Shear genius as Una clips her way to the top

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

Qualifying 29th out of 107 Open competitors at the celebratory 50th Golden Shears anniversary, she 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 (53rd) and Shannon Warnest of Australia.

Cameron, 37, who has shorn full-time for 15 years, has tremendous support from her partner, 1996 world teams champion Geordie Bayne, of Bonchester Bridge, Jedburgh.

Cameron spent her first five years in Germany where her father held an army post. It was later, when they moved to 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."

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

Both Cameron and Mutch will now 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.