Shearers chase golden fleece at Mangawhai

 

Hawke’s Bay shearer Dion King made it two-out-of-two in the when he successfully defended his title on November 2 at the Mangawha Tavern Speedshear, coming fresh from a speedshear and show double in Hawke’s Bay eight days earlier and winning the $5000 current biggest speedshear prize in New Zealand, with a fastest final time of 20.54sec.

The 44-year-old King, in his 17th consecutive Open-class season in New Zealand, headed what was a triumph for the veterans of the field, with Digger Balme of Otorohanga the runner-up, and third-placed Neville Osborne of Tangowahine, each with more than 25 seasons.

Prolific speedshear winner and Te Kuiti shearer Jack Fagan finished fourth after being expected to be the leading challenger to King following two recent wins in Australia. 

Fagan is in his sixth season in the Open class.

Cayzer Wedd, from Napier, made it a double success for Hawke’s Bay winning the Senior speedshear.

The next speedshear affiliated to Shearing Sports New Zealand is the November 29 first round of the five-match James Ritchie Memorial King Country speedshear circuit, while the first event on the Northland A & P show circuit is at Kaikohe on January 18.

Napier’s Cayzer Wedd made it a double success for Hawke’s Bay winning the senior speedshear. PHOTO/SUPPLIED