Snippets

Triathlon An event for competitors from Junior to Open grades. With three disciplines within the industry (shearing, Wool Handling and wool pressing) a competitor who enters all disciplines at Golden Shears will automatically be entered in the Triathlon. Points are accumulated from the heats of each discipline and totalled, with the lowest points deciding the winner. The Triathlon is kindly sponsored by the NZSCA – New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association.

Brian Lochore

It was more than just New Zealand’s (and the world’s) rugby community that mourned the loss of Sir Brian Lochore, who died at his Wairarapa home on 3 August 2019 after a period of illness. “BJ” as he was known to all and sundry, is pictured above at the launch of the Golden Shears 50th jubilee book at the Woolshed, Masterton, in March 2010. An iconic New Zealander and farmer, he competed as a lower grade shearer at the first Golden Shears in 1961 and maintained a strong interest in the event. RIP Great Man

Masterton District Brass Band

The longest serving service provider to Golden Shears will complete it’s 55th year of erecting the shearing stand in the Stadium in 2020. A task that commences on the Friday prior to Golden Shears and finishes with the pull-down on the Sunday after the event - their service also extends to laying down of the wool pressing stage at the rear of the stadium. The Committee extend their gratitude to Band members, with a presentation to be made on Saturday afternoon. Pinfolds Pinfolds have a long history with the Golden Shears that goes back almost to the beginning of the competition, with Pinfold trucks carting the sheep in and out of the competition. Over that time, Pinfold’s drivers have got it down to a fine art, getting the stock delivered in time and with as little stress as possible for the shearers and sheep. Then carting them back once they have been through the competition. It is important that the stock that is shorn is cleared from the yards before the next truck arrives with the next lot of sheep to be shorn. Rain is the biggest challenge, as the sheep have to be completely dry for the competitors. To achieve this, Pinfolds designed custom-made covers to go over its trucks. The guys look forward to doing the Shears every year. Pinfolds proudly celebrate 100 years in business this coming May 2020.