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Questions and Answers
What award was Godfrey Bowen given in 1960 for his services to the New Zealand sheep industry?
What event did Godfrey Bowen produce and direct in 1970?
What was the name of the theme park dedicated to the New Zealand farm that Godfrey Bowen established in 1971?
In what year did Godfrey Bowen finish fourth in the world championships, shearing 15 sheep in 17 minutes?
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What was Godfrey Bowen described as by The Guardian in 1977?
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In what year was Godfrey Bowen inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame?
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What was Godfrey Bowen's profession that earned him international recognition?
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What was the Bowen technique used for in shearing?
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In what year did Godfrey Bowen break the world record for shearing?
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What was the number of full-wool ewes Godfrey Bowen sheared in nine hours to break the world record?
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What was the impact of the Bowen technique on the international wool industry?
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What organization appointed Godfrey Bowen as its chief shearing instructor?
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Where did Godfrey Bowen help establish courses on shearing?
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What was the name of the national shearing tournament that Godfrey Bowen helped organize and competed in?
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Study Notes
Godfrey Bowen's Shearing Achievements
- Godfrey Bowen's shearing was compared to Nureyev's dancing, highlighting his exceptional skill.
- He revolutionized the wool industry through his improved shearing methods, known as the 'Bowen technique'.
World Record and Career
- In 1953, Bowen broke the world record by shearing 456 full-wool ewes in nine hours at Opiki, Manawatu.
- He became a sought-after instructor and demonstrator at agricultural and pastoral society shows.
- The New Zealand Wool Board appointed him as its chief shearing instructor.
The Bowen Technique
- The 'Bowen technique' involved using the non-shearing hand to stretch out the skin on the sheep to produce an evenly shorn fleece.
- This method was adopted by shearers worldwide, adding billions of dollars to the international wool industry.
Promoting Shearing as a Sport
- Bowen helped organize the first Golden Shears national shearing tournament in Masterton in 1961.
- He competed in the tournament, finishing second behind his brother Ivan.
Recognition and Awards
- Bowen was awarded an MBE in 1960 for his services to the New Zealand sheep industry.
- In 1963, Premier Nikita Khrushchev awarded him the Hero of Labour and the Star of Lenin for his work with Soviet shearers.
Other Ventures and Achievements
- Bowen produced and directed New Zealand's main outdoor display at Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan.
- He opened the Agrodome near Rotorua in 1971, promoting shearing as a tourist attraction.
- In 1977, at the age of 55, Bowen finished fourth in the world championships, shearing 15 sheep in 17 minutes.
- He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
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Description
Godfrey Bowen, a British-born New Zealander, revolutionized the wool industry with his innovative shearing methods. His skills were likened to a finely tuned machine, and his impact on the industry was enormous.
