Colin King shears skills with Japanese visitors
On Friday 29 January Colin King left the trappings of an MP behind, swapping his suit for his shearing gear and heading for the shearing shed at Tempello Station, near Blenheim.
Mr King was in the interesting position of meeting a delegation of 36 visitors from Tendo, Japan, as both MP and former Golden Shears champion shearer.
“This was a small show to let our visitors see how we take the wool from the sheep so that it can be processed. From what I heard after the demonstration, it appears that most of the visitors were surprised by how this happens,” said Mr King.
One member of the delegation commented that he found the demonstration scary and exciting at the same time.
Mr King is keen to get in as much shearing practice as he can right now in the build up to the 50th Golden Shears competition which he will be competing in. For this reason Mr King is always happy to participate in shearing demonstrations at local A & P Shows within the Kaikoura electorate. “Any opportunity is a good opportunity to check your fitness and skill level,” he says.
The Japanese delegation Mr King shore for was in Blenheim for a two day visit celebrating a 20 year-old sister city relationship. This sister city relationship was originally based on a mutual involvement in growing cherries but times have changed and the relationship now provides a very special opportunity for young people from both countries to experience another culture and way of life.
Colin King with members of the Tendo delegation at Tempello Station, near Blenheim.
