Golden Shears 2024 43-64

GOLDEN SHEARS 2024 SNIPPETS

WELCOME BRADDICK SHEARING

Golden Shears Society is extremely grateful to Braddick Shearing, based in Eketahuna, for providing an essential service with their resident shearers. These shearers are called upon whenever a Wool Handling event occurs which is 15 times during the 3 days.

Braddick Shearing has taken over this role from Shear Expertise, Masterton.

The Committee extends a sincere appreciation to Paddy Mason and the entire team at Shear Expertise for their unwavering support and generous sponsorship over the years.

The Alec Cullen Trophy

Donated by Agrisales NZ Ltd for the NZ Regional Teams competition, the Alec Cullen Trophy is a full-scale replica of a shearing handpiece and cutters, crafted over 80 hours out of two pieces of Kauri by Lloyd Cullen of Waipu.

The trophy was first presented on January 25, 1990 at Kuméu. Regional Teams competing featured two open shearers, who were outside of the top 24 shearers, from each of the recognised 8 regions and was contested over four rounds – two heats, a semi-final and final. The final featured teams from North Island East Coast and North Island North, with the trophy won by the North Island East Coast team of Stephen Cooper and Jamie Fleming.

Golden Shears 2024 Life Members

STANDING FROM LEFT:

SEATED FROM LEFT:

PEN STAFF

Golden Shears would like to extend enormous thanks to the students who work tirelessly with the sheep, in the in the catching pens behind the shearing

board, and for the judges in the outside pens.These students are from:

 Growing Future Farmers,  Rathkeale College,  Wairarapa College

Ronnie talks World Champs 2023

We arrived in Scotland on the 18 of June to prepare for the World Champs which ran from the 22 to 25 of June.

The team that represented New Zealand were Rowland Smith, Leon Samuels (Machine shearers), Tony Dobbs, Allan Oldfield (Blade shearers), Ngaio Hansen, Candy Hiri (Wool Handlers) Officials were, myself (Team manager), Donald Johnston (Shearing Judge) and Janet Smith (Wool Handling Judge).

The World champs were held at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh with 30 countries represented. Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way, with only Tony Dobbs making an individual final, coming 4TH in the Blades.

Other results were:

Tony & Allan 2ND Team Blades. Ngaio & Candy 4TH Teams Wool Handling. Rowland & Leon 6TH Teams Machine Shearing.

Congratulations to the New World Champions – Gwion Evens (Wales) Machines, Bonile Rabela (Sth Africa) Blades, Rosie Keenan (Scotland) Wool Handling.

I would personally like to thank the Team and Officials for competing and performing their duties in such a professional and respectful manner, it certainly made my job a breeze!

Roll on Masterton 2026!

Ronnie King Team manager

Greg Herrick, Philip Morrison, Bruce Christensen, Kevin Aplin, Bill Hutchings, Gavin Tankersley, Murray Tomlin,

Bruce Caseley, Edwin O’Hara, Laurie Keats (Patron), Ian Stewart.

Photo: Pete Nikolaison.

WBS proud to be involved in Golden Shears

At WBS our goal is to help our community prosper. Over our many years in the region, we’ve helped thousands of local people and their businesses prosper through lending and investments, community grants, and sponsorship.

We pride ourselves in offering some of the most competitive investment and lending rates in the country. Through the WBS Charitable Trust, we support a large number of Wairarapa organisations through two grant funding rounds each year. And through WBS, we’re proud to sponsor a range of exciting events across the region, including sponsoring the Junior Wool Handler category at this year’s Golden Shears.

Wishing best of luck to all competitors at this year’s Golden Shears. And congratulations to the organising committee for running another exciting and iconic Wairarapa event.

Le Gra- Friday Night Tables

WHY WOOL?

Wools of New Zealand, an entity owned by wool growers, says that thousands of New Zealand wool growers produce 30 million kg of wool a year.

Like no other product, wool delivers on every metric you can throw at it. And sheep just keep getting better. AgResearch – the Crown Research Institute responsible for delivering innovative science and research outcomes within the agricultural sector – has announced it is breeding sheep to produce more wool and less methane at the same time. That’s a win-win.

If you’re looking for long-term durability in your flooring, wool carpets emerge as superior to other carpeting options – they can last a lifetime. Wool provides underfoot comfort, is resistant to static build up and slips, and provides excellent sound absorption and heat insulation.

Naturally durable, stain- and odourresistant, hypo-allergenic, and easy to clean, wool carpets quietly deal with whatever modern life throws at them. Wool carpets are also more fire resistant than synthetic carpets. Trusty sheep have served humans faithfully since the year dot with food and fleece. And different fleeces suit different purposes.

