Pagan Karauria beaten in final

Busy New Zealand shearing and woolhandling team member Pagan Karauria had to take it right on the chin as she was beaten in the French All-Nations women's shearing championship final in France this week.

First to finish the six-shearer final of 10 sheep each on the opening day of the 18th Golden Shears world shearing and woolhandling championships in Le Dorat, and appearing comfortably-placed to win with a comfortable buffer on time and board-judging points, Karauria was heavily penalised by the pen judges and had to settle for fourth overall.

Karauria, of Alexandra, thought she had done much better but appeared relaxed about the outcome as she finished with top place in the All Nations open woolhandling heats, the prelude to her world title bid at the weekend.

Team-mate Sheree Alabaster failed to make the top eight.

Geraldine blade shearer Alan Oldfield qualified in sixth place for the All Nations bladeshearing championship semi-finals

But top New Zealand hope Tony Dobbs just failed to qualify for the semifinal.

-By Doug Laing