John Kirkpatrick wins back Shears Open title

Wairarapa achieved the next best thing to a homegrown win in the greatest shearing contest on earth, the Golden Shears Open on Saturday, when John Kirkpatrick wrestled back the crown he had lost six years ago.
Kirkpatrick, 37, was once domiciled in Masterton and after his thrilling victory in what could arguably be described as the best final in a decade, he was quick to acknowledge the role Wairarapa played in his truimph this year.
"My years shearing in Masterton for Rick McLeod taught me a lot.
"I know the feel of Wairarapa-bred sheep because, believe it or not, there are subtle differences in shearing sheep from different areas."
Kirkpatrick has lived in Napier since about 2001 a year before he won his first Golden Shears championship, but is still firmly regarded as "one of ours" by the local shearing fraternity.
Neighbours of Kirkpatrick when he lived in Stamford Place in Masterton recall him with affection as a young man with a huge work ethic and a determination to succeed that stamped him as a shearing champion.
A naturally-shy man, Kirkpatrick hunted for words and looked decidedly uncomfortable being in the spotlight after his 2002 victory, but the intervening years have greatly enhanced his confidence.
The John Kirkpatrick who held aloft the winner's trophy on Saturday night was a polished professional with an engaging manner and an articulate presentation.
His finals win was a classic example of power-shearing against one of the strongest line-ups in many years.
All the guns were on the board alongside him, including the mighty David Fagan and the reigning champion, Paul Avery, but Kirkpatrick treated them with near arrogance to down them comfortably.
He shot straight to the front on the first of his 20 second-shear sheep, dealing to the animal in 42 seconds, turning first in front of the legendary Fagan and Dion King.
As the six men on the board fought the good fight, and the crowd erupted, Kirkpatrick showed his sheer class and fitness by gradually increasing his speed-lead over his opponents.
The roar that rippled through the War Memorial Stadium resembled an All Black try in a World Cup final when Kirkpatrick poured on the pace with four to shear, cranking up his performance in an astonishing display of quality shearing.
Old hands said later Kirkpatrick is a master of sheep selection and before the start of the final would have cast a very discerning eye over offerings for his pen, making sure the shearing order would suit him.
A former shearing champion quipped Kirkpatrick would know with four to go, and being in front, that the best sheep were still to come and that he could safety relax and up the ante.
Kirkpatrick was on fire heading into the pen for his last sheep and when he cleared the board it was obvious to everyone in the hall they had witnessed one of the stand-out performances in the 48-year history of the Shears.
Avery, King and Fagan practically finished together, with Dean Ball and "the flying Scotsman" Gavin Mutch last to finish.
Even after his emphatic win, Kirkpatrick was reluctant to take too much for granted.
To commentator Koro Mullins he simply said "we will have to wait and see what happens now" a reference to the yet-to-be-assessed quality points that help to determine the final outcome.
As it happened, Kirkpatrick had absolutely nothing to worry about. He was home and hosed.
When the judges had done their work the end result was a win for Kirkpatrick followed by Avery, King, Fagan, Mutch and Ball.
For his win, Kirkpatrick received a cheque for $3000, a Supershear handpiece and products, the Royal Agricultural Society NZ gold medal, a trip to Australia as a New Zealand team member and joins a New Zealand contingent to the World Championships to be held in Norway.
At the end of May he is off to Britain to compete in shearing competitions there.
Wairarapa's adoption of Kirkpatrick as one of its own gave the final a real local flavour, even more so as our best two resident hopes had been eliminated after the Top 30 contest despite their very best efforts.
David Buick, of Pahiatua, wound up in 14th position to narrowly miss out on a semi-final spot in the Open and Peter Clendon, of Masterton, was further down the pecking order.
In earlier competitions at the Shears on Saturday Masterton boy Matene Mason had more than just cause to smile.
Mason, who is only 15, was awarded the trophy for the best junior from Wairarapa.
He had finished second in the final of the junior shears for shearers who had posted a shed tally of up to 210 sheep over a nine-hour day.
Young Teresa Hall, of Martinborough, had her moment in the spotlight, too, when she was awarded the trophy for best Wairarapa shearer on quality points.
Hall had competed in the junior shearing.