North Canterbury Shearer Hugh De Lacy Triumphs at Rangiora Show Season Opener
In a thrilling start to the shearing season, North Canterbury shearer Hugh De Lacy emerged victorious in the four-man Open final at the Northern A&P Show in Rangiora. After finishing as the runner-up at his local show last year, De Lacy kicked off this season with a resounding win, showcasing his skill and expertise.
De Lacy’s triumph came by a comfortable margin of 3.8 points, leaving runner-up Taare Edwards from Ashburton trailing behind. Another strong contender in the final was Luis Pincol, a Chilean shearer based in New Zealand, who showcased exceptional quality points. However, it was De Lacy’s impressive timing, finishing in just 15 minutes and 30 seconds, that secured his victory. Fellow Rangiora shearer Lyall Windleburn finished fourth, while Pincol clocked in at 17 minutes and 4 seconds.
Meanwhile, in the Intermediate final, Gore shearer Emma Martin extended her winning streak to three consecutive victories this season. Building on her success at the Spring Shears championships in Waimate and Ellesmere’s Selwyn Spring Show, Martin displayed remarkable speed and accuracy, completing her six sheep in just 10 minutes and 10 seconds. Her exceptional quality earned her a substantial lead of nearly 10 points over the runner-up, Caleb Brooking from Mataura. Rangiora shearer Lydia Thomson, currently ranked as the top Junior shearer in Shearing Sports New Zealand for the 2022-2023 season, secured third place.
Tim Hogg, a talented shearer from Timaru, continued his impressive form by claiming the Rangiora bladeshearing title. Following his unexpected win at the Waimate Spring Shears, where he defeated members of the New Zealand and Australian transtasman test-match bladeshearing teams, Hogg asserted his dominance once again.
The Northern A&P Show shearing championships attracted a commendable field of 24 shearers. Organizers hope to see an increase in numbers at upcoming competitions, including the Ashburton A&P Show next Saturday. The Marlborough A&P Show in Blenheim and the Get to the Point Pleasant Point Gymkhana Shears in South Canterbury are also anticipated to draw large crowds. These events will set the stage for the highly anticipated New Zealand Corriedales shearing and woolhandling championships in Christchurch on November 16.
The Intermediate and Junior competitions are part of the Adaptive Health and Safety Canterbury-Marlborough Development Circuit. This circuit not only provides a platform for aspiring shearers but also rewards them with travel, accommodation, and entries for the New Zealand Shears in April. Shearers can look forward to forthcoming shows in Peninsula Duvauchelle, Kaikoura, Amuri, Cheviot, and Methven Lambs.
The Northern A&P Show shearing championships were a testament to the remarkable talent and passion within New Zealand’s shearing industry. Congratulations to all the winners and participants for making the event a tremendous success.
