Young gun Smith sticks it to the vets in big Shears buildup

MEDIA RELEASE

On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand

April 2, 2011. 12.15am

Young gun Smith sticks it to the vets in big Shears buildup

A Far North shearer whose future was clouded by a severe back complaint less than 10 months ago has sounded a loud warning to the established champions ahead of today’s New Zealand Open Championship in Te Kuiti by winning a major preliminary event last night.

Rowland Smith won the North Island Shearer of the Year final on the second day of the championships, aged 25 and the youngest in the field by more than 10 years.

He beat a field comprising the winners of all but two of the NISOY titles since the event was introduced in 1985 and produced the first of 17 wins in the event by home-town hero David Fagan. Smith also became the youngest winner since Taranaki farmer Paul Avery won in 1990, at the age of 23.

Both veterans were in the field last night, along with 2008 winner John Kirkpatrick and 2006 victor Dion King, both from Hawke’s Bay.

The only other finalist who had not won the event, Te Kuiti veteran Digger Balme tried to spreadeagle the field in the final over 10 ewes and 10 lambs and was first off in 14 minutes 44.9 seconds.

Smith was second-to-last to finish just over half-a-minute later but produced the quality job needed to take the honours, beating runner-up and favourite Kirkpatrick by less than a point. Fagan was third, Avery fourth, Balme fifth and King sixth.

Runner-up to Kirkpatrick at the Golden Shears four weeks ago, Smith also heads a field of 24 qualifiers for the quarterfinals of the New Zealand Open championship which will be shorn early this afternoon, and is the TAB’s second favourite to win the final a few hours later.
ENDS

© Scoop Media