One of the many tireless workers and competitors during the World shearing and woolhandling championship in Invercargill earlier this month has been rewarded with a big win on the eve of the 57th Golden Shears. The three-day Golden Shears start in Masterton today, with Alexandra woolhandler Pagan Karauria heading north with the dream of winning Golden Shears Open title for the first time on Saturday night. She got an early shot in the arm yesterday when she beat World Champion and defending Golden Shears Open champion Joel Henare, of Gisborne, to win the Pre-Shears Open Woolhandling Championship in Massey University's Riverside Farm woolshed at Mikimiki, just north of Masterton. It was thought to have been her 13th win New Zealand, but she's also had a string of wins in Open woolhandling, senior shearing and speedshear events in Australia. Angela Stevens, daughter of new World Champion Napier shearer John Kirkpatrick, won the Senior final, and husband Ricci Stevens won the Junior final.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 01, 2017 19:52 UTC