3 Nov 2009

Teen shearer becomes trans-Tasman champion

1:17 pm on 3 November 2009

One of New Zealand's up-and-coming young shearers is now a champion on both sides of the Tasman.

Matene Mason, 17, from Masterton won the Australian Romney Championships senior shearing title at Warnambool at the weekend.

In April he won the New Zealand intermediate championship title in Te Kuiti.

Matene Mason was one of six New Zealand shearers and woolhandlers to compete in Australia.

Tuatapere shearer Darrin Forde won the open final and Joanne Kumeroa took the the open woolhandling final.

New Zealand trio David Fagan, Dean Ball and Paul Avery headed off Australia in a team event.