan (Te Kuiti) 18min 1sec, 64.2pts, 3; Paul Avery (Stratford) 18min 42sec, 64.8pts, 4.

Senior (10 sheep): Tama Niania (Gisborne) 12min 9sec, 44.15pts, 1; Matene Mason (Masterton) 11min 56sec, 44.6pts, 2; Aaron Haynes (Feilding) 12min 6sec, 45pts, 3; David Hape (Dannevirke) 12min 1sec, 47.75pts, 4.

Intermediate (6 sheep): Nukutai Tuhura (Ruatoria) 9min 21sec, 37.383pts, 1; Wi Poutu Ngarangione (Gisborne) 9min 19sec, 38.449pts, 2; Sharnie Rimene (Masterton) 10min 6sec, 40.633pts, 3; Mike Anderson (Masterton) 9min 14sec, 43.2pts, 4.

Junior (4 sheep): Cameron Hicks (Marton) 8min 17sec, 34.1pts, 1; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti) 9min 27sec, 34.6pts, 2; D J Crawford (Gisborne) 8min 8sec, 35.65pts, 3; Tui Pene (Waipawa) 9min 9sec, 45.95pts, 4.

Novice (2 sheep): David Avery (Stratford) 8min 23sec, 37.15pts, 1; Monique Taylor (Feilding) 8min 35sec, 37.25pts, 2; Sarah Nahona (Whanganui) 7min 19sec, 37.45pts, 3; Quintin Sanson (Feilding) 8min 31sec, 39.05pts, 4.

Circuit finals:

Senior (10 sheep): Tama Niania (Gisborne) 11min 49sec, 42.116pts, 1; Matene Mason (Masterton) 12min 3sec, 43.85pts, 2; Aaron Haynes (Feilding) 12min 10sec, 44.2pts, 3; David Hape (Dannevirke) 12min 3sec, 49.05pts, 4.

Intermediate (6 sheep): Wi Poutu Ngarangione (Gisborne) 9min 22sec, 31.933pts, 1; Mike Anderson (Masterton) 9min 6sec, 35.632pts, 2; Sharnie Rimene (Masterton) 9min 55sec, 35.75pts, 3; Turuhia Edmonds (Raetihi) 10min 18sec, 41.399pts, 4.

ENDS

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