5th Annual Bucking Horse Sale Sheep Shearing Contest held May 21, results
The bleachers were packed in the Agri-Sports Complex during the 5th annual Bucking Horse Sale Sheep Shearing Contest on May 21. Top-notch shearing talent from across the U.S., as well as shearers and wool handlers from New Zealand, attracted the standing-room only crowd. An added bonus was that the shearing contest was one of the completely dry events held indoors this year!
In the sheep shearing contest, shearers are evaluated on how well the wool is sheared from the sheep, the appearance of the sheep and the amount of time it takes to finish the job. Penalty points are earned for mistakes that decrease the value of the wool as well as for wool that is left on the sheep. Points are earned at a rate of one point for every 30 seconds that it takes to complete the pen of sheep for the contest. Similar to golf, the object is to achieve the lowest score possible.
The shearers competed in three divisions: Novice, for those just learning the business; Intermediate, shearers that have learned the pattern, but are shearing at a rate of less than 15 an hour; and Professional, shearers able to shear 100-plus sheep, day in and day out.
New this year was a Wool Handling Contest, which had seven contestants from the U.S. and New Zealand. This is the only qualifying contest in the U.S. The top placing U.S. contestant will represent the United States at the International Wool Handling Contest, The Golden Shears, in 2012. Winning the contest was Sally Hawea from New Zealand who is in the U.S. working for Ed Wilde, shearing based out of Carey, ID. Terance Pelle from Belle Fourche, SD, was second and is now qualified to represent the U.S. at the Golden Shears.
There were several contestants in each division with the Novice Division boasting six competitors. Terance Pelle won with an overall score of 41.77 and he also had the Best Pen in the Novice Division. In addition to prize money, Pelle was the recipient of a $480 Lister Nitro hand piece donated by Wade Kopren, Kopren Shearing from Bison, SD. Chris Schuldt of Chinook, MT, was right behind Pelle with a score of 42.5; Beau Collins – a third generation sheep shearer from Harlowton, MT, was third; and Taten Brengle from Buffalo, SD, was fourth.
In the Intermediate Division the competition was fierce with two full heats of four shearers in the preliminary rounds. During the finals, the Intermediate shearers had four sheep to shear. In the end, time and quality allowed Brent Roeder from Ft. Shaw, MT, to take first; fellow shearer Ryan Keyes of Livingston, MT, was second. Roeder and Keyes have worked together this shearing season and in the past. Third place went to the only woman competing in the contest – Rindy Harkness of Riverton, WY. Rindy also won the Best Pen Award donated by Keith and Cindy Braaten, Braaten Shearing, of Stanford, MT. Josh Jones of Buhl, ID, took fourth with the fastest time in the finals of 9 minutes and 58 seconds.
Professional shearers from all over the U.S. look forward to the Bucking Horse Sale Contest since it features a 10-head final. They also like coming to Miles City for the hospitality during the Bucking Horse Sale and seeing friends at the end of the spring shearing run. This year there were 14 contestants in the Professional division coming from as far away as Missouri and Iowa in the U.S., and three shearers from New Zealand.
When it was all said and done Tony Troendle of Piedmont, SD, sheared 10 sheep in 13 minutes and 29 seconds. That means he averaged a minute-and-a-half per yearling ewe to make the minimum necessary 48 strokes with the clipper to remove the wool fleece! Alex Moser of Iowa was second and also won the Best Pen in the Professional Division sponsored by Chuck and Kelly Waterland, Waterland Shearing, Alzada, MT. Chase Cantrell of Buhl, ID, placed third, edging out John O’Neill from New Zealand who was fourth. The fastest time in the Professional Division went to Mike Hagens of Mandan, ND.
Plans are already underway for the 2012 contest to be held in conjunction with the Bucking Horse Sale next year on Saturday, May 20. Three, two, one shear!
The bleachers were packed in the Agri-Sports Complex during the 5th annual Bucking Horse Sale Sheep Shearing Contest on May 21. Top-notch shearing talent from across the U.S., as well as shearers and wool handlers from New Zealand, attracted the standing-room only crowd. An added bonus was that the shearing contest was one of the completely dry events held indoors this year!
In the sheep shearing contest, shearers are evaluated on how well the wool is sheared from the sheep, the appearance of the sheep and the amount of time it takes to finish the job. Penalty points are earned for mistakes that decrease the value of the wool as well as for wool that is left on the sheep. Points are earned at a rate of one point for every 30 seconds that it takes to complete the pen of sheep for the contest. Similar to golf, the object is to achieve the lowest score possible.
The shearers competed in three divisions: Novice, for those just learning the business; Intermediate, shearers that have learned the pattern, but are shearing at a rate of less than 15 an hour; and Professional, shearers able to shear 100-plus sheep, day in and day out.
New this year was a Wool Handling Contest, which had seven contestants from the U.S. and New Zealand. This is the only qualifying contest in the U.S. The top placing U.S. contestant will represent the United States at the International Wool Handling Contest, The Golden Shears, in 2012. Winning the contest was Sally Hawea from New Zealand who is in the U.S. working for Ed Wilde, shearing based out of Carey, ID. Terance Pelle from Belle Fourche, SD, was second and is now qualified to represent the U.S. at the Golden Shears.
There were several contestants in each division with the Novice Division boasting six competitors. Terance Pelle won with an overall score of 41.77 and he also had the Best Pen in the Novice Division. In addition to prize money, Pelle was the recipient of a $480 Lister Nitro hand piece donated by Wade Kopren, Kopren Shearing from Bison, SD. Chris Schuldt of Chinook, MT, was right behind Pelle with a score of 42.5; Beau Collins – a third generation sheep shearer from Harlowton, MT, was third; and Taten Brengle from Buffalo, SD, was fourth.
In the Intermediate Division the competition was fierce with two full heats of four shearers in the preliminary rounds. During the finals, the Intermediate shearers had four sheep to shear. In the end, time and quality allowed Brent Roeder from Ft. Shaw, MT, to take first; fellow shearer Ryan Keyes of Livingston, MT, was second. Roeder and Keyes have worked together this shearing season and in the past. Third place went to the only woman competing in the contest – Rindy Harkness of Riverton, WY. Rindy also won the Best Pen Award donated by Keith and Cindy Braaten, Braaten Shearing, of Stanford, MT. Josh Jones of Buhl, ID, took fourth with the fastest time in the finals of 9 minutes and 58 seconds.
Professional shearers from all over the U.S. look forward to the Bucking Horse Sale Contest since it features a 10-head final. They also like coming to Miles City for the hospitality during the Bucking Horse Sale and seeing friends at the end of the spring shearing run. This year there were 14 contestants in the Professional division coming from as far away as Missouri and Iowa in the U.S., and three shearers from New Zealand.
When it was all said and done Tony Troendle of Piedmont, SD, sheared 10 sheep in 13 minutes and 29 seconds. That means he averaged a minute-and-a-half per yearling ewe to make the minimum necessary 48 strokes with the clipper to remove the wool fleece! Alex Moser of Iowa was second and also won the Best Pen in the Professional Division sponsored by Chuck and Kelly Waterland, Waterland Shearing, Alzada, MT. Chase Cantrell of Buhl, ID, placed third, edging out John O’Neill from New Zealand who was fourth. The fastest time in the Professional Division went to Mike Hagens of Mandan, ND.
Plans are already underway for the 2012 contest to be held in conjunction with the Bucking Horse Sale next year on Saturday, May 20. Three, two, one shear!
