Kimberly a cut above at shearing competition

Emergency department nurse by night and a shearer by day, Kimberly Whalon had an action-packed weekend at the Golden Bay A&P Show in Tākaka earlier this month.

After completing the “graveyard shift” at Nelson Hospital at 7.30am, Kimberly headed for the hills to get to the Rec Park Centre to pick up the shears in the intermediate grade. The 23-year-old won her heat, shearing three cross-bred lambs, and then took out the final with five sheep. What if fatigue kicked in and she nicked one of the 40-kilogram lambs?

“At least I can sew them up if I need too,” quips the Richmond resident.
Kimberly grew up on the family farm near Tapawera and didn’t really enjoy being a roustabout, which involves moving sheep, picking up fleeces and sorting wool.

“Shearing was more fun than being a rousie, and it paid better. I like to challenge myself a little bit,” declares Kimberly, who has been competing on and off since her Motueka High School days.

Working as a shearer helped pay for her nursing studies.

If some of her male shearing rivals give her a hard time, she gives it right back.
“It is just good country fun at the A&P shows, and I hope to move up to the senior ranks at the end of the year,” comments Kimberly, or “Kimmy” as the commentator was calling her.

The former top junior shearer doesn’t know if she will graduate to the elite open ranks because she doesn’t shear full-time.

And how did the intermediate winner plan to celebrate?

“I will go home, have a sleep and then head back to work at the hospital tonight,” concluded one of the only two women shearers competing in Tākaka.

The shearing competition was one of the most popular attractions at the show which attracted up to 5,000 people.