Woolshed break no worry for tough mum Taiwha

MEDIA RELEASE On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand
October 3, 2010

Woolshed break no worry for tough mum Taiwha

A five-year-break from the woolsheds has done nothing to take the shine off Invercargill mother-of-three Taiwha Nelson who won her third New Zealand Merino Championships open woolhandling title in Alexandra on Saturday.

Originally from Wyndham but having spent almost 15 years in the sheds working for Alexandra contractors Peter and Elsie Lyon until she gave up to raise her children, 35-year-old Nelson said it was a big surprise to win the final in which New Zealand team member, top-ranked performer and Gisborne teenager Joel Henare was second, and reigning Golden Shears champion Joanne Kumeroa, of Whanganui, was third. First-time open competitor and former top junior and senior Amy-Lee Ruki, of Invercargill, was fourth.

"I was tired," Nelson said today at the home of father-in-law and Alexandra wool industry identity John Nelson, but, having also not been in a woolshed "in years" until the day before the show when she spent a short time at Earnscleugh schooling-up a first-time junior competitor, she conceded time points to all three fellow finalists - a clear 10pts behind Henare, the first to finish. But the others had more of an inkling who might have won, and told her that when they successively raised their hands to the judges, they looked along the board and saw just one clean table and floor.

It was a consistent effort, for Nelson had been third behind henare and Kumeroa in the heats, and was top qualifier in the semi-finals which were the end of the day for New Zealand World Champion team member Keryn herbert, from Te Awamutu.

Nelson (nee Karamaena) says she still likes the woolshed life, but while hoping to return at some stage to Alexandra to live doesn't plan returning to work as a woolhandler.

She's also in no hurry to get the children into the industry, although five-year-old son Trey showed some promise when he made his competition debut in Alexandra's Teddy Bear Shear, where singleted youngsters with pretend handpieces get to mimic their dads and get a mocassin in the door to the world of championship shearing.

ENDS

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