Shears popularity was unexpected

Golden Shears organisers are reeling at the increased numbers of competitors and international attention the 46th three-day event is attracting.
There had been a total of 500 entries and by yesterday morning the open shearing category had reached a capacity number of 92 and late entries could not be taken.
Golden Shears vice-president Craig Cooper said numbers had increased throughout the junior, intermediate and open grades, with the senior grade not deviating from last year.
"The number of entries in the open is up considerably. It closed at 92, and in previous years 80 has been a good number."
He said the boost in numbers had to be seen as the result of a resurgent industry with more young people joining.
"It also indicates the mana of competing at Golden Shears is not diminishing. The optimum opportunity for shearers, handlers and pressers is to compete at the Golden Shears."
Golden Shears president Darryl Hart reiterated those sentiments.
"It's brilliant. Numbers are way up and it looks good for the shears in the future."
He said the standard of shearing is constantly improving, which can be put down to the training farm education group Tectra and the Agricultural Industry Training Organisation is providing.
"They're training the young fellas, they just help the young ones come through and the standard is getting better every year. The sheep are cleaner, they have fewer cuts and there is less wool left on. It's due to how they're being trained."
He said the shearing industry's international potential and the rate at which you can get up and running is attracting more youngsters.
"We're seeing a new breed of shearer coming through. The young shearer will go out and tell his mates good it is and how much money they make, and before long they have got a contract and a gang going, and they can make it all year round.
"A lot of them head overseas, too."
He said Norway, Scotland and England are typical overseas destinations for shearers.
Another positive development for the Golden Shears this year has come in the form of international media interest.
Attending this year was a UK film crew gathering footage for a New Zealand episode of the Lonely Planet travel show.
"That will go out to about 33 million people. We can't by that kind of exposure. No can really." Maori TV was also there, and he said he had spoken to them about perhaps going live from the Golden Shears next year.
???nAll the pre-Shears favourites made it through the qualifying stages yesterday to the top 30 in the open competition, though some did it easier than others.
Leading the way was the old campaigner several-times champion David Fagan of Te Kuiti who, while not the fastest off the boards, was the second cleanest shearer, netting just 2.833 penalties to head the field of qualifiers on 23.693.
Just behind him were Napier shearers Dion King (23.909) and John Kirkpatrick on 23.968 points.
Last year's champion Paul Avery was slightly surprising in qualifying back in 12th place. Ahead of him were the likes of veteran shearer Samson Te Whata, who qualified ninth and Australian Jason Wingfield (10th).
The top 30 also includes two locals. Eketahuna shearer Corran Kidd qualified in 26th place and Stacey Te Huia picked up the lucky last 30th qualifying spot.
Full top 30 qualifiers:
David Fagan (Te Kuiti) 23.693; Dion King (Napier) 23.909, John Kirkpatrick (Napier) 23.968, Digger Balme (Te Kuiti) 24.185, Dean Ball (Te Kuiti) 25.056, Alton Devery (Tautapere) 25.101, Alan MacDonald (Matiere) 25.355, Hayden Te Huia (Te Kuiti) 25.597, Samson Te Whata (Tautoro) 25.601, Jason Wingfield (Australia) 26.052, Roger Neil (Taumarunui) 26.155, Mathew Smith (Ruawai) 26.443, Paul Avery (Stratford) 26.616, Bart Hadfield (Wairoa) 27.001, Nathan Stratford (Invercargill) 27.066, Jason Win (Nelson) 27.208, Shane Rawlinson (Stratford) 27.294, Shannon Warnest (Australia) 27.346, Chopper Waihape (Mataura) 27.408, Adam Brausch (Dannevirke) 27.486, James Mack (Tahuna) 27.693, Gavin Mutch (Scotland) 27.799, Beau Guelfi (Australia) 27.814, Noel Gardiner (Wanganui) 27.893, Ryan Miller (Christchurch) 27.938, Corran Kidd (Eketahuna) 27.963, Rodney MacDonald (Raglan)27.983, Ken Fergusson (Oamaru) 28.022, Tony Coster (Rakaia) 28.035, Stacey Te Huia (Masterton).