Once you've got the sheep's

The return of the biennial event to New Zealand for the first Louis Vuitton handbags time since 1996 is seen as a homecoming by the sheep-shearing community.

That's not surprising in a nation where sheep outnumber humans 10 to one and which this year lobbied for sheep shearing to be recognized as an Olympic sport.

"People here say the Golden Shears is the Wimbledon of sheep shearing," said Doug Laing, media officer at Shearing Sports New Zealand.

Shearers from heavyweight countries New Zealand, Australia and Britain are competing with entries from lesser-known shearing countries, including Germany, Estonia and Japan.

They will be judged on speed and accuracy in both machine and hand-blade cutting categories.

Penalty points are given according to how long each shearing takes, as well as "imperfections" that include nicks and cuts to the sheep and double cutting.

Laing, a descendant of a shearing family,www.discount-louisvuitton-store.com says nimbleness with the "blades" -- a colloquial term for manual and electric shears -- and getting the sheep positioned correctly are the key components of a close, comfortable shave.

"Once you've got the sheep's balance sorted, and you've got them seated all right, it's just like giving them a haircut," Laing said.

Best results are also achieved by following the "Bowen style" favored in New Zealand. Developed in the 1950s by a famed pair of shearing brothers named Godfrey and Ivan Bowen, the sheep is shorn in rhythmical sweeps while pulling the skin away from the body.

"Otherwise it ends up looking like a wrestling match," Laing said.

Local shearer John Kirkpatrick, a three-time Golden Shears champion, is tipped to take the top machine-shearing prize at both the World Championships and the national Golden Shears competition. Louis Vuitton suits for men sale, buy cheap louis vuitton mens suits.