World record shearing bid hit by blackout

Shearer Stacey Te Huia's bid to break the world ewe shearing record was hit by a blackout this afternoon.

Chasing 578 and well ahead of the required pace with 451 shorn at the three-quarter stage and just as the fourth and final run of two hours was about to get under way Te Huia was stopped when the power went off.

Te Kuiti electricians raced to the remote shed off State Highway 30 between Te Kuiti and Benneydale where the event was taking place, and soon discovered the fault, a blown pole fuse a few metres from the shed where the crowd had grown to about 100 to urge the 30-year-old shearer towards his goal.

Power was soon back on and the race resumed 40 minutes' behind time, and is now due to end at 5.40pm.

- NZPA