Locals show shear skill

Wairarapa woolhandlers made a huge impact at the New Zealand Spring Series shearing and woolhandling event held in Waimate on Saturday.

Third behind two of the country's best, Keryn Herbert of Te Awamutu, and Rocky Hape-Taite of Dannevirke, in the open section was Masterton's Tina Rimene. Herbert scored 118.87 4 points, Hope-Taite 125.06 and Rimene 140.34.

Kodi Hawkins of Martinborough made it two-from-two with a win in the senior class, having also tasted success at the national merino championships at Alexandra seven days earlier. Hawkins scored 140.404 points to comfortably beat Juliette Lyon (Alexndra) 161.512 and Amber Stringer (Ranfurly) 204.496.

In the junior grade Sarah Higgins, from Martinborough, prevailed; recording her first win. She totalled 189.14 points to beat Laurie Tegelaars (Pleasant Point) 199.66 and Amanda McCone (Geraldine) 206.66.

Winner of the open title in the shearing was Darin Forde with the Southlander holding off the challenges from Rakaia duo Tony Coster and Grant Smith.

Also from the deep south, Cory Palmer won the senior shearing final and the intermediate title went to Phoenix Hawkins of Rakaia. Placed fifth there was Ethan Pankhurst of Masterton.

Fourth in the open shearing event at the Poverty Bay Shears at Gisborne on Saturday was Pongaroa farmer David Buick, who came close to making his first Golden Shears open final last summer. Dion King of Hastings took the major spoils from John Kirkpatrick (Napier) and Cam Ferguson (Waipawa).

The intermediate shearing final was won by rookie contractor Adam Morton of Wairoa with 38.4 points, edging out Masterton's David Gordon with 38.85.

In the woolhandling at Gisborne the open final was won by hometown hero Joel Henare and the senior final by Rahna Watson-Paul of Hastings. Fourth in the latter event was Carmen Smith of Pongaroa.