Hot competition at successful speed shears event

Senior champion Lee Harris (right) with Glenn Moir and Shane Rawlinson of the Stratford Shears group.

There was wool flying at the New Commercial Hotel last month for the annual Stratford Speed Shears Competition on November 26.

While hosted at the New Commercial Hotel, the popular event was run by the Stratford Shears group.

Jude Dix, who along with Ian Hayward are publicans of the New Commercial Hotel, says the event was a great success.

"We were filled with spectators who were lucky enough to see some of the best shearing talent in the country."

The competition was open to competitors of all skill levels, with entrants entering into either open, senior or novice sections.

A stage was constructed for competitors to shear on and the live action was streamed on all the screens in the hotel, "which was lucky as there was more than 200 spectators so not everyone could get close enough to the stage".

Jude says she and Ian were thrilled to see more than 30 competitors take the stage from all over world; including Taihape, Te Kuiti, Gore, Australia, England, Urenui, and Hawera.

A particular highlight for the night was a live blade shear demonstration by Timm Hogg, who impressed the crowd with a 1.44 minute performance. Jude extends a huge thank you to the organising committee, judges, staff and the volunteers who made the event possible.

Jude says the competition will be back for 2017.

Results:

Senior: (1) Lee Harris, Australia, 31.49 seconds, (2) David Avery, Stratford, 35.09.
Open: (1) Paul Avery, Stratford, 29.32 seconds, (2) Jack Fagan, Te Kuiti, 32.90, (3) Nick Harding, England, 33.18 seconds.