Odds cut for new young Golden Shears hope

On behalf of Shearing Sports New Zealand
February 26, 2011

Odds cut for new young Golden Shears hope

The TAB was tonight quick to shorten the odds on record-breaking Far North shearer Rowland Smith winning the Golden Shears open title for the first time after his second big win over the big favourites in just six days.

Smith beat shearing icon David Fagan, favourite John Kirkpatrick, 2008 World champion Paul Avery and reigning World champion Cam Ferguson in a blistering Open final at the Apiti YFC Sports, northeast of Feilding. He was fastest thru 15 sheep in 12 minutes 37 seconds, and scored almost the best quality points.
Smith, who last month shore a two-stand ewe-shearing record with brother Doug, also beat Fagan and Kirkpatrick in the Counties Shears final last Sunday and is now at 15-1 to win the Godlen Shears Open, despite having never yet qualified for the six-man showdown held in Masterton on the first Saturday night of each March.

Odds have however also been shortened for Kirkpatrick, whose win in the Taumarunui Jamboree Open final on Friday night was his 12 in 17 finals this season. Kirkpatrtick is now paying $2.20 and Fagan has also shortened to $4.50.
The top shearers compete at the Pahiatua Shears tomorrow (Sunday) and then head for Masterton where the 51st Golden Shears start on Thursday, with the first round of Open qualifying being held on Friday.

ENDS

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