World champion shearer Rowland Smith lived up to the tag of overwhelming favourite to win his third Golden Shears Open title in Masterton at the weekend.
It was a particularly controlled effort from the 29-year-old Hawke's Bay gun, who in contrast to many of his recent wins was just third off the board as new finalist Paerata Abraham and best local Wairarapa hope David Buick tried to win the final by the only way possible — speed.
It was Abraham, from Dannevirke but now living in Masterton, who won the race, his 15min 50.234sec thought to be the third-fastest time in the 56 years of the final of 20 second-shear sheep, beaten only by David Fagan's 15min 27.4sec and John Kirkpatrick's 15min 43.8sec when they were winner and runner-up in 2003.
It was Smith's 28th win in 31 finals dating back to his second Golden Shears Open win in March 2014. Taking a break from competition shearing, Smith did not compete at the Golden Shears last year but is now in full swing, chasing a place in the Shearing Sports New Zealand team to defend his world title in Invercargill in February next year.
Ultimately, second place went to Napier shearer Kirkpatrick, the most prolific runner-up in the event's history but who also has won the title four times.