WOOL IS FLAME RESISTANT

 Less combustible than cotton and synthetic materials

 Naturally re retardant

 Will not melt or cling to the skin

 The bre of choice for casinos & airlines

WOOL IS DURABLE

 Returns to its original shape better than cotton and synthetic materials

 Resistant to tearing

 Resilient

WOOL IS ABSORBENT

 Absorbs 30% of its weight compared to cotton’s 15% absorption

 Good leak control for disposable nappies

WOOL IS NATURAL

 Very breathable

 Less processing needed to make it usable

 Scientist tried to reproduce its properties synthetically – they failed

WOOL IS INSULATION

 Higher thermal and acoustic ratings over other products

 Reduces peak humidity levels & condensation*

WOOL IS COMFORT

 Regulates body temperature

 Warmer in Winter, cooler in Summer

 Possesses natural moisture-wicking properties

WOOL IS CLEANER

 Naturally soil and stain resistant

 Requires less cleaning than synthetic fabrics

 Attracts less dirt and dust due to anti-static properties

WOOL IS FASHION

 Widely used in the fashion industry around the world

 Unequalled in versatility – from traditional to avant garde

 Has superior dye fastness compared to synthetic fabrics

WOOL IS “GREEN”

 Renewable

This year, for those seated at tables, the talented team at Le Gra winery will be providing exquisite platters crafted from locally sourced produce. There will also be a selection of Le Gra’s own wine available, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Rosé and Pinot Noir.

Le Gra Winery is located at Opaki, just north of Masterton.

Merino is a thin but super dense fibre that makes it perfect for clothing – the sort made popular by Icebreaker - without bulkiness or itching, while coping with both heat and extreme cold. Romney is mostly used in carpet, but New Zealand Natural Clothing also uses it in some of its coarser wool jersey blends.

Lincoln, an original longhair breed, is one of the oldest breeds of sheep, possibly roaming English hills over 5000 years ago. Lincoln wool is strong, stable, and used in wool clothing of all types. Corriedale is a bit of a cheat as it’s halfbred derived from merino sheep. It offers a longer fibre than the Merino, however, and is far bulkier – it’s great for chunky knitted scarves.

 Biodegradable

 Recyclable

WOOL IS HYPOALLERGENIC

 Resistant to bacteria, mould, and mildew

 Reduces dust mite activity (they don’t like wool)**

WOOL IS VALUE

 Products can last for 15 to 20 years (or more)

 Out performs and out wears all other bedding fabrics

WOOL IS HEALTH

 Promotes healing

 Releases stress

 Provides cushioning and reduced pressure

 Reduces pain and swelling

 Promotes relaxation and restorative sleep

WOOL IS ANIMAL FRIENDLY

 No sheep are killed in the harvesting of wool

*confirmed in research by the International Wool Secretariat

**Dust mite activity can exacerbate upper respiratory tract infections, asthma and skin diseases

THE LEGACY OF LAURIE KEATS

Laurie, who celebrated his 90TH birthday in December, is an archetypal modest, salt of the earth, gentleman farmer. He has a dry sense of humour and a twinkle in both eyes. Shearing from the age of 14, and winning his first competition the same year, the culture of sheep shearing has been a fundamental and important part of his life.

Laurie’s family has owned land in Masterton since 1920 - the love of living off the land runs deep in Laurie’s veins. In his best season, Laurie could shear 40,000 sheep: “which is not many by today’s standards,” he says, “but I was shearing by day and doing my farm work by night, so I had to save some energy for that.”

It was only 20 years ago when he and his now wife Judy downsized from their farm to a lifestyle block. They've since downsized further to six hectares.

Laurie talks about the late 1950s, when he was still in his 20s. He and his mates took a bus trip to Wairoa for a regional shearing competition –getting up to all sorts of shenanigans along the way – and, on the way back, they realised New Zealand needed a national competition. The idea for the Golden Shears, based in Masterton, was born.

“Many strong-willed people thought I was mad, but I persuaded them. I’m proud about that,” Laurie says. He’s grateful for the coaching he received from the young men’s groups - Young Farmers and Jaycees –on how to speak publicly. He learned to influence and persuade and turn people’s arguments back on themselves.

Left: Laurie teaching Yugoslavian locals how to shear in 1983. Right: Laurie (middle) with his shearing mates on that fateful bus journey in the late 1950s.

