French connection at Te Kuiti speedshear

French connection at Te Kuiti speedshear

An international shearing competition with a difference will take place as 2019 World Chmpionships hosts France make another move on the international stage in Te Kuiti tomorrow night (Friday).

Competing in a special male and female teams at the second North Island Speedshear Chmpionship at the Waitete Rugby Club will be brother-and-sister Thimoleon and Jalle Resneau.

The pair have been shearing in King Country and will be matched with prominent senior-class New Zealand shearer Catherine Mullooly and the top qualifier from the night’s Open-class speedshear heats.

It is part of a special French connection on the night with the first presentation of a trophy commemorating New Zealand shearer Beau St George, who was killed in a road crash in France last April.

Most of the North Island’s top Open and Senior shearers are expected in Te Kuiti for the Speedshear, which kicks-off the post-Christmas season across the mid-upper North island, followed by another Speedshear in Bay of Plenty township Te Puna on Saturday night, and the Tauranga A and P Lifestyle Show shearing championships on Sunday.

The Te Kuiti event offers prizes worth more than $6500, including a $2000 Open final first prize. It was won last year by 2014 World Champion Hawke’s Bay shearer Rowland Smith, with a time of 19.4 seconds for his single sheep, while there was a further international influence in the Senior final won by Chris Rowberry, from England.

ENDS

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