Kiwi Shearers Out For Revenge Against UK At Royal Easter Show
The Lion Foundation Royal Easter Shears is back with a top line-up of world-class shearers including a showdown between
New Zealand and visiting United Kingdom big guns.
The show will host the second of three test matches between the visiting UK Test Team and the NZ Team made up of top
shearers David Fagan and Paul Avery. After being beaten by their UK counterparts while on tour there last June/July, the
Kiwis will be out for “revenge” says NZ Team Manager Neil Sidwell.
The international test will be held on the Sunday 23 March along with the senior and open events and a Northland vs
Warrnambool, Australia test.
New Zealand’s top shearers including past world champion David Fagan, Paul Avery, John Kirkpatrick, Digger Balme, Dean
Ball and Dion King are all expected to compete in this year’s event. Emily Welch, current women’s world record holder
for lambs (648 in a nine hour day) will also compete against her male counterparts on Sunday.
Categories include senior, veteran, open, intermediate, junior, speed shearing and Maori/Pakeha, with the highlights
being the open and speed shearing events. A visiting team from Warrnambool, Australia will also battle it out against
Northland.
Held over three days from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 March at the Royal Easter Show, the senior, open and speed shearing
events and the NZ vs UK test are all on the Sunday.
One of the top three shearing competitions in the Northern region, the event boasts one of the biggest prize pools in
the North with more than 120 competitors expected to battle it out for their share of the cash.
With the country well and truly in town for Easter, a long-running highlight of the Royal Easter Show is the A competitions, with many of New Zealand’s top breeding animals competing for honours.
Equestrian and dog trial events are happening in the Arena and the ASB Farm Zone, with its day-old chicks, cows and
lambs, allows kids to get up close to and learn about farm animals.
The Royal Easter Cat Show also features new and unusual breeds such as the Lambkin. Nicknamed the “cat in lamb’s
clothing”, the Lambkin has a soft plush curly coat, giving it the appearance of a lamb.
The Royal Easter Show is on from Thursday 20 to Monday 24 March from 9am-9pm daily (closing 6pm Monday) at the ASB
Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland. Parking available in adjacent Puriri Drive Football Fields.
Family passes are great value at $36 for a family of two adults and up to three children, with adults $16, students and
senior citizens $12, children $6 up to 12 years and under-2s for free. All shows and attractions are included in the
entry price, excluding carnival rides.
For more information, visit www.royaleastershow.co.nz
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