Home to sharpen up

Taranaki's champion shearer is back on his home patch and planning his assault on next year's Golden Shears.

Paul Avery, of Stratford, was a surprise elimination during the semi-finals last weekend in Masterton.

The glamour open shearing title was won by first-time finalist and Waipawa speedster Cam Ferguson, 26, who beat 48-year-old Te Kuiti icon David Fagan. In the final for the 24th time, the veteran was making a bid for title No 17.

Ferguson became the youngest to win since Fagan first won in 1986, and the first first-time finalist to win since 1989. He claimed the first of two machine-shearing places in the New Zealand team for this year's World Championships in Wales.

It was a Hawke's Bay quinella, with 2002 and 2008 winner John Kirkpatrick, of Napier, runner-up for a sixth time. Fagan was third.

The trend towards new faces was evident across the competitions.

The three lower grade shearing titles were won by teenagers.

Gisborne shearers Tama Niania and Wi Poutu Ngarangione, both 19, claimed the senior and intermediate titles respectively.

Southland schoolboy Brett Roberts won the junior title just a few days before his 16th birthday.

Their wins followed the opening-day success of Masterton schoolboy David Gordon.

The winner of the novice title became, at the age of 13, the youngest winner in the history of the championships.

- © Fairfax NZ News