Tiny Apiti goes global as shears fever grows

February 26, 2012

Tiny Apiti goes global as shears fever grows

More than 200 shearers and woolhandlers from around the World hit the remote Northern Manawatu farming locality of Apiti for an annual sports which diouble as a major prelude of the Golden Shears and World championships starting in Masterton on Wednesday.

They included 172 shearers, competing in four classes, reward for organisers which had mustered its resources over the last year to build a new six-stand covered shearing board and pens in time for the 70th annual sports.

Shearers from Northern Ireland, Australia and England were among the finalists, along with Whanganui shearer Noel Gardiner, who represents the Cook Islands in the World championships and who was a surprise qualifier for Saturday’s Open final, won by Hawke’s Bay-based Northland shearer Rowland Smith.

Others from overseas to reach finals were Hastings-based Northern Ireland shearer Jack Robinson, and Australian Kerryn Devane, who were second and sixth in the from who was runner-up to Waipukurau’s Tysson Hema in the senior shearing final won by Tysson hema, of Waipukurau, and English World Championships woolhandling representative Natalie Crisp, who was second in the Junior shearing final, just 0.2pts from winner Paul Hodges, of Geraldine.

Results of the Apiti Sports Shears on Saturday, February 25:

Shearing:
Open final (20 sheep): Rowland Smith (Ruawai) 17min 24sec, 66.9pts, 1; David Fagan (Te Kuiti) 17min 23sec, 68.25pts, 2; Dion King (Hastings) 18min 2sec, 69.65pts, 3; Matt Smith (Ruawai) 17min 42sec, 71.55pts, 4; David Buick (Pongaroa) 18min 38sec, 74.15pts, 5; Noel Gardiner (Whanganui) 19min 2sec, 74.3pts, 6.

Open Plate (10 sheep): John Kirkpatrick (Napier) 9min 27sec, 39.25pts, 1; Murray Henderson (Feilding) 10min 25sec, 42.15pts, 2; Riki Chase (Taihape) 9min 35se, 43.15pts, 3; Ian Kirkpatrick (Gisborne) 9min 28sec, 43.2pts, 4; Adam Brausch (Dannevirke) 9min 59sec, 44.75pts, 5; Digger Balme (Te Kuiti) 8min 33sec, 63.85pts, 6.

Senior final (10 sheep): Tysson Hema (Waipukurau) 11min 48sec, 45.8pts, 1; Jack Robinson (Northern Ireland) 11min 19sec, 49.25pts, 2; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti) 11min 37sec,50.95pts, 3; Shaun Matheson (Riverton) 11min 23sec, 54.85pts, 5; Brett Roberts (Mataura) 12min 26sec, 55.3pts, 5; Kerryn Davane (Australia) 13min 44sec, 62.8pts, 6.

Intermediate final (6 sheep): Bryce Guy (Kaeo) 7min 51sec, 37.05pts, 1; Michael Rolston (Levin) 8min 45sec, 37.583pts, 2; Sarah Goss (Kimbolton) 8min 50sec, 38.5pts, 3; Mario Taumata (Taumarunui) 10min 1sec, 42.883pts, 4; Logan Burton (Taumarunui) 9min 18sec, 43.233pts, 5; Cody Beck (Taumarunui) 10min 14sec, 43.367pts, 6.

Junior final (4 sheep): Paul Hodges (Geraldine) 8min 19sec, 33.7pts, 1; Natalie Crisp (England) 8min 43sec, 33.9pts, 2; Charlie Guy (Kaeo) 8min 13sec, 34.4pts, 3; Catherine Mullooly (Matawai) 8min 32sec, 34.85pts, 4; Ethan Pankhurst (Masterton) 8min 57sec, 36.85pts, 5; Dylan McGruddy (Masterton) 9min 13sec, 38.9pts, 6.

Novice (2 sheep): Jaycob Brunton (Levin) 6min 52sec, 30.1pts, 1; Tegwyn Bradley (Woodville) 7min 13sec, 30.65pts, 2; Neil Bryant (Levin) 7min 19sec, 31.45pts, 3; Blake Clinch (Greytown) 7min 40sec, 34.5pts, 4; Josh Harmon (Rodney) 6min 51sec, 35.05pts, 5; Ricci Stevens (Napier) 7min 25sec, 39.75pts, 6.

Woolhandling:
Open final: Veronica (Ronnie) Goss (Kimbolton) 47.6pts, 1; Sheree Alabaster (Taihape) 49.556pts, 2; Keryn Herbert (Te Awamutu) 59.044pts, 3; Dallas Mihaere (Dannevirke) 61.5pts, 4.
Senior final: Maryann Baty (Gisborne) 43.28pts, 1; Kim Sowry (Pahiatua) 53.03pts, 2; Connor Puha (Kimbolton) 59.462pts, 3; Adrienne Samuels (Marton) 60.97pts, 4.

Junior final: Sarah Goss (Kimbolton) 32.97pts, 1; Samantha Gordon (Masterton) 43.6pts, 2; Rachel Goss (Kimbolton) 59.2pts, 3; Shelly King (Australia) 79.706pts, 4.
ENDS

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