Zweiliwile Hans, the South Africa who became world champion for the first time at Gorey 16 years ago is back in the North Wexford town with his coach, Izak Klopper. Pic; Christy Farrell.
Members of the South African team were the first overseas visitors to arrive in North Wexford for the Golden Shears world championship which will be held in a tented village that is being developed on a 25-acre site at Knockmullen.
Leading the South African team is Zweliwile Hans, (52), who has fond memories of Gorey, and won the first of his four world titles there 16 years ago.
A blade shearer from Sterkspruit, Mr Hans, his coach and fellow team members, were in competition in Wicklow last Sunday, but enjoyed a ‘rest day’ in the Courtown area yesterday, (Monday).
Meantime, a team of workers and machinery have moved onto the site and construction of the village and competition centre is on its way – the dome rivals the adjoining hotel in height, shiny steel tracking to facilitate the road ways was being rolled out, and there was a security presence protecting the site.
George Graham, Chairman of the organising committee and the driving force behind bringing the world sheep shearing and wool handling championships to Ireland for only the second time (last time held in Gorey Rugby Club in 1998) outlined the importance of the event and predicted a legacy of €2.2 million being spent in the local economy.
Mr Graham pointed out that when New Zealand staged the championships in 2012 the number of sheep required was supplied by six or seven farmers, “We need 60 farmers as sheep suppliers and some are coming from 150 miles away.”
The statistics were staggeringly exciting; 27 nations competing – Russia and China competing for the first time – 9 world titles, 12 All Ireland titles and 12 All Nations titles will produce 33 new champions, 6,500 sheep will be transported into the town, and over 40,000 people will turn up to create a festival atmosphere that will showcase everything that is great about Ireland’s hospitality.
Full story this week in THE GOREY ECHO and special 12-page free supplement on the Golden Shears in THE WEXFORD ECHO Group of Newspapers.
