Brilliant Blade Shearing Seen In National Contest

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 15

Brilliant Blade Shearing Seen In National Contest

A brilliant exhibition of blade shearing in the relay final, in which the first two teams finished with the same time, was the highlight of the first day of the New Zealand shearing and wool-handling competitions in Ashburton yesterday.

When G. Karaitiana (Christchurch) began his final sheep for his team, he was 40 seconds behind last year’s Golden Shears champion, D. Hammond, but in a devastating finish he clipped the last piece from his sheep at the same time as Hammond.

Karaitiana, who is also a former Golden Shears champion, had a time of lmin 50sec for his last sheep. This was nearly half a minute faster than any other competitor. Through his effort, his team beat Hammond’s by .8 point.

After the final, Mr G. Bowen, who was the commentator for the events, said that it was the finest exhibition of blade shearing he had ever seen.

Only ij points covered the first four teams in the finished job. In the other events, Southland, North Canterbury and Wanganui, in that order qualified for the final of the Young Farmers’ shearing and woolhandling contest which will be held today. They were the only teams to score more than 80 points.

The Sports Hall was more than half full for the evening’s performances. Judges

Judges for the championships are:—

Woolhandling.—Messrs L. Galloway (Christchurch), R. H. Dyson (Marlborough), C. J. Gardner (Wellington), W. J. Hansen (Dunedin), and C. I. Thomas (Wellington). Shearing.—Messrs C. R. Waite (N,Z. Wool Board’s chairman), T. L. Butcher (Southland), E. L. Dreckow (Central Otago), J. A. Addis (Ashburton), G. Lange (Wairarapa), R. E. Taylor. (Temuka), and W. J. King (Southland).

Blade Shearing—Messrs W. Johnson (Ashburton, chairman). S. Chaffey (Seddon), J. Winchester (Ashburton), R. Manning (Hawarden), R. E.

Hiatt (Culverden), W. Pickering (Seddon). Yesterday the heats in the Young Farmers’ Clubs shearing and wool handling final, and the blade shearing championships were held, as well as the final of the blade shearing relay championships. Eight out of the nine contestants in the “Miss Wool” contest paraded before the audience, but elimination contests will be held this afternoon and evening. Today, the heats and final of the open shearing and wool handling contest will be held, as well as the finals of the Y.F.C. blade shearing and “Miss Wool” competitions. Eleven teams entered the Y.F.C. finals, six in the blade shearing relay, and 15 shearers in the blade shearing championships. Contestants were welcomed to Ashburton by the Mayor (Mr J. Davidson), who declared the contest officially open. Judges’ Comments The Romney cross sheep, which had between 12Jlb and 131 b of medium wool and were a little soft skinned, affected the standard of shearing, woolhandling and table work, the judges agreed. Mr G. Laing (Wairarapa), who judged the Y.F.C. shearing on the board, said that lack of practice of shearing this type of sheep did not help the competitors.

The standard of the outside shearing was very good, said the chairman of the shearing judges (Mr C. R. Waite), who inspected the sheep in the pens. In spite of the dry skin and heavy wool the over-all standard was very high. The judges of the board works (Messrs C. J. Gardner and R. H. Dyson) said that the Y.F.C. teams were all up to standard. This was particularly so as to the quality expected in a wool shed, the table work, said that the woolhandling of five of the teams, including the first two teams, was very good. “The fleeces were a very good test for them,” he added. The fleeces had plenty of fribs and neck wool, and it was pleasing to seem them take the brands out. The top teams handled with speed and efficiency and co-operated well with the shearers. Results The following were the results: — • Blade Shearing Relay Final.—L. Richards (Rakaia), R. Perry (Christchurch) and G. Karaiitiana (Christchurch), time, 14:50; points, 90.25, 1; D. Hammond, A. Norton and T. Wilson, 14:50, 90.17, 2; W. Karaitiana, J. Heath and N. Smith 17:30, 83, 3. Machine Shearing And Woolhandling—Y.F.C. flnanists: .Southland (N. Hazlett and N. McCosh, shearers; D. McGillivray, board; R. Nicol, Table), 83.79, first qualifier; North Canterbury (R. Manson, J. Taege, M. Calder, W Breithmeyer), 82.53, 2; Wanganui (P. Coleman, J. Harris, H. Marshall and Mrs M. Stuart), 82.05, 3.