Eye On The Prize And He Does It.

Te Kuiti 13-year-old Josh Balme has joined a small yet elite group of shearers – becoming one of the youngest ever competitors to win a coveted Golden Shears crown.

The schoolboy, son of veteran nine-time Golden Shears open finalist Digger Balme shore his way into the history books in last night’s 52nd Golden Shears novice final.

He joins Masterton’s David Gordon, who in 2010, and then aged 13, was crowned the youngest champion in Golden Shears history.

The previous youngest winner of any division at the Golden Shears in its history was 15 years old.

From the start of competition (Wednesday February 29) the Te Kuiti youngster was gunning to fill the shoes of his father.

Josh first picked up a hand-piece at age 11, shearing on the family farm under the watchful eye of his father.

“I was brought up around shearing, running alongside shearing gangs. It is a great way to get money and it keeps you fit. I have my idols too, like my dad, Johnny Kirkpatrick and of course David Fagan who everyone will always look up to.”

Though the competitive streak, beginning in a few build-up contests this season is only just kicking in, Josh had his sights fixed firmly on the prize after winning a semi-final spot and just squeaking in to the finals.

Despite suffering a serious arm injury during the day’s qualifying competition, his determination never faltered.

With his win under his belt, Josh can now sit in the wings and cheer on his Dad, a man he credits as one of his biggest shearing idols.

In his 30 years of Golden Shears competition, where he once finished second to local hometown icon David Fagan in the open final, Digger has still got his eye on the top spot.

“It is great to be down here cheering Josh on and getting a feel of the real spirit of the event, but I have also got my mind on really performing out of my skin myself right now and making it through to the Open Final if everything goes right.”

Live feed from the www.goldenshears.co.nz

ENDS

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