Adam Gordon with the fruits of his labour. PHOTO/PETE NIKOLAISON
DOUG LAING
An 18-year-old from Masterton’s first family of shearing has created a new piece of Golden Shears history by winning two Golden Shears titles within a few minutes in his home-town on Thursday.
Adam Gordon won both the shearing and the woolhandling Novice titles, the moment captured by commentator Koro Mullins soon afterwards during a live-streaming interview, saying: “I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone up here with two red ribbons before.”
He became only the second competitor to win Golden Shears titles in the separate crafts of shearing and woolhandling, but in winning the shearing final emulated the feats of sister and 2008 winner Cushla, and brother David, who won at the 50th Golden Shears in 2010.
While from a family which is shearing through-and-through, with father Nuki, sister Samantha and brother Joseph also among the more than 300 competitors at the 59th annual championships, Adam Gordon only learned to shear at the end of last year, he said.
But he took to it quickly, and while working fulltime as a presser since leaving Wairarapa College in December, after three years in its First XV rugby team, he had become a favourite to win the shearing title, after winning at Apiti last Saturday.
The win, while awaiting the final result from the woolhandling final contested a short while earlier, came by the wide margin of more than 14 points over runner-up Taylor Lock, of Weber. Gordon had easily the best points across time and quality.
The runner-up in the woolhandling final was Sylvia Dickson, of Eketahuna.
There’s a method to Gordon’s plan, for, like brother David, he plans to shear for a few years and then get a “trade” in building.
The championships continued yesterday and feature the heats in the glamour Open shearing and woolhandling events, for which the finals feature on the final night tonight.
RESULTS
Results from the opening day of the 59th Golden Shears shearing and woolhandling championships in Masterton on Thursday:
Shearing:
Novice final: Adam Gordon (Masterton) 5min 12.475sec, 17.124pts, 1; Taylor Lock (Weber) 7min 34.495sec, 31.225pts, 2; Gus Berger (Ahuroa) 10min 12.112sec, 37.106pts, 3; Rennee Biggs (Mangamahu) 7min 41.97sec, 39.099pts, 4; Alice Watson (Blenheim) 8min 39.955sec, 40.498pts, 5; Keahrey Mason (Piopio) 8min 7.358sec, 41.868pts, 6.
Student Challenge (one sheep each): Pukemiro (Jesse McIntyre and Connor McIntyre) 8min 45.394sec, 38.27pts, 1; Smedley 8min 25.106pts, 2; Waipaoa 8min 5.993sec, 41.3pts, 3; Rathkeale 11min 33.57sec, 44.679pts, 4.
Woolhandling:
Novice final: Adam Gordon (Masterton) 132.2pts, 1; Sylvia Dickson (Eketahuna) 144.7pts, 2; Elma Baker (Featherston) 162.16pts, 3; Eleri Bradley (Woodville) 176.3pts, 4.
