Kirkpatrick wins Golden Shears

The roof of Masterton's War Memorial Stadium was in danger of lifting off on Saturday night as a near-capacity Golden Shears crowd roared their approval at the naming of a man many regard as the nicest man in shearing, as Golden Shears champion.
John Kirkpatrick, of Napier and formerly of Masterton, didn't quite know where to look as the stadium erupted with delight at the mention of his name.
But he soon gathered himself and, when prompted by commentator Koro Mullins, to say more than just a simple word of thanks, Kirkpatrick kidded the audience along by claiming his biggest thanks were due to his wife "who's up there working out the points".
In truth Kirkpatrick needed no favours from anyone to deservedly take out shearing's biggest prize; he did the hard yards himself.
In fine fettle all season he carried his competition success through to the Golden Shears and before the semifinals was being tipped - even by his fellow semifinalists - as the man to beat.
The smallest in stature of the six finalists, Kirkpatrick nevertheless stripped a ball of muscle and his superior fitness told on his opponents.
Dark horse finalist Rowland Smith, of Ruawai, took the fight to Kirkpatrick from the outset and was first shearer in for his second sheep.
Smith had the measure in speed until five of the 20 sheep to be shorn were completed but Kirkpatrick edged closer and closer, finally going in for the sixth sheep a second or two ahead of Smith.
From there the two dominated the contest, although the four others, Dion King, David Fagan, Adam Brausch and Dean Ball, were breathing down their necks throughout.
As the halfway mark approached the din from the cheering spectators reached thunderous proportions with every man and woman in the near-capacity audience encouraging their own favourite.
With 14 sheep back down the chute Kirkpatrick and Smith had spent just a few seconds over 11 minutes on the board and the two battled it out to the finish.
Dripping sweat, Kirkpatrick turned off his machine after 20 sheep in a near neat 17 minutes and Smith was hot on his tail.
Dion King was next to finish, then Adam Brausch, David Fagan and Dean Ball.
Then the wait for the judges to assess quality began and when the six finalists were called onto the stage nobody in the stadium was sure just who would take the crown.
When Kirkpatrick was named the place went wild.
Kirkpatrick was asked what had been going through his mind when he was narrowly trailing Smith in the early stages.
"I just kept my mind on my own sheep, concentrated on what I was doing and had a bit of fun."
This season Kirkpatrick has enjoyed a golden run of success in shearing competitions, winning 13 of 19 throughout the country leading up to the Golden Shears.
In the crowd watching Kirkpatrick's popular win was his son Daniel, a Super Rugby player, who is with the Hurricanes this season.