Laurie, along with his backers and the legions of volunteers required to make such a venture successful, established the first Golden Shears in 1961, with crowds so big that the local army was called in to help control them. Nearly 300 shearers from New Zealand and Australia, including the legendary Godfrey Bowen, took part. Godfrey’s brother Ivan Bowen became the first Golden Shears champion.

“Increasingly, overseas shearers were coming to compete in the Golden Shears in Masterton. They’d been trained by Godfrey Bowen and his merry men who travelled the world teaching the Bowen Technique – shearing fast and clean. A World Championship was a logical progression.”

Laurie chaired the Golden Shears World Council, establishing the rules between the first World Champs held in England in 1977 and the second in Masterton in 1980, and further fine-tuning them after that. He’s a life member, patron, and past-President of Golden Shears,

as well as a foundation member of the organisation now called Shearing Sports New Zealand. Laurie also raised funds to establish The Woolshed (New Zealand’s sheep and shearing museum in Masterton) and has an oral shearing history archive.

The 1980s saw Laurie leasing out his farm to a neighbour and going travelling for about six years all up, doing shearing demonstrations across 17 countries from Norway to Saudi Arabia and even behind the iron curtain in Eastern Europe: Hungary, Poland, and Yugoslavia. He has vivid memories of being accompanied by three or four ‘agricultural officials’ in those countries and experiencing enormous hospitality including massive meals and “gallons of vodka”. Judy joined him in the wool shed for some of those overseas exploits.

Back in Wairarapa, Laurie and his long-time shearing mate Ian (Scotty) Stewart teamed up – then both in their 60s. They reckoned they’d only shear in sheds where they

were served homemade scones and raspberry jam, but that didn’t seem to produce much in the way of smoko, sadly.

Laurie has passed his skills on to the next generation of shearers, cemented shearing's place in New Zealand history, and received a New Zealand Order of Merit (in 2009) for his troubles. He’s a legend.

“It’s been a most enjoyable journey,” he says, with characteristic modesty.

Laurie Keats and his wife Judy at their lifestyle block north of Masterton.

GOLDEN SHEARS 2024 ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY NIGHT

Sheer madness and fun

On that legendary bus trip in the late 1950s when Laurie Keats and his fellow shearers decided to establish a national shearing competition (eventually named Golden Shears), the lads got up to all sorts of shenanigans, including a bit of a tipple.

It’s appropriate then, that a group of fun-loving and highly talented musicians named Shenanigans will be at Golden Shears on Friday 1 March 2024 to rouse your voices and move more than your feet. Expect to be energised and uplifted by the Shenanigans who bring something unique and special to the New Zealand music scene.

As well as reconstructing traditional Irish/Celtic tunes that have been around for generations, Shenanigans also enjoy taking well known contemporary classics and “Irishing”

them up, which makes for a very entertaining experience. Watch out for traditional Irish songs such as Whiskey in the Jar, various Pogue numbers, and Van Morrison’s Moondance. Then there’s all those other songs done with an Irish style. You might get to hear numbers from Rolling Stones, Kenny Rogers, Don McLean, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Crowded House, and many more.

Lead guitarist and singer Justin became a Shenanigan about twenty

years ago – he was hired on the spot because of his authentic Irish accent. Justin’s forebears come from Poland and Scotland via Pahiatua. Fiddler extraordinaire Jane, bass player Paul, and drummer Maurice complete the troupe.

Audiences are encouraged to get involved, with plenty of crowd participation and dancing. The band tends to make up its play list as it goes, depending on the energy of the crowd and requests.

Don’t miss the high energy of the Shenanigans, with its toe-tapping fiddling and hilarious banter.

GOLDEN SHEARS 2024

TRANS-TASMAN

New Zealand Team

SHEARERS

NATHAN STRATFORD

Invercargill

Has New Zealand record for TransTasman tests, with 17 since 2006, and has 82 wins in Open finals. New Zealand's most prominent finewool shearer, having won the National Circuit twice (2014, 2022) and reached its final 19 times; won the New Zealand Merino Shears Open final five times and the Corriedales Championship four times.

WOOL HANDLERS

TIA POTAE

Kennedy Bay

Represented NZ 2005-2006 and 2013-2014 by winning the NZ Wool Handler of the Year Titles. Claimed place in the current team by winning the 2023 NZ Merino Shears Open final. In 2021 won inaugural Primary Industries award at NZ Women of Influence Awards for supporting wool, forestry and fishing industry workers and their families through the work challenges of Covid-19.

