The old firm back for NZ transtasman shearing tests

MEDIA RELEASE

On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand

October 23, 2013

The old firm back for NZ transtasman shearing tests

Napier shearer John Kirkpatrick moves a step closer to a record-equalling 12th transtasman series test for New Zealand this weekend, reunited with a teammate from his first international 11 years ago.

Kirkpatrick, 42, flew to Australia after winning last weekend’s Poverty Bay A and P Show Open title and will be joined for Saturday’s test in Warrnambool, Vic, by born-again Alexandra finewooled merino shearing supremo Dion Morrell, of Alexandra, and Golden Shears and New Zealand Open champion Rowland Smith, of Hastings.

Kirkpatrick and Morrell were teammates in wins over Australia in Esperance, W.A., and Masterton in 2002-2003, Kirkpatrick being selected after the first of his four Golden Shears Open final victories and Morrell after the last of three wins in the New Zealand Merino Championships.

Kirkpatrick shears Saturday’s test as winner of last season’s biggest mixed-breeds competition, the PGG Wrightson National, while Morrell, now 50, surprised even himself when he brushed-off the competition cobwebs and lead New Zealand’s unsuccessful attempt to block fourth consecutive merino championships win by Australian Damien Boyle.

In the true spirit of transtasman shearing, Kirkpatrick was this week working with Australian Roger Mifsud near Warrnambool to get his condition and gear ready to improve what has been a transtasman tests career somewhat less successful than his person triumphs of about 200 Open-class wins, including two Warrnambool’s Romney Shears Australian Crossbred Championship.

Of his 10 transtasman tests, Kirkpatrick has been in the winning team just four times, and just once in Australia, and four consecutive defeats until New Zealand regained winning form in Masterton last March, although New Zealand holds a 29-26 advantage in transtasman tests dating back to the first in Masterton in 1963. New Zealand will also be out to win a woolhandling test, represented by Te Awamutu’s Keryn Herbert, last season’s North Island circuit winner and also Shearing Sports New Zealand annual rankings champion, and 2013 Otago Championships New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year final winner Tia Potae, of Milton.

Also travelling to Warrnambool is a Te Kuiti New Zealand Shears team of Open-class shearers David Buick, of Pongaroa, and up-and-coming Te Kuiti shearer Mark Grainger, and traveling reserve Digger Balme, of Te Kuiti, as well as New Zealand Championships intermediate winner David Gordon, of Masterton.

The absence of some of the top guns will open some opportunities at Friday’s 10th Great Raihania Shears at the 150th anniversary Hawke’s Bay Show in Hastings, although transtasman tests record-holder David Fagan, of Te Kuiti, will be on hand as he and son and first-year Open competitor Jack try to reach a final together in New Zealand for the first time. Among the opposition will be Waipawa shearer and 2010 Golden Shears World Champion Cam Ferguson, of Waipawa, and possibly 2006 Golden Shears champion Dion King, of Hastings, a five-times winner of his home-town’s big event.

ENDS

© Scoop Media