Action from the Pre-Shears Woolhandling Championships at Mikimiki on Wednesday. PHOTO/HAYLEY GASTMEIER
HAYLEY GASTMEIER
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Sam Gordon says Golden Shears is probably the biggest event on her family’s annual calendar.
The 25-year-old from Masterton is one of eight in her family competing in the three-day festival, which kicked off yesterday.
“It’s pretty much the biggest weekend for us, it’s very exciting.”
Gordon came third in the Open Final at the Pre-Shears Woolhandling Championships held at Massey University’s Riverside Farm in Mikimiki on Wednesday.
She said she had been serious about woolhandling for about eight years but coming from a farming family the sport was in her blood.
Shearing Sports NZ spokesman Doug Laing said with many shearing and woolhandling titles under their belts, the Gordon clan epitomised what Golden Shears was all about.
“The sheep and wool industry is all about family connections.”
Newly titled “Master Woolhander” Pagan Karauria, 30, came first in Wednesday’s Open Final.
Winning was all about determination, she said.
“You have to focus. It all comes down to the little things, like who’s the fittest . . . as soon as you start running out of breath you can’t think and that’s when mistakes happen.”
Pre-Shears Woolhandling Championships founder and president Mori Gibbs started the event 18 years ago to encourage local people to enter the Golden Shears – and she says her plan worked.
“Way more locals are entering these days.”
She said she enjoyed the cameradie that came with the industry and thanked the judges, the competitors, and Massey for providing the Pre-Shears venue and sheep.
