Shearing sports in the genes as Reuben Alabaster claims national title

Rueben Alabaster became one of the youngest winners of a major shearing title in Te Kuiti. Photo/ Doug Laing

As Taihape woolhandler Sheree Alabaster notched up her eighth national title at the New Zealand Shearing and Woolhandling Championships, a new Alabaster announced himself of the shearing sports scene.

Fourteen-year-old cousin Reuben Alabaster won the junior shearing final at the Zealand Shearing Championships in Te Kuiti becoming one of the youngest to claim a major shearing title.

Reuben is the son of wool handling judge Libby and the late Ray Alabaster, a nine-time Golden Shears, open shearing finalist.

The Taihape schoolboy dominated all round to win a six-shearer final by 2.225 points from runner-up and 20-year-old Golden Shears Junior champion Brook Hamerton.

Sheree, a former world champion, said it was amazing to win her eighth New Zealand Open woolhandling title.

The 43-year-old, who earlier this year claimed her 50th win in Open finals, dominated the blend, oddment and fleece components of a five-handler final, beating runner-up Logan Kamura, of Marton, by nine points.

Fourteen-year-old Reuben Alabaster may have his cousin Sheree Alabaster's knack for shearing sports. Both won national titles on the weekend. Photo / Doug Laing

Yet to win a Golden Shears open, she put her continued success at Te Kuiti down to her love for the event.

"I love it here. I love the atmosphere."