Shear for Life and ABs raise more than $85k for cancer charities

Shear for Life organiser Rocky Bull, of Ashburton, got to catch up with mates and raise more than $85,000 for charity. Photo / Toni Williams

They came, they shore and they conquered, raising more than $85,000 for charity.

Around 70 vintage shearers from New Zealand and overseas, including current and former world champions, stars of the movie She Shears and All Blacks greats, appeared on the stands at the Shear For Life event at the Ewing Family property, at Hinds in Mid Canterbury on Saturday.

It was the brainchild of shearing mates Rocky Bull, Alan ''Bimbo'' Bramley and Steven ''Dixy'' Lynch, who wanted a chance to catch up with a few of the old shearing crowd.

Nearly a year later, with a team of people helping, the event was a crowd-puller.

There were nine stands to accommodate eight machine shearers and one blade shearer, 3000 crossbred lambs, live commentary, a grandstand for viewing and live shearing feeds to televisions in a marquee to accommodate an overflow of people.

Hearty food was available for purchase all day and there were raffles, silent and live auctions and competitions.

Event committee member Sandra Curd said there was a continuous flow of people to the event all day and even the wet weather later in the day did not put people off.

Organisers were amazed by the level of support from those involved, from the shearers who took part to the level of sponsorship from businesses and individuals and the people in the community and further afield who supported the event.

Rocky Bull said catching up with fellow shearers, during and after the event, ''was just like I thought it would be. It was a good night and a good catch up.''

Money raised will go to Ashburton Cancer Support Group, Breast Cancer New Zealand and Prostate Cancer New Zealand.