Golden Shears - Winner

Gizzie mum wins first red ribbon at Golden Shears

It was a case of oh how life changes for Gisborne mum-of-three Dayna Rimene who this afternoon claimed the first title at the 56th Golden Shears international shearing championships in Masterton.

The 31-year-old, originally from Te Karaka, had never before entered a woolhandling competition and only came to Masterton to support the cousins. “About half of Gisborne,” she reckoned.

But instead, prodded by woolhandling guru Ailsa Fleming, she found herself making a late-entry in the Golden Shears Novice Woolhandling Championship, and winning the final of a competition which earlier in the day fielded 27 in the heats.

But it wasn’t only the woolhandling that marked her day, for even though she reckoned it was “scary” alighting the stage to receive her red ribbon and $150 prize, she clasped the microphone and told a first-afternoon crowd of over 400: “Big thanks to Auntie Ailsa for pushing me to do this. She can be a dragon sometimes, but if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have been here.”

Rimene had first learnt some woolhandling some years ago, but had taken time off to raise her children, Kaiti School pupils Jadas, 10, and Taysiah, 9, and two-year-old Shauneia.

It was the second time a Gisborne competitor had won the event. When the Novice woolhandling grade was incorporated in 2013 it was won by Tameka Hema, who today was top qualifier for the Junior semi-final on Saturday morning.

Result of the 2016 Golden Shears Novice Woolhandling final in Masterton today (March 3, 2016): Dayna Rutene (Gisborne) 76.148pts, 1; Cheyenne Walker (Masterton) 77.572pts, 2; Catherine Mullooly (Matawai) 89.426pts, 3; Chiara Kirikiri (Masterton) 91.918pts, 4.

ENDS

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