Second Golden Shears Win

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 3

Second Golden Shears Win

(N.Z. Press Association) MASTERTON, March 6. A Frankton shearing contractor, R. B. McDonald became the first Golden Shears double open champion last night. Second in time to finish his 20 competition sheep, 46 seconds behind the runner-up, T. Brough, of Te Kuiti, McDonald scored 84.575 points. Brough, who finished his first sheep in 58 seconds and led in time all the way. completed the final in 25 minutes 5 seconds. Some 2200 people packed the Masterton War Memorial stadium.

McDonald has been a crowd favourite since the first Golden Shears in 1961 when he made the open finals in spite of the handicap of a broken collarbone. The next year he won the title and only once since then has he missed being a finalist. He was presented with his prize by the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Mr D. W. McNicol. McDonald won a return trip to Britain for the United Kingdom and Eire shearing championships, the Golden Shears at the Bath and West Show, with the senior winner, N. Churchhouse, of Bunnythorpe. He also won £3OO and a golden handpiece. Brough received a cheque for £2OO. The defending champion S. Quinn, of Alexandra, finished third in both time and points. Results: — Open Final.—R. B. McDon-

aid (Frankton), 84.575 points, 26min Isec, 1; T. Brough (Te Kuiti) 84.4167, 25min 5 sec, 2: S. Quinn (Alexandra), 83.6334, 26min 14sec, 3; D. Potae (Milton), 81.785, 26min 45.55ec, 4; C. Bosher (Te Awamutu), 26min 46.45ec, 5; J. Te Kapa (Aria), 6. The two-man team of Potae and B. Waterson (Kaukapakapa) made their win in the Maori-Pakeha teams event a hat-trick. The pair have won the event all three times since its inception at the 1964 Golden Shears. Runners-up were S. Symon (Gisborne) and J. Te Kapa, with C. Bosher and N. Stockman (Te Kuiti) third. Bosher delighted the crowd, when, finishing his five sheep well ahead of his team-mate, pulled Stockman’s last sheep from his pen and shore that too. The Golden Shears district teams event went to the Wai-

rarapa-Bush side. Teams from each of six districts comprised the leading shearer from the district in - each of the four shearing classes. The winning team of T. Carmen, Masterton (junior), T. Edmonds, Eketahuna (intermediate), P. Rangiwhetu. Carterton (senior), and M. Potae, Pahiatua (open), shore their eight sheep, each man two each, in 15 minutes 13.1 seconds. They scored 87.25 points to give them a clear margin from Central Districts who were runners-up. The South Island team was third with Eastern fourth. Western fifth, and Northern sixth.

A special prize, the R. E. O’Hart Memorial Trophy for the finalist irrespective of class and time who gained highest shearing quality points, went to the senior class winner, N. Churchouse.