Ruawai shearer fleeces opposition

In January brothers Doug and Rowland  Smith   stamped   their   mark on  shearing   history  by  smashing  an 11-year-old record  in  a  Hawke's  Bay woolshed, shearing  a combined  total of 1066 ewes to beat the world two-stand eight-hours strongwool ewes shearing record of 986 set by the Te Huia brothers in 1999.

In  so  doing,  both  surpassed   their own personal  best tallies in what was a great curtain-raiser  to the ultimate  in shearing. After   winning  eight   other   finals in the six weeks leading into Golden Shears week, Smith was favourite with the bookies and although he wasn't the fastest to shear  his allocated 20 sheep the quality of his shearing  secured him the title.

There  was  a  poignant   moment  at the presentation when Smith, who had lost his mother  to cancer, donated  his $3,000 prize to cancer research.

Recently married to world record shearer  Ingrid  Baynes the Smiths  now have all the ingredients to ensure  a strong future in the sport.

Just as the iconic black jersey is to rugby (and though Smith has won shearing  competitions throughout the world) Masterton’s  Golden Shears still reigns as the ultimate prize.