Shearer aims for worlds

Geraldine blade shearer Phil Oldfield has given himself a shot at representing New Zealand at the world championships in Wales with his win at Golden Shears.

It was the first time competitive blade shearing had featured at the Golden Shears since 1988. It was brought back as the biggest shearing event on the New Zealand calendar celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Mr Oldfield said it was the first time he had blade shorn in front of such a large crowd and described the atmosphere as electric.

"It was an intense atmosphere, very exciting and there was a lot of tension around. The crowd was very vocal and very exciting," he said. "I was quite overcome."

He won $580 in prizemoney, but more importantly 12 valuable points as he tries to win a place in the New Zealand blade shearing team for the world championships later this year.

Shearers win points based on placings at the events on the shearing calender. The top two win the right to represent their country.

Only a handful of points separate the top four going into the final competition on the shearing circuit at Oxford on Easter Saturday.

- © Fairfax NZ News