Shearing
Golden Shears champion Rowland Smith was at it again when the New Zealand shearing championships were held at Te Kuiti over the weekend.
Smith, of Hastings, won the open final, shearing his 20 sheep in 16min 11.74s and recording 63.987 points. Second was Nathan Stratford with 66.476 points and third David Buick of Pongaroa with 66.624 points. Others to make the final were Dion King (Hastings), Mark Grainger (Te Kuiti) and David Fagan (Te Kuiti).
The big talking point came in the semifinals where defending national champion John Kirkpatrick of Napier was eliminated. He has not finished further back than third in more than 30 competitions over the past year, apart from the national finewool championships in October, and was second favourite behind Smith on this occasion. Bryce Guy of Kaeo won the senior final with 54.169 points, with Hemi Braddick of Eketahuna fourth with 57.327 points and Steven Hanson, also of Eketahuna, sixth with 59.995 points.
Masterton's David Gordon won a Wairarapa-dominated intermediate final with 46.217 points. Runner-up was Phoenix Hawkins (Martinborough) on 47.53 points, third was Dylan McGruddy (Masterton) 47.53 points and fourth Ethan Pankhurst (Masterton) 50.248 points.