LEON SAMUELS

Roxburgh

Has had 16 Open wins in New Zealand. His 12 major titles in last four years include PGG Wrightson Circuit in 2021,the New Zealand Shears Open last year, joining the team at the 2023 Golden Shears World Championships in Scotland, and the New Zealand Merino Shears Open final in September, retaining his place for the current Trans-Tasman series.

ANGUS MOORE Seddon

Won the Golden Shears Senior title in 2007. He has now won the National Circuit three times 2012, 2020 and 2023. Angus runs a shearing contracting run in Marlborough. Has 18 wins in Open finals, including the 2021 New Zealand Corriedale championship in Christchurch, and was runner-up in the 2023 Golden Shears Open final.

CUSHLA ABRAHAM Masterton

Trans- Tasman series representative last season after winning the 2022 NZ Merino Championships Open Wool Handling final and retained her place for the current series by winning the North. Island Wool Handling Circuit at the 2023 Golden Shears. Resume includes Novice Shearing & Womens Wool Pressing Golden Shears titles. Runs shearing contracting enterprise with husband Paerata Abraham.

MARK BARROWCLIFFE, Manager and Shearing Judge Piopio

HEIDI MIDDLETON, Wool Handling Judge Winton

Australian Team

SHEARERS

NATHAN MEANEY

From Kapunda, South Australia. In the industry for 17 years and competing for 17 years Representing Australia has been a highlight of his career and watching his daughters grow up around the industry.

DANIEL MCINTRYE

Age 42 Lives in Glen Innes, New South Wales with wife Jammie and two sons Ryan and Jayden. He has represented New South Wales at national level 15 times and has six national titles to his name. He has also been a member of the Australian team eight times. Still working as a Shearer part time farmer and AWI Shearing coach.

WOOL HANDLERS

ALEXANDER SCHOFF

Has been competing in Wool Handling competitions since 2016. Alexander has been working in the industry for the last seven years, working and competing in nearly every state in Australia. In the last 2 years has represented Queensland in the Open Wool Handling at Nationals.

MARLENE WHITTLE

First year competing. Started at Bendigo Northern Shears 2017, in the senior wool, started in the sheds when I was 12 and full time after school.

JOSH BONE

27 year old Josh from Nhill Victoria, having semi retired from full time shearing has found himself top qualifer for the Victorian team this year as an Open shearer. Josh has been shearing for fourteen years and has always wanted to shear for Australia.

STEVE MUDFORD Manager

RICHARD HEIN Shearing Judge

LISA MCLEAN Wool Handling Judge

ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM SHEEP

From the outset, sheep farming has been crucial to New Zealand's economy. Between 1856 and 1987, sheep comprised the country’s most important agricultural industry.

It all started for the Wairarapa district in 1844, when just under 1000 animals were driven around the coast from Wellington. In the post-WWII period, Britain took all the meat and wool we could produce, prompting a 40 percent increase in New Zealand’s sheep numbers between 1951 and 1961 alone.

By the early 1970s, however, change was coming. Britain joined the European Economic Community, the costs of transport and production rose because of global oil shocks, and the competition from synthetic

fibres and changes in fashions began to bite. Wool prices fell but farmers were initially insulated from the worst impacts because of government subsidies. These were not sustainable, however, and in the mid-1980s, the subsidies were removed.

In 1982, sheep numbers peaked at over 70 million. But, by 2021, numbers had fallen to about 26 million.

In 1970, approximately two percent of New Zealand wool offered for sale by auction was fine (Merino) and 75 percent was coarse. As the price differential between fine and coarse wool increased, farmers adjusted their stock accordingly. By 2019, fine wool was worth over six times more than coarse. At the same time,

approximately eight percent of our wool offered for sale by auction was fine, with 65 percent coarse.

Adaptation has always underpinned, and continues to underpin, the place of wool in our lives and our economy. Sheep continue to be farmed for meat and so need to be shorn every year to keep them free from disease. And, so, shearing remains important in New Zealand despite the drop in sheep numbers. Shearing also became an elite sport in the late 20TH century, helping to continue the legacy of wool.

Sources: Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand; Beef + Lamb New Zealand Economic Service 2020; NZ Journal of Animal Science and Production. 2021. Vol 81: 1-15.

Shearing

We support Golden Shears like we support Farmers. Putting finances back in the hands of farmers and growers.

