Shearers urged to get competing

ENCOURAGED TO COMPETE: Sir David Fagan is urging shearers to get more involved in competition. Picture supplied

THE call has gone out for shearing contractors and staff to get in behind shearing competitions throughout the country as hard-working organisers struggle to get enough entries.

While entries for many of the close to 60 competitions each summer are often taken on the day, the shortage of pre-post entries is worrying competition organisers.

The call for contactors to encourage their crews to compete is echoed by Shearing Sports New Zealand chairman and shearing legend Sir David Fagan.

He has travelled annually from Te Kuiti in the central North Island to compete at one of the southernmost competitions in New Zealand, and won the Open final there three times.

“There are many people who have put in many years and have done a lot of work to keep these shows going for the benefit of their communities and the shearers and woolhandlers,” he said.

“Perhaps most importantly the competitions are where shearers and woolhandlers hone their skills for working in the woolshed, the biggest of all benefits going to the contractors, farmers and the wool industry.

“If they don't do more to support the shows they could lose them,” he said.

“With rural community numbers in decline there is a big need for competitors and supporters to also join competition committees.”