World Shearing Championships

Shearing’s equivalent of the Rugby World Cup kicked off in Masterton today with 500 shearers and woolhandlers participating in the 52nd Golden Shears. This event also doubles as the 2012 World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.

“If you want to know why shearing is a sport head to Masterton,” says Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson.

“With competitors from 25 countries, it’s a major event in a sport New Zealand excels at.

“Wool has so much going for it and the World Championships provide a global showcase for wool as a natural and renewable fibre. Wool takes the care and craftsmanship of farmers to produce and the skill of shearers and wool handlers to harvest.

“The World Championships add energy and excitement.

“The Championships are being streamed live so if you can’t make it, you can still catch the action at www.goldenshears.co.nz.

“Alternatively, you can do what I’ll be doing from Friday and that’s to see it for yourself.

“Federated Farmers believes both the Golden Shears team and Shearing Sports New Zealand work hard to showcase the world’s best fibre.

“What the World Championships and television programmes like Prime’s Shearing Gang highlight to me, is how rich in personality and skill our industry is.

“It’s about being positive and the World Championships take things to a whole new level. That’s why shearing deserves to be on the world’s highest sporting platform,” Mrs Maxwell concluded.

The World Championships take place in Masterton between 29 February and 3 March. For more information and streaming video, please click here.