World champion woolhandler Sheree Alabaster says it's the competitive side of her sport that keeps her busy outside of her other life as principal of a small Taihape school.
"I like competing and you do get to meet people from all over the world and if you're lucky enough youget a bit of travel too," said the 34-year-old, who won the world woolhandling title in Bjerkreim, Norway, last October.
After a six-week safari in Africa, Ms Alabaster had to skip training for three weeks because of an ankle injury.
But today she lines up for the first of 16 shearing meets she will compete in this year at the Western Shears in Raglan. There she will defend her New Zealand lambshearing championships woolhandling title in the open section.
"It's going to be pretty full-on, there's some good competition out there," said Ms Alabaster, who believes a good rousie needs to be "clear-headed and accurate" under the judges' eyes while sorting the freshly shorn wool into the various buckets.
For Ms Alabaster - whose father, Ray, won a shearing title at the Western Shears in the '70s - woolhandling has been a part of her life since she was aged 13.
"I had my first competition in Otorohanga when I was 23 and won that too," she said. "It's just a pity they don't have that competition any more."
Ms Alabaster has won twice previously at the Western Shears - in 2006 and last year - but says one title still eludes her. "The Golden Shears ... Of course I'd love to win the Golden Shears."
