NEW Zealand shearer David Buick has successfully defended his 2014 Romney Shears title with a quick clean performance at the Warrnambool Show on Saturday night.
The 37-year-old farmer and shearer from the North Island town of Pongaroa finished his 17 crossbreds in 15 minutes and 52 seconds in the 2015 final, accruing 29 board penalty points and 263 outside, for 64.75 total points.
Buick finished more than a sheep ahead of fellow New Zealander Dean Ball, who took second in 17:38 minutes with 66.31 points, despite giving the cleanest performance with just 23 board points and 205 outside.
Less than one penalty point separated the next four shearers in the six-shearer final, with Queensland-based shearer Jovan Taiki finishing third with 68.25 points, ahead of former Australian champion Jason Wingfield from Tocumwal on 68.34 points.
New Zealand shearer James Fagan placed fifth with 68.64 points and Glen Stephens from Heywood in Victoria was sixth with 69.20 points.
Stephens had earlier won the Coopworth Challenge for Australian shearers, shearing eight crossbreds in 9:11 minutes, to accrue just 38.93 total points, and outscoring veteran Warrnambool shearer Roger Mifsud (10:27 minutes, 41.73 points) in second place. Jason Wingfield was first finished in 8:43 minutes, but took third place with 41.90 points. Corey Mifsud was fourth in 10:45 minutes and 45.48 points, ahead of Tyson Schultz in 19:18 minutes and 45.53 points.
Aussies win Warrnambool-Te Kuiti test
In the popular Warrnambool versus Te Kuiti Test event, the Australian shearers – Glen Stephens, Roger Mifsud and Brian Wallden – collectively finished their six sheep only seconds ahead of the Kiwis — Dean Ball, David Buick and James Fagan. But with four fewer quality points the Australians scored 195.73 total points to outscore the Kiwis on 207.28 points.
The Australian wool handlers – Luke Rowbottom, Sophie Huf and Clare Price – clinched the result for their supporters with better work on their oddments and the fleeces, to finish their 18 fleeces and clean up first with 43.46 points. The Te Kuiti team of Candy Hiri, open wool handling final winner Anne Maree Kahukura and Pagan Rimene, scored 46.26 points despite outscoring the Aussies on the board and in total workskills.
Other results in the shearing and wool handling events included:
Wool handling – Romney open: Anne Maree Kahukura, 32.30 points, 1st; Mel Lillie, 37, 2nd; Sophie Huf, 37.10, 3rd; Pagan Rimene, 38.45, 4th; Judith Ratana, 45.15, 5th; Candy Hiri, 45.40, 6th; Jo Tarrant, 53.20, 7th; Luke Rowbottom, 67.65, 8th. Senior: Ali Torney, 38.65, 1st; Nikki Gore, 35.75, 2nd; Erina Sciascia, 40.30, 3rd; Jay Heniry, 43.45, 4th. Novice: Chenell Waihape, 33.80, 1st; Santana Sciascia, 36.57, 2nd; Sharelle Dyson, 39.50, 3rd; Rachael Kramer, 47.43, 4th.
Shearing – Open: Glen Stephens, 79.45, 1st; Brian Wallden, 81.30, 2nd; Rob Glover, 85.35, 3rd; Roger Mifsud, 100.95, 4th; Jovan Taiki, 112.05, 5th; Sam Mackrill, 127.10, 6th. Senior: Brett Caldwell, 39.58, 1st; Kalab Foote, 42.18, 2nd; Lee Harris, 42.23, 3rd; Mark Troath, 48.93, 4th; Luke Rowbottom, 50.28, 5th; Jake McArdle, 57.53, 6th. Intermediate: Ryland Jackson, 42.50, 1st; Tom Brewer, 43.05, 2nd; John Bukholt, 44.40, 3rd; Alex Smith, 44.50, 4th; Raehana Hokionga, 50.15, 5th; Pagan Rimene, 51.80, 6th. Novice: Brendan Holden, 61.85, 1st; Rowdy Fisher, 70, 2nd; Judith Ratana, 76.10, 3rd; Sherri Symons, 77.90, 4th; Kelsy Humphries, 82.20, 5th; Sharelle Dyson, 82.50, 6th; Neville Missen, 89.05, 7th. Blades: Ken French, 59, 1st; Luke Rowbottom, 62.32, 2nd; Terry Rowbottom, 64.88, 3rd; Richie Foster, 66.47, 4th; Garry Griffin, 69.05, 5th; Mal Griffiths, 72.30, 6th.
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