FROM LEFT: James Macpherson PRESENTER, Rowland Smith, Angus Moore, Nathan Stratford, Hemi Braddick, Paerata Abraham, John Kirkpatrick

2023 CHAMPIONS

Shearing

FROM LEFT: Tyron Cochrane, Jake Goldsbury, Cody Waihape, Emma Martin, Dan Rogers, Ryka Swan, Dean Williamson PRESENTER

JUNIOR

FROM LEFT: Robert Larsen PRESENTER, Maaka Nikora, William Clarkson, Flyn Innes, Stirling McKelvie, Tom Clarkson, Ged Billing

NOVICE

FROM LEFT: Lucy Griffiths PRESENTER, Will Sinclair, Dalton Tangiwai, Sam Green, Jack Pringle, Tini Papanui, Jacob Taylor

INTERMEDIATE

FROM LEFT: Clay Harris, Adam Gordon, Cory Tiwai Barrowcliffe, Teua Wilcox, Joseph Gordon, Paul Swann

SENIOR

Shearing

NOVICE STUDENTS CHALLENGE

FROM LEFT: John Myszczyszyn PRESENTER, Scott O'Connor, Benazzi Ward, Zach Hall, Renee Garrett, George Peacock, Camden Bolton-Smith, James Robinson, Max Free, Ernie Fowler, Hayden Lourie, Ella McWilliam, George Parke

WOMEN’S INVITATION

FROM LEFT: Cushla Abraham PRESENTER, Pauline Bolay, Laura Bradley, Emily Te Kapa, Emma Martin, Lynda Thomson, Amy Silcock

MAORI/PAKEHA

TEAM

FROM LEFT: Sonya Rimene PRESENTER, David Gordon, Jacob Moore, Naki Maraki, Paul Hodges, Reuben Alabaster, Matthew Hunt

National Circuit Shearing magazine is now only published electronically www.lastsidepublishing.co.nz

Trans-Tasman

SHEARING

WOOL HANDLING

Send your email address to shearingmag@xtra.co.nz and receive your copy direct from the publisher, every April, August and November 58

FROM LEFT: Peter Semmens PRESENTER, Tom Kelly AUST MANAGER, Racheal Hutchinson, Mark Purcell, Angela Stpehens, Cushla Abraham, Greg Stuart NZ MANAGER

FROM LEFT: Lance Waddell PRESENTER, Nathan Stratford, Leon Samuels, Stacy Te Huia, Greg Stuart NZ MANAGER, Sam Mackrill, Daniel McIntyre Nathan Meaney, Tom Kelly AUST MANAGER

FROM LEFT: Phil Svensek PRESENTER, Paul Senior PRESENTER, Angus Moore, Leon Samuels, Brett Roberts, Stacy Te Huia, Nathan Statford, Jack Fagan, Shane Cohen PRESENTER

Wool Handling

NOVICE

FROM LEFT: Emma Mason PRESENTER, Joel Henare, Keryn Herbert, Ana Braddick, Jasmin Tipoki

OPEN

FROM LEFT: Rahera Kerr, Emma Martin, Vinniye Phillips, Amy Bell

SENIOR

FROM LEFT: Abby Curnow, Tatijana Keefe, Jolie Orcher, Lucy Elers

JUNIOR

FROM LEFT: Tuma Mullins PRESENTER, Eleri Bradley, Crystal Newton, Bryndy Pinkham (ABSENT), Ana Mason

THE WORLD’S PREMIER SHEARING AND WOOL HANDLING CHAMPIONSHIP

2023 CHAMPIONS

Wool Handling

Te Papa Partnership

NIWC WOOL HANDLING

WORLD Q UALIFYING

FROM LEFT:

Millar PRESENTER, Candy Hiri, Ngaio Hansen, Foonie Waihape, Jasmin Tipoki

Wool Pressing

FROM LEFT: Jeremy Goodger, Matthew Cheer PRESENTER

MEN’S

FROM LEFT: Matthew Cheer PRESENTER, Vinnie & Jeremy Goodger, James Goodger & Conan Harmon

PAIRS

FROM LEFT: Cushla Abraham, Keryn Herbert, Ngaio Hanson, Jasmin Tipoki

Hayley

THE WORLD’S PREMIER SHEARING AND WOOL HANDLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Wool Pressing

WOMEN’S

Quality Awards

SHEARING

FROM LEFT: Matene Mason OPEN, Clay Harris SENIOR, Cushla Abraham INTERMEDIATE (ABSENT), Tyron Cochrane JUNIOR, Blair Shortell PRESENTER

WOOL

HANDLING

FROM LEFT: Kristina Perry PRESENTER, Tatijana Keefe JUNIOR, Paul Ryley SENIOR (ABSENT), Jasmin Tipoki OPEN

TRIATHLON

FROM LEFT: Jeremy Goodger, Angus Moore PRESENTER