World Champion shearer John Kirkpatrick
A world champion shearer
John Kirkpatrick (ONZM) was the first Hawke's Bay shearer to win the Golden Shears Open title in 2002. He went on to win the that event three more times, along with three world teams title wins and ultimately the individual world champion in 2017.
As both a sport and a profession, shearing demands strength and endurance. Fitness mitigates the risk of injury, but doesn’t eliminate it. During the 2014 world championships in Ireland, John suffered a serious shoulder injury that required surgery. Despite this he managed to complete the event and place fifth. He recovered from this setback to win the individual world champion title three years later.
The individual title was the prize John had been searching for, after coming close on two occasions with a second place in Norway and New Zealand. It was part of Hawke's Bay's rising dominance of world shearing events. John has now won 188 Open finals, second worldwide only to King Country legend Sir David Fagan.
Unfortunately for John, a second rotator cuff injury to the opposite shoulder required another round of surgery last year.
After discharge from Royston, John was under the care of Focus Health director and physio Gay Monteith, in consultation with John’s surgeon. For the first six weeks, it was all about mobilisation to gradually increase his range of movement. John then worked with Focus physio Wessell Oosthuizen, to re-build hand and arm strength using bands and light weights.
While free from the pressure of competition, occupational shearing is still tough work. A good shearer could shear 300 sheep in an eight hour day. A high level of fitness is required - for both strength and speed. These days, John has his own gym at home next to his shearing shed. It's a bit dusty, but it's got everything required to stay in top condition: free weights, punching bag and bench. The assault bike is particularly good for cardio, according to John. He does an hour of cardio every day - road running in summer and on the treadmill and bike in winter.
Originally from the East Coast, John and wife Raylene now run the family shearing contracting business from their base at Pakipaki, south of Hastings. The semi-rural setting offers plenty of space and quiet - good for “head fitness”. John clearly has plenty of mental resilience and whether working or competing, he says he will go for as long as his body lets him.
More about the Focus Health team here
Comments