Wairarapa shearers feature prominently

Stratford Showgrounds was the venue for the final shearing show before the New Year and Wairarapa competitors featured prominently amongst the major placegetters.
The novice section started proceedings with Copnnan Gray making it to the final and placing an impressive third.
This event also signalled the debut of 12-year-old David Gordon and he did his father proud!
In the junior section Simon Robinson had a mechanical problem in the final which slowed him down yet he still managed to finish third.
Sharni Rimene, in his first year, did extremely well to place fifth and it was disappointing that Cushla Gordon had to withdraw after being hospitalised on the Friday night.
The final of the intermediates was a spectacular affair with our own Matene Mason involved in a stirring battle with Davy Garland of Palmerston North and, yes, it was Mason who came out on top.
He looks to have a bright future ahead of him.
The senior division saw David Hape make the final and place third while Toby Roore was fifth.
These fellows have been making steady improvement and should be in their element after the Christmas break.
The open final was a thriller with world champion Paul Avery and Gavin Mutch fighting it out.
They shore 15 sheep in just 11 minutes which gives a good idea of how slick these guys are. Yours truly made the semis and was placed sixth, hard yakka for an old fellow!
Finally, all the best to nominees Matene Mason and Cushla Gordon at the 2008 Wairarapa Maori Sports Awards tonight.
It is great that the local iwi have acknowledged shearing in this respect and long may it continue.