Christchurch A Wins Y.F.C. Shearing

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 18

Christchurch A Wins Y.F.C. Shearing

Close competition, excellent team work, and a high standard of both shearing and wool handling made the Canterbury - Westland area final of the Young Farmers’ Club section of the shearing and wool-handling competition an exciting and attractive display. Seven teams took part, and the Christchurch A team won by slightly more than one point from North Canterbury A. Christchurch B was third. Christchurch A will thus go on to the national final, which will be held at Ashburton in March. The standard of the shear-

ing in all the teams was high, one or two shearers being outstanding. Each of the teams shore eight sheep, four for each shearer. The sheep were Romney hoggets, with a full fleece, and were in good order. The standard seen was fully comparable with that seen at the Timaru area final which was held recently. Fastest time for the shearing went to the North Canterbury A team, but it dropped some points on the shearing marks. The best shearing marks went to the winning team, which had a point and a half lead over Christchurch B —79J to 78 points. The North Canterbury A and B teams each had 691 points for the actual shearing. In the wool-handling section of the competition, the judge of the board work (Mr L. Galloway, of Christchurch), said the standard was the highest he had ever judged. The throwing of the fleeces on to the table was. in most cases, outstanding. He was also impressed with the way in which the competitors could identify, without hesitation, the oddments to the fleeces. The four members of the team had learnt to co-operate very well, and he was impressed with the way they worked as a team. Christchurch B scored the most points, 951, in the woolhandling section, North Canterbury A being a quarter of a point behind. Results were:— Christchurch A (Shearers: R Manson, T. Teague; wooltiandltog: M. Calder, W. Breitmeyer), 89.78 points, 1; North Canterbury A (Shearers: D. Dreaver, G. Upston; woolhandling: P. Stewart. D. Palmer), 88.16, 2; Christchurch B (Shearers: A. McLauchlen. G. Beere; woolhandling: W. Scott, N. Moffatt), 88.11, 3; Ashburton A, 83.2, 4; North Canterbury B, 83.11, 5: West Coast, 81.8, 6; Ashburton B, 80.28, 7. The judges were:—Shearing: Messrs R. E. Taylor i Winchester), the senior judge. W. Lister (Chertsey), B. J. Patterson (Ranfurly), R. J. Gallagher (Mayfield* Woolhendlmg: Messrs L. Galloway and I. S. Miller (Department of Agriculture). Today, the open section of the competition will be held, starting at 9 a.m.