mmg.com.au

Deniliquin’s Brian Sullivan, Sam Walker and Tim Haines are ready to take on the best local and out-of-town shearers at the Riverina Shearing Championships next weekend.

The championships are held in conjunction with the Deniliquin Show on March 2 and Sullivan, the event steward, is hoping for a bumper field.

‘‘We’re hoping to get a lot of local entries. There’ll be a learners class as well as intermediate, seniors and open,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s also a wool handling competition, so they don’t need to spectate anymore, they can get in and participate.

‘‘The championships are put on for everyone and we encourage as many people as possible to compete.’’

Sullivan, Walker and Haines all work for Vic McCalman’s Deniliquin Shearing.

Together they have covered thousands of kilometres travelling to competitions throughout the past 12 months, competing in a range of events and taking out a heap of first place finishes.

Sullivan has scored open class victories at the Australian Strongwool Championships, the NSW Strongwool Championships and the Victorian Finewool Circuit.

The veteran was third at the Victorian Finewool Championships in Omeo and the Riverina Shearing Championships last year.

Walker has had the busiest campaign in the lead up to the Deni Show, taking out first place honours at four different events.

Competing in the intermediate class, he won at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, the St Arnaud Ag Show, the Euroa Shears event and the NSW Strongwool Championship in Bombala, where he also placed second in the senior class.

He finished third in the intermediate class at the Victorian Fine Wool Championship in Omeo, the Southern Riverina Strongwool Championship in Walbundrie and the Royal Geelong Show Merino Shears.

Haines took out the learners class winning sash at the Euro Shears and the NSW Strongwool Championship, and was fourth in the intermediate class at Bombala.

The locals have also tasted success in team events, with Sullivan and Walker placing first at the Victorian Finewool Championships in Omeo.

‘‘The Riverina Championships start at 9am on the Saturday but we encourage participants to get there early,’’ Sullivan said.

For more information, or to enter, call Brian Sullivan on 0429815816, or visit www.deniliquinshow.com. Entries are also taken on the day.