Shearing the love around

The world shearing and wool handling championships to be held in conjunction with the iconic Golden Shears in Masterton on February 29 and March 1, 2 and 3 are set to be a truly international event.

As many as 27 nations were represented at the 2010 competition in Wales and it is hoped that number will be exceeded this time round.

The global nature of the sport was highlighted by the prize list at the most recent championships.

There the individual shearing title was won by Cam Ferguson of New Zealand, the shearing teams title by Ferguson and his legendary Kiwi team-mate David Fagan, the blade shearing by Zingesele Elliot Ntsombo of Lesotho and the woolhandling by Bronwyn Tango of Wales.

Those results were in direct contrast to what occurred at the 2008 world championships in Norway when New Zealand almost made a clean sweep of the five titles up for grabs.

Paul Avery won the individual shearing, Avery and John Kirkpatrick the team shearing, Sheeree Alabaster the individual woolhandling and Alabaster and Joanne Kumeroa the team woolhandling. The only title not going to the Kiwis was the blade shearing, won by Ziewilelle Hans of South Africa.

In 2005 though the news was not so bright for New Zealand. Held in Toowoomba in Australia the shearing events were dominated by the host nation, Shannon Warnest winning the individual shearing title and Warnest and Daniel McIntyre the team shearing title. It was all New Zealand in the wool handling though, the individual championship going to Kumeroa who also combined with Tina Rimene to take out the teams title.

In all there have been 14 world championships since they were inaugurated in Bath and West, England in 1977 when three events were staged and New Zealand won the lot - Roger Cox the individual shearing, Cox and Godfrey Bowen the team shearing and Peter Casserley the blade shearing.

Taking out the individual shearing title is certainly nothing new for those wearing the silver fern with 10 of those coming our way, the remarkaable Fagan having won five of them, in 1988, 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2003.

Whether Fagan will have the opportunity to add to that record remains to be seen as he is just one of several top contenders for the New Zealand line-up.

If Fagan does make it history would indicate a bold effort as he will be competing in an arena which invariably brings out the best in him, something evidenced by him having won the Golden Shears open title on no fewer than 16 occasions. No wonder the Te Kuiti superman considers Masterton his second home!

The current Golden Shears open champion John Kirkpatrick and another former winner of that title, Cam Ferguson, are arguably Fagan's sternest opposition. They have a habit of reserving their best efforts for Masterton.