How Will the West Be Won?
How Will the West Be Won?
Two South Island shearers will try to beat the Australians at their own game in a transtasman finewool merino shearing match at the Royal Perth Show today.
The two are Grant Smith, a Shearing Sports New Zealand Master classified shearer from Rakaia, and Alexandra shearer Charlie O’Neill.
They will shear the first leg of an annual home and away series against West Australia.The second leg will be next weekend at the Shearing Sports New Zealand season-opening New Zealand Merino Championships in Alexandra, Central Otago.
The Australians have proven almost invincible at home in a series which dates back over 25 years, with Damien Boyle and Mark Buscumb having beaten Kiwi shearers Tony Coster and Chris Vickers at the Perth Show last year.
But the tables were turned a week later when the New Zealand pair won in Alexandra, although Boyle won the New Zealand finewool championships Open final for a record-equalling fourth time in a row.
ENDS