The 63rd New Zealand Merino Shears is at Molyneux Stadium, in Alexandra, from 8am on both Friday and Saturday. The semifinals are on Saturday afternoon and all of the finals and presentations are on Saturday night.
Q. How many people are you expecting?
Entries are looking good. We are probably going to end up with more than 200 competitors from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. There's quite a large contingent of Australians coming this year and they are very accomplished merino shearers. It has almost turned into a little bit of a transtasman battle.
Q. Will shearers and woolhandlers be battling for any transtasman trophies?
No, but the Kiwis who win the open shearing and open woolhandling will be selected to represent New Zealand in Australia in about a month's time.
Q. Are the numbers of shearers and woolhandlers competing up or down on previous years?
We are on about par. It is always very popular because it is the first show of the coming season and competitors start collecting points for the national show circuit. The competitors hold Merino Shears in very high regard because there hasn't been a show since April. They've toiled away for the last three months, so they enjoy having the weekend off to come and compete against each other.
Q. Are they all a bit dusty since the last competition was in April?
No, they're fit and sharp and ready to go.
Q. Are you competing this year?
I entered to make sure the online entry system was working. So I'll be competing and helping with the general committee duties.
Q. When's the last time you competed in the event?
Probably four years ago.
Q. Why have you decided to give it another crack?
It is good fun. I enjoy merino shearing as it is different to most other shearing around the world, because these merino wethers are technically the hardest sheep to shear. At the same time they're a really nice sheep to shear as well.
Q. It must be a busy two days, competing and being the head honcho of the event?
Yeah, although I won't compete for long.
Q. You're not expecting to be representing New Zealand later this year?
No, I'm not expecting to qualify or be needing to worry about the semis or finals.
Q. Have shearers and woolhandlers been able to get much practise in considering how wet it has been in the South this spring?
It has been a difficult for the shearing contractors here but they're getting it done.
Q. Is the event open to the public?
Yes, general public are welcome. It is free entry for both Friday and Saturday and its costs $10 to attend the Saturday night finals and presentations. I’d like to give a heartfelt thanks to our sponsors. I’m grateful that they're supporting our national event and standing by us through these tough economic times.
