Golden Girl

by Eilidh MacPherson

Scottish female sheep shearer Una Cameron of St Boswells has shorn her way into the history books by becoming the first woman ever to make the Top 30 in the Open heats of the New Zealand Golden Shears.

Qualifying in 29th position out 107 Open competitors, at the celebratory 50^th Golden Shears anniversary, Una pushed notable shearers out of the picture, including world record holders Grant Smith and Matthew Smith, and past world champions, New Zealand based Scot, Tom Wilson (53^rd) and Shannon Warnest of Australia.

The 37-year old professional shearer, who has shorn full time for the past fifteen years, has tremendous backup and support in the shape of her partner, fellow Scot and former world teams champion – 1996 – Geordie Bayne of Bonchester Bridge, Jedburgh. 

Una spent her first five years growing up in Germany where her father held an army post.  It was later, when they moved back to Scotland and into the small village of St Boswells, near Edinburgh, that her passion for farming, shearing and all things agricultural was born. 

“This is the ultimate.  This singlet here, this black singlet, this is what it’s all about,” she said, proudly looking down on her Golden Shears top.

“I don’t think I will ever be wearing this again. It will probably be framed straight away.”

Aberdeenshire man, Gavin Mutch of Forglen, Huntly, who is married and farming in New Zealand, qualified in fourth position in the heats and then 8^th place in the Top 30, securing himself a place in the semi-finals once again.  Gavin, who has represented Scotland at the World Champions in 2005 (Australia) and 2008 in Norway, has made it into this prestigious final three times in the past four years.  He is up against 10 North Islanders, including 16 times winner David Fagan and one Southlander, Nathan Stratford, in his bid to reach the six-man final once more. 

Both Una and Gavin will now undoubtedly have their eye on one of the two places in the Scottish Team to shear at the World Championships in Wales later this year.  Team selection takes place at the Royal Highland Show in June.