Wool sports title another step in prodigy's World champs bid

MEDIA RELEASE

On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand

February 12, 2012

Otago Shearing and Woolhandling Champioships - Woolhandling (shearing to be sent as separate item)

Wool sports title another step in prodigy's World champs bid

Woolhandling prodigy Joel Henare again showed his determination to become New Zealand’s first male representative in his sport’s World championship in 16 years when he won a fifth consecutive Woolhandler of the Year title on Saturday.

Henare, from Gisborne and who also grew up in Cromwell, has been unbeatable in the big final at the Otago Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in Balclutha since first winning the title in 2008, at the age of 16.

The latest triumph is the most important as the penultimate round in a series to find New Zealand’s two woolhandlers for the World championships during the Golden Shears in Masterton on February 29-March 3.

In three of the victories he has beaten mentor, former World champion and Australia-based Whanganui woolhandler Joanne Kumeroa, who on Saturday had to settle for second-place.

But she won the South Island Circuit final, and also maintains her lead in the Shearing Sports New Zealand selection series which ends in Gore next weekend.

It was Henare’s second win in a row in the series and moved him into second place, overtaking 2010 World teams champions Keryn Herbert, of Te Awamutu, and Sheree Alabaster, of Taihape.

The series started at last year’s Golden Shears, and the Southern Shears in Gore comprise the final points round, the semi-final and final.

Results of woolhandling events at the Otago Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at Balclutha on Friday and Saturday, February 10-11, 2012:
Woolhandling:

New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year:

Open final: Joel Henare (Gisborne) 175.12pts, 1; Joanne Kumeroa (Whanganui) 212.79pts, 2; Rocky Hape-Taite (Dannevirke) 274.09pts, 3; Pagan Rimene (Alexandra) 365.81pts, 4.
Senior final: Melanie Hillis (Mataura) 132.25pts, 1; Melanie Barrett (Invercargill) 145.212pts, 2; Keisha Te Huki (Dannevirke) 145.288pts, 3; Juliette Lyon (Alexandra) 159.62pts, 4; Keri Henare (Gisborne) 160.912pts, 5; Denise Murray-Karaka (Alexandra) 164.374pts, 6.
Junior final: Foonie Waihape (Gisborne) 170.662pts, 1; Cheri Peterson (Milton) 197.038pts, 2; Anne-Marie Kahukura (Omakau) 232.288pts, 3; Ataneta Puna (Napier) 255.1pts, 4; Niki Gore (Golden Bay) 289.31pts, 5; Shanny Hiko (Hastings) 309.55pts, 6.
South Island Circuit:
Open final: Joanne Kumeroa (Whanganui) 123.792pts, 1; Keryn Herbert (Te Awamutu) 131.856pts, 2; Tina Rimene (Masterton) 140.03pts, 3; Bernadette Forde (Tuatapere) 147.25pts, 4; Tia Potae (Milton) 149.412pts, 5; Huia Whyte-Puna (Christchurch) 157.03pts, 6.
Senior final: Keri Henare (Gisborne) 102.212pts, 1; Juliette Lyon (Alexandra) 107.736pts, 2; Melanie Hillis (Mataura) 110.9pts, 3; Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 114.424pts, 4; Ebony Turipa (Gore) 118.386pts, 5; Jenna Holland (Tuatapere) 124.762pts, 6.
Junior final: Anne-Marie Kahukura (Omakau) 110.724pts, 1; Foonie Waihape (Gisborne) 125.85pts, 2; Maiden Elers (Mataura) 126.194pts, 3.

ENDS

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