Golden Shears: Duo earn black singlets

Hawkes's Bay duo John Kirkpatrick and Cam Ferguson will represent New Zealand in machine shearing at the world shearing and wool handling championships to be held in Masterton from February 29 to March 3.

Kirkpatrick from Napier and Ferguson from Waipawa clinched their places by grabbing the first two placings in a selection final held at the Southern Shears in Gore over the weekend.

Both have already tasted major success in Masterton, Kirkpatrick's win in the open final of the Golden Shears last year being his third in that iconic event while Ferguson won his only open title to date in 2010, Kirkpatrick being runner-up on that occasion.

Making his selection even more gratifying for Ferguson is that it will give him the chance to win the world individual crown for a second successive time, having triumphed in Wales last year.

Both Kirkpatrick and Ferguson are popular figures sure to do their country proud at a world championships which has received entries from 25 countries.

But there will be disappointment that the man dubbed Mr Golden Shears because of his 16 open title wins, Te Kuiti's David Fagan, stumbled at the last hurdle in his bid for national selection. He was top qualifier for the Southern Shears elimination but was ousted in the semifinals.

Canterbury blade shearers Mike McConnell, of Albury, and Brian Thomson, of West Melton, will represent New Zealand in that discipline at the world championships while wearing the silver fern in the wool handling will be Joanne Kumeroa of Wanganui -five times winner of the Golden Shears wool handling open title - and Joel Henare of Gisborne. The latter is just 20, making him this country's youngest-ever wool handling representative at a world championships.