Cook Islanders residing in New Zealand – especially those working on a sheep farm – have a great opportunity to represent the country at the upcoming Golden Shears competition.

Cook Islands Shearing and Woolhandling team will participate in the competition to be held in Scotland in June this year.

Team manager Sharon Hillis said they would be taking two shearers and two woolhandlers to the Golden Shears event. The team members will be selected at the national show in Gore, New Zealand on February 17 and 18.

“To be chosen for the team, individuals have had to send through documentation to me on their family links to the Cook Islands,” Hillis said.

“They also have to do four shows prior to our national show. Their results are sent to me to show their performance to date. We have some passionate people doing all they can to go to Scotland.

“They are all working very hard.”

In the 2017 world competition held in Invercargill, New Zealand, national team member Tina Elers finished third in the woolhandling singles event. Tina then teamed up with Maiden Elers to finish third in the woolhandling team event.

In 2019 the team travelled to France for the Golden Shears World Championships in Le Dorat.

Team member Marley Waihape finished third in the All Nations Senior Shearing final and Tina Elers finished fourth in the All Nations Open Woolhandling final.

“Our shearers Aaron and Marley finished 12^th place overall and the woolhandling team of Vicky and Tina finished fifth,” Hillis said.

Cook Islands Shearing and Woolhandling team is currently fundraising and seeking sponsorship for their team to attend the 2023 event in Edinburgh.

Hillis says the only challenge they have is costs as it is all self-funded.

“We do some fundraising, but it does cost a bit to fly to the other side of the world.”

If you are interested in sponsoring the team, you can email Hillis at billshaz89@gmail.com.