When it comes to the hard graft of hands-on rural competition, there’s no question which region wears the crown.
“There’s actually not as many shearers down here now, but there was a lot of gangs back in the ‘80s and ‘90s with a number of good shearers in all of them,” Ōtorohanga shearer, Digger Balme, says.
Digger Balme at Whanau Event last year, son Josh in the background credit NZ Shears
“It was common to have 10-15 shearers from Te Kūiti and Piopio at competitions… the likes of Paul Grainger, Mike Barnett, John Ruki, Alan Macdonald, Colin King, Edsel Forde and John and David Fagan, of course – they were all shearing here in the King Country back then.”
Sir David Fagan is clearly shearing’s undisputed sovereign with a record 16-time Golden Shears Open victories to his credit. However, the list of today’s best ‘upper-cutters’ from the region is hardly spartan; it includes the progeny of some of the shearers Balme mentions, such as Jack Fagan, Mark Grainger and James Ruki, as well as a top gun female shearer, Sacha Bond, to name just a few.
Balme’s sons have had parts to play in the sport. A former Golden Shears Novice winner, Josh Balme is now focused on rugby – a former King Country Ram who now plays for Mooloos – and his brother, Kyle, is never too far from the action. And yet, this does not mean Digger is content to hang up his handpiece.
Retirement?
Jack Fagan with Digger Balme at world record event.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to because Kyle, he’s our autistic boy, gets so much enjoyment from the shows. He’s a regular at them and everyone is just so good to him. Jack [Fagan] is one of his favourites; he gets really excited when he sees him. Jack’s been working for me so he spends a lot of time with Kyle.”
Balme is helping to teach one of King Country’s best prospects, ‘Fagan the younger’, after learning from the very best, Fagan ‘senior’. However, he first picked up the clippers in north Waikato.
I’m originally from Tahuna, just north of Morrinsville. We shifted to Tuakau when I was a teenager and I started shearing when I was about 17,” he recalls. “When I hit the open grade, I was going so quick they called me the Tuakau Flyer – some of the older commentators still refer to me by that name. I then came down to King Country to work for David – all the top shearers were down this way.”
Whether they’re shearing in the shed or in competition, Balme’s advice for the younger generation of this region’s shearers is the same:
“Just work hard and try and tap into as much advice as you can get,” he adds. “Surround yourself with good people because a lot of top guys are only too happy to pass on a little bit of knowledge.”
Digger Balme
