Shearers impress at recent competitions

Wairarapa shearers and wool handlers have been making a huge impact in recent competitions around the North Island as they begin their preparations for next year's Golden Shears in Masterton.
A large number of shearers from outside the province have converged on the Wairarapa to help cater for the big numbers of sheep to be shorn on local farms and with wool prices at a low point in our economy the importance of quality shearing is being constantly highlighted.
Novice shearers Conan Gray and Tane Matiaha have started their competition campaigns strongly with both having registered a win each at the A and P shows being held over the past five weeks.
Gray has also reached a semi-final at junior level.
Also in the junior grade Cushla Gordon has been making a good fist of what is her debut year in this class, recording a fourth placing at Hastings, a second at Carterton and making the semis at Waipukurau.
Matene Mason has been featuring prominently in the intermediate division.
He had a second at Gisborne, a second at Carterton and a first placing at both Waipukurau and Manawatu.
It has been a remarkable transition to the intermediate class for Mason and he should continue to be a force to be reckoned with there. As should Dwayne Mikaira who placed fourth at the Carterton show.
Locals to have been hitting the high spots in the senior class are Shayne Ireland, Paka Matiaha, Mark Buick and Beaudean Hawkins with the latter two regularly making the semis or finals at most of their competitions. This is the most popular class entry-wise with many competitors on the verge of moving up into the open grade.
On the subject of the open grade world champion Paul Avery and our own Golden Shears champion John Kirkpatrick have been having some great battles there. Peter Clendon has flown the Wairarapa flag high and made the final at the Carterton show while yours truly reached the semis. PJ Hawkins was very competitive as well. Waipukurau saw PJ and myself place 11th and 10th respectively.
In the wool handling Wairarapa has also done well. George Hawkins won at Alexandra and was named New Zealand Marino wool handling champion. Since then he has also won at Carterton and Gisborne. Hine Biddell has also tasted success and Jodi Hawkins has made a couple of finals.
In the senior wool handling at Carterton Cullen Chase did well to place second and yours truly was fourth while fighting out the junior class there were Fiona Christianson, Sharni Graham and Cushla Gordon and they placed in that order.
The Stratford show next weekend is the last before Christmas and more Wairarapa successes are certainly in store there.