Shearing: World champs competition heats up

Rowland Smith has secured one of the two spots available for Kiwi competitors at the world shearing champs in France in July.

Two open shearing finals more than 1200km apart over the weekend have added an extra edge to a race for a world championships position which is shaping as the most intriguing contest in New Zealand shearing in years.

The wins were by Manawatū shearer Aaron Haynes at the Kumeu Show near Auckland and rising Southland contender Casey Bailey at the Mayfield A&P Show in Canterbury.

They are among a line-up of at least seven in strong contention for the second machine shearing position in the New Zealand team for the world shearing and woolhandling championships in France on July 1-7.

It is in contrast to the near one-man race for the first position claimed by former Ruawai gun Rowland Smith, now based in Hawke's Bay, when he won his sixth Golden Shears open title at Masterton on March 2, his 13th win in an unbeaten run since his first competition of the New Year at Wairoa on January 19.

Smith is expected to face tough opposition in the New Zealand Championships open final at Te Kuiti on March 30, which will decide the second member of the team going to France.

Others prominent in the race for the second New Zealand team position are Kumeu runner-up Mark Grainger, of Te Kuiti, third placegetter and reigning world champion John Kirkpatrick, of Hawke's Bay, and Southland hopes Nathan Stratford and Troy Pyper, of Invercargill, and Brett Roberts, of Mataura.

Other shearing results from the Kumeu Show:

Senior (8 sheep): Ricci Stevens (Napier) 10m 2.03s, 37.352 points, 1; Jayden Mainland (Wellsford) 10m 0.93s, 39.422, 2; Daniel Berger (Ahuroa) 10m 25.27s, 41.014, 3; Josef Winders (Winton/Hamilton) 10m 23.62s, 41.556, 4; James Lowry (Onewhero) 10m 23.45s, 41.673, 5; Wayne Newlove (Dargaville) 13m 0.98s, 54.799, 6.

Intermediate (6 sheep): Cory Barrowcliffe (Piopio) 10m 13.79s, 40.023 points, 1; Alan Boler (Wellsford) 10m 15.55s, 40.945, 2; Rex Finlayson (Kai Iwi Lakes) 10m 40.92s, 50.212, 3; Robin Trent (Te Akau) 11m 21.24s, 55.229, 4; Heath Barnsdall (Piopio) 65.731, 5.

Novice (2 sheep): Gus Berger (Ahuroa) 9m 42.48s, 38.124 points, 1; Keahrey Manson (Piopio) 8m 38.55s, 44.428, 2; William Titford (Waiwera) 8m 4.44s, 46.222, 3; Tana Barrowcliffe (Piopio) 11m 22.39s, 56.12, 4; Tessa Berger (Ahuroa) 15m 13.24s, 82.662, 5; Stacy Beattie (Dargaville) 16m 40.57s, 123.529, 6.

Veterans (2 sheep): Jeff Wood (Ruawai) 3m 32.83s, 19.642 points, 1; Kevin Boyd (Dargaville) 3m 37.17s, 20.859, 2; Gary Rix (Dargaville) 4m 8.37s, 23.919, 3; Michael Hegglin (Aria) 4m 8.37s, 24.919, 4; Barry Jones (Pukekohe) 3m 39.42s, 27.471, 5; Neil Sidwell (Waiwera) 3m 57.55s, 27.878, 6.

ANZ Northland Teams Championship (15 sheep): Warkworth (Phil Wedd, Daniel Berger, Alan Boler, Kevin Welch) 18m 37.67s, 68.084 points, 1; Kaikohe 18m 39.54s, 70.243, 2; Arapohue 19m 40.12s, 72.273, 3; Paparoa 20m 33.67s, 78.751, 4.