Golden Shears: Day 2 results - Vinnie Goodger takes title

Vinnie Goodger, of Masterton, keeps up the family tradition by winning the Golden Shears men's woolpressing title. Photo / Pete Nikolaison, Golden Shears Media Group

It was the first bale of wool Vinnie Goodger had pressed in a year, but it was bang on the button as he successfully defended his Golden Shears men's woolpressing title in front of his home Wairarapa crowd in Masterton's War Memorial Stadium last night.

Goodger, having turned to dairy farming for a more stable lifestyle and steadier income with the arrival of children Kya, 3, and Karson Warwick, 2, had stopped working fulltime in the woolsheds three years ago, and he hadn't pressed a bale since the Golden Shears last year.

But the 27-year-old still managed to press the perfect bale to the pre-set standard of 170kg, which, with also the best time and pressing points, helped him hammer home the advantage over shearer, woolhandler and first-time men's woolpressing finalist Ricci Stevens to win by the comfortable margin of 18.35pts.

It was the first time he'd pressed to the target in a final.

Goodger, brother of 13-times title winner Jeremy Goodger who was eliminated in the semi-finals, said he keeps competing in the event because "it's a family tradition."

"I just save it for the Golden Shears, and rely on the knowledge on the day," he said.

The women's woolpressing title went to Cushla Abraham, of Masterton, making her the first person to win individual Golden Shears titles in shearing and pressing, and in the even more unique position of having also been an Open-class woolhandling winner else where on the Shearing Sports New Zealand circuit.

The pairs woolpressing title went to Jimmy Samuels and Jono Hicks, of Marton, capping a good day for Samuels who also qualified for the Golden Shears Open shearing semi-finals for the first time.

Jeremy Goodger was not to be left without for his efforts, winning the Golden Shears Triathlon, based on heats points by 13 people who had competed in shearing, woolhandling and wool pressing during the championships.

Results of the finals on Day 2 of the 58th Golden Shears in Masterton today:

Woolpressing:

Men's final: Vinnie Goodger (Masterton) 41.45pts, 1; Ricci Stevens (Napier) 59.8pts, 2.

Women's final: Cushla Abragam (Masterton) 79.35pts, 1; Carmen Smith (Pongaroa) 178.65pts, 2.

Pairs final: Jimmy Samuels and Jono Hicks (Marton) 63.9pts, 1; Carlene Karaitiana and Jeremy Goodger (Masterton) 75.85pts, 2.

Triathlon (shearing, woolhandling, woolpressing): Jermy Goodger (Masterton) 143.21pts, 1; Vinnie Goodger (Masterton) 148.453pts, 2; Riccie Stevens (Napier) 180.321pts, 3; Jared Mullins (Dannevirke) 211.092pts, 4; Jono Hicks (Marton) 212.152pts, 5; Conan Gray-Harmon (Masterton) 215.299pts, 6.

Master Woolhandler and former World teams title winner Keryn Herbert was possibly the major casualty of the preliminary rounds of the Golden Shears major events when she was eliminated in the heats of the Open Woolhandling Championship.

The Te Kuiti mum, four-times the No 1 ranked Open-class woolhandler in New Zealand despite having never won the Golden Shears or New Zealand Championships Open title, was just 27th of the 36 in today's heats, missing a place in the top 16 for the Saturday morning quarterfinals.

Unsurprisingly, the qualifiers were headed by favourite Joel Henare, going for a sixth consecutive win in the event, and a 100th Open-class victory.

Likewise, shearing phenomenon Rowland Smith, of Hastings, headed the qualifiers for the Open shearing quarterfinals being held last night, after which the top 12 would be named for the Saturday afternoon semi-finals, leading to the naming of the six for tnhe Shears' glamour final tomorrow night. Other than the order of qualifying, Smith, Pongaroa farmer David Buick, current World champion John Kirkpatrick, of Napier, and former World and Golden Shears champion and Scots international Gavin Mutch, of Whanamomona, were a predictable top four.

Henare and Smith were last night still the hottest favourites in TAB shearing sports betting history.

Of more than 20 events being decided in the three-day champioonships, which have attracted over 300 competitors, 13 will be decided on the last day.

