Shearers Trained In NZ Win In Russia

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 28

Shearers Trained In NZ Win In Russia

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 27.

The New Zealand shearer, Godfrey Bowen, last week watched two of his former pupils take the honours in a Russian shearing competition on a collective farm near Belgorod.

According to a Npvosti press agency report received by the Russian Legation in Wellington today Mr BoWen was the guest of honour at the competitions, which 'included male and female shearers from 36 territories and autonomous republics of the Russian Federation. The winner of the Russian Golden Fleece Medal, Safar Bairamkulov, and the silver medal winner, Nikolai Kholod, were taught their shearing technique by Mr Bowen when they visited New Zealand to Study shearing. The Novosti report said Mr Bowen arrived in Russia

on July 16 and was met by senior Ministry of Agriculture officials. He was accompanied on his visit to Belgorod by a senior ministry officialAfter displaying his technique * f<tr the Russian shearers, Mr Bowen said the art of shearing in the Soviet Union had improved considerably since his last visit. He invited other leading shearers to visit' New Zealand to improve their art “They would be given a most 1 heartfelt welcome," he said. ’ The report said the winner’s time in the competition 1 was 2min 21sec a sheep for 1 a pen of 10 sheep.