SENIOR shearer Conan Te Kene, Taumarunui, mixing it up against some of the best from within New Zealand and around the world.
A LARGE crowd of contestants and supporters turned out to the Taumarunui Shears, also known as “The Taumarunui Show,” at Te Uranga B2 farm, in Ngakonui Ongarue Rd, on Friday. Organising committee member Jonathan Arahanga said there were probably more than 200 vehicles in the event carpark, many of which would have brought entire families or shearing crews to the venue. Meanwhile, contestant numbers were swelled by shearers from all over the country, “and even quite a few from Australia and the UK.” “We had high hopes for good weather and they nearly came true; shearing began at 8am and ran through till about 7pm, but the heavy rain arrived from about 3pm onward,” Jonathan said. The Taumarunui Show is an important one on the national shearing calendar, as – along with Apiti and Pahiatua – it takes place in the run-up to the Golden Shears at Masterton. Some of the contestants were intent on building up precious points ahead of the national event. “It was fantastic to see the level of support considering the farm owners very kindly came to our rescue by providing an alternative venue from our normal one.” Jonathan explained the event was usually held at the Taumarunui Athletic Club Hall, but this could not be booked in advance, as for many months it had provided a base for the town’s New World Supermarket. The effort to relocate had been massive and to allow for the venue change, organisers worked at the new site almost every weekend for more than six months. “This year our show was honoured to be able to present the Ronnie Goss Memorial Trophy, which was for an up-and-coming wool handler, the first being Sunnie Hughes. It was encouraging to see both this and our novice shearing event, being particularly well supported,” Jonathan said. “And thanks must go to Taumarunui High School students, many of whom arrived on the day to either support or compete.” Events in which King Country shearers excelled, include: Novice final: Maaka Power, Taumarunui, 1; Morgan Ngaronga, Taumarunui, 2; Te Anna Phillips, Taumarunui, 3. Intermediate final: Taelor Tarrant, Mapiu, 1; Sean Fagan, Te Kūiti, 4. Senior final: Clay Harris, Piopio, 1. Open final: Digger Balme, Ōtorohanga, 3; Mark Grainger, Te Kūiti, 4. Senior wool handling: Vinnie Phillips, Taumarunui, 1; TeAnna Phillips, Taumarunui, 2; Phoebe Nikora, Taumarunui, 4. Wool handling: Ronnie Goss Memorial Trophy and Sunnie Huges Trophy, Renee Tarrant.
