Mason man to beat at Shears

Masterton's Matene Mason has to be the one to beat for the senior title at the 2011 Golden Shears.
He has been in grand form all season and wins at Taumarunui on Friday and Pahiatua on Sunday provided further evidence - if any was needed - of his readiness to take centre stage on home territory.
At Taumarunui, Mason shore his 10 sheep in the senior final in 10min 38.89s and finished with 40.544pts. Second was Tipene Te Whata of Tautorlo (10min 27.2s and 44.251pts), and third Krishane Edmonds of Raetihi (11min 9.37s and 44.868pts).
At Pahiatua, Mason clocked 11min 34.42s for his 10 sheep and had a points score of 43.121pts. Runner-up there was Bevan Guy of Kaeo (10min 48.83s and 43.142pts), and third Tysson Hema of Waipukurau (12min 8.09s and 45.404pts). In the wool handling at Taumarunui, Ursula Taiaroa of Masterton was second in the senior final, with other Masterton competitors Sharni Graham and Cushla Gordon finishing third and fifth. Rangi Barakat of Waipawa won with 59.65pts with Taiaroa picking up 83.712pts, Graham 83.82pts and Gordon 109.558pts.
The senior wool handling final at Apiti on Saturday was won by Masterton's Fiona Christiansen, with Gordon second while the junior final saw Kylie Laris of Masterton win and Samantha Gordon, also of Masterton, place third.
Apart from Matene Mason, two other Wairarapa shearers made finals at Pahiatua, Hemi Braddick of Eketahuna placing fifth in the intermediate grade and David Gordon of Masterton fifth in the junior division.