Qualifiers for quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals on the last day of the 58th Golden Shears shearing and woolhandling championships in Masterton Mrch 3, 2018:

Shearing:

Senior semi-final: Tegwyn Bradley (Woodville), Jade Maguire Ratima (Winton), Lionel Taumata (Taumarunui/Gore), David Gordon (Masterton), Sean Gouk (Masterton), Ricci Stevens (Napier), Connor Puha (Kimbolton), Jaycob Brunton (Levin), Laura Bradley (Woodville), Barney Cummings (Winton), Raehana Hokinga (Australia), Ross Thompson (England), Cahni Stringer (Ranfurly), Paul Swann (Wairoa), Whakapunaki Maraki (Flaxmere), Ramone Smith (Gisborne), Kieran Davane (Australia/Taihape), Cody Greig (Levin).

Intermediate final: Gwyydion Davies (Wales), Daniel Seed (Woodville), Brandon Maguire Ratima (Winton), Trent Hewes (Glen Murray), Cob Higgins (Marlborough), Maddison Bright (Takapau).

Junior final: Keith Swann (Wairoa), Leam Pritchard (Pongaroa), Reuben Alabaster (Taihape), Jonathan Painter (Pahiatua), Daniel Biggs (Mangamahu), Brook Hamerton (Ruawai/Hastings).

Woolhandling:

Open quarterfinals: Joel Henare (Gisborne/Motueka), Chelsea Collier (Gore), Maryanne Baty (Gisborne), Eramiha Neho (Dannevirke), Pagan Karauria (Alexandra), Logan Kamura (Marton), Monica Potae (Milton), Sheree Alabaster (Taihape), Tina Rimene (Masterton), Emaraina Braddick (Eketahuna), Rahna Williams (Flaxmere), Ana Braddick (Eketahuna), Jamie McLean (Taihape), Brittany Tibble (Gisborne), Candy Hiri (Mataura), Trish Moke (Waipawa).

Senior semi-finals: Lashara Anderson (Invercargill), Ricci Stevens (Napier), Ash Boyce (Dannevirke), Azuredee Paku (Masterton), Tameka Hema (Gisborne), Chenelle Waihape (Mataura), Sharon Tuhakaraina (Gore), Jessie Dean (Masterton), Kiley Laris (Masterton), Vinnie Goodyer (Masterton), Bianca Hawea (Masterton), Christine Ballinger (Featherston).

Junior semi-finals: Cortez Ostler (Kimbolton), Summer Pritchard (Pongaroa), Sarah Davis (Rotorua), Lucky Garrett (Eketahuna), Erina Sciascia (Australia), Tramon Campbell (Gisborne), Whakapunaki Maraki (Flaxmere), Tyler Hira (Onewhero).

Hawke's Bay shearer Rowland Smith continued his march towards his defence of the Golden Shears Open title by heading the field in both the heats and the quarterfinals on the second day of the 58th annual championships in Masterton today.

But it was yet another close call in the Top 30 quarterfinal shootout in front of a crowd of 800 last night, with a margin of less than two-tenths of a point from second-to top qualifier Gavin Mutch in a now clearly identified quartet of top hopes, including three winners of both the Golden Shears Open final and the World Championship.

Smith, four times the winner and World champion in 2014, was followed in order by 2015 champion, 2012 World title winner and Scots international Mutch, of Whangamomona, Pongaroa farmer David Buick effectively the odd-man-out in third place, followed by reigning World champion and four-times Golden Shears Open winner John Kirkpatrick, of Napier.

Uniquely, just six of last year's top 12 made the cut, and it could have been just five had it not been for the four-thousandths of a points between last-man-in and 2017 first-time semi-finalist Ant Frew, of Pleasant Point, and next-man-in Ethan Pankhurst, of Masterton.

The top six in the semi-finals will contest shearing's most famous 20 minutes tonight, starting just before 9pm.

The qualifiers for the Golden Shears Open shearing semi-finals on Saturday afternoon (in qualifying order): Rowland Smith, Gavin Mutch, David Buick, John Kirkpatrick, Mark Grainger, Tama Niania, Sam Welch, Murray Henderson, Nathan Stratford, Jimmy Samuels, Caisey Bailey, Ant Frew.