Out of Retirement for Golden Shears

Out of Retirement for Golden Shears

MASTERTON woolhandling competitor Sandra Edmonds-Reiri considered herself retired from the shearing board until a niggle to compete in this year’s 50^th Golden Shears won her over.

It’s been more than twenty years since she last wore a competitor’s shirt in the woolhandling champs but Sandra said the 50^th anniversary sealed her return.

While she religiously attends the Shears each year, she has only recently picked herself and her woolhandling broom up out of retirement.

“I’m not nervous at all. I have prepared myself in my way,” she said speaking from the Stadium today.

“I’ve fittened up, ate healthily, I know what prep you need to do. I’ve also been using the woolhandling broom around home just to stay familiar with broom handling.

“The other thing I did was I went out with my son last Friday to get familiar again.”

Sandra’s family are another reason why she will have a large presence at this year’s championships. She was cheering on her niece, Diana Edmonds, and granddaughter, Shani Graham, during the junior woolhandling heats this afternoon and her son, Lance, is competing in the heats for the coveted Open Shearing Champion title on Friday.

Sandra said she “can’t help it” but her son is definite favourite for the open shearing competition. However she’ll save a little of her support for a couple of shearing’s big names.

“Dean Ball is always among the favourites and he’s also always a little favourite of mine.

“I know David Fagan and Paul Avery are good but he’s my little favourite.”

/For more information on the Golden Shears and for free images go to *_www.goldenshears.co.nz_*/

ENDS

© Scoop Media