THE big money stayed close to home when Delungra shearer Tom Retallack collected $15,000 first prize at the inaugural Pally Speed Shear on Saturday.

Hundreds of spectators turned out on a perfect Pally Pub afternoon to watch more than 80 shearers strut their stuff on a mobile two-stand shed.

The smart money said Terry Garnahm, Whanake Whare or reigning champ Jimmy Samuels would fight out the finish in the six-man open final – but Retallack, the underdog from Delungra, landed his first quick shear from very few starts on the big stage.

“I’m not really an open shearer, but apparently I am now,” Retallack laughed.

The Delungra shearing contractor, who helped organise his hometown quick shear earlier this month, praised the work of Pally Speed Shear organisers, Jordan and Heather Bearman.

“We ran the Delungra Quick Shear – me and the committee – about three or four weeks ago and I came down to Pally to support Jordan and Heather with theirs,” Retallack said.

“It takes a lot to do what they’ve done, believe me.

“I didn’t do any good at home but today, I knew the judges were hard so I had to be clean and try and keep the speed up as well,” he said.

The Pally Speed Shear, with more than $35,000 prize money shared across three categories, also raised thousands of dollars for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Jumbo picked up $2000 for winning the intermediate class and $3500 went to senior class winner, Dushyant Edmonds.

Heather Bearman was kept busy all day, selling raffle tickets and merchandise.

“It’s been an absolutely awesome turn-out,” she said.

“The merchandise has  been very popular and everyone has been so generous with donations.

“We’ve been absolutely smashed, and nearly sold out of the singlets, and the hats are nearly gone as well. There’s been lots of donations and lots of raffle tickets sold.”

More than $3000 was raised when the six open finalists were sold at a calcutta-style auction in the beer garden, packed with punters who had never seen such a spectacle.

“A lot of people have never been to something like this, and everybody is loving it – this is a fantastic family day out, and for a very good cause. And this is a great venue – you won’t get any better than the Pally Pub,” Heather smiled.

Rain late in the week caused headaches for Stafford Burey, in charge of transporting 140 head of sheep from the family property Rosedale near Garah.

“It’s been a beautiful day and the sun’s finally out after a tough time bogging the trucks and towing them with tractors,” he said.

“It was a pretty stressful time, but everything has gone ahead and there’s a big crowd raising money for a very good cause.”

Open Pally speed shear runner-up, New Zealander Jimmy Samuels, was trying to win his 74th title overall and fifth on end this visit to Australia.

“I usually do a season in Australia, and I’ve been based at Wagga Wagga for about three or four months,” Samuels said.

“I travel around, following the circuit. I’ll head to Western Australia for a month, then back to New Zealand.”

Samuels was an agriculture tutor for two years before returning to the sheds about 12 months ago.

“It’s good to be back on the hand-piece, and I’ll be full-time shearing when I get back home.”

Samuels said “absolutely” each venue had a different feel.

“This one (Pally) is a good venue for spectators. There’s a lot of space and it’s really open. You can be tucked away in corners at some other places and quite hidden, but here you’re out in the open and everyone can see you – you can feel the eyes on you,” he said.

Samuels explained the speed shear concept came about 35 years ago at a hotel in Mortlake, Victoria, when New Zealand shearer David Fagan, later knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his services to the industry, wagered he was the fastest in a group of shearers breasting the bar.

“He whipped one out in under 30 seconds and that was the birth of the quick shear,” Samuels said.

Words: Bill Poulos

Images: Bill and Cindy Poulos