A Star Is Born With 14-Year-Old Maaka Nikora Winning The Novice Shearing Final At The Golden Shears

A star is born with 14-year-old Maaka Nikora winning the novice shearing final at the Golden Shears. After his win, Maaka thrust his arm triumphantly in the air and gave a short speech as if he’d been doing it for years. He won his first event at home Taumarunui Shears last Friday, but comes from a Golden Shears dynasty with “uncles” Rangi Nikora, winning the 1994 intermediate title, and Robert Nikora, the junior champion two years later. Maaka Nikora first shore in a competition two years ago and shore 200 lambs for the first time, a week after his birthday in January and says “it’s in his blood”. And he got the win the hard way being the last of 12 semi-final qualifiers from 51 who shore in the heats. He was then fifth of the six making it into the final to shear two sheep each… and ended up winning. By the way the youngest competitor was 10 year old Wairua Edmonds who was placed 43rd overall and was among 20 novices who shore a single sheep in under three minutes.