Steve Stoney abandons world lambshearing record attempt

Napier shearer Steve Stoney's bid for a World lambshearing record today was abandoned less than a quarter of the way into the nine-hour day today.
Starting at 5am at Kahuranaki Station, south of Havelock North, 41-year-old Stoney shore 166 in the two-hour run to breakfast, well off the pace set by fellow Hawke's Bay shearer Dion King who shore 196 in the opening run of his record 866 in January 2007.
Judges also deducted three to cut the official tally to 163, but announcing Stoney's decision to withdraw judges convenor Mark Baldwin, of Australia, said many things ''weren't going Steve's way,'' including cool conditions which meant the record quickly slipped out of reach.
After a moment's grief, Stoney was smiling again, saying it was a learning curve, he'd take a day or two off to think about things, and suggested there ''could'' be another day.