A shearing stand in the midst of polished paintwork and gleaming chrome at a car show may seem an odd combination.
The Roxburgh showgrounds hosted both on Saturday and both had a common goal. Proceeds from the car show, organised by Roxburgh Rotary, will go to Teviot Valley farmer James Hill and Tarras stock manager Cole Wells.
The two men are embarking on a 24-hour ''Shear for Life'' marathon in February, raising money for the Cancer Society, and were getting some training in on Saturday.
''As soon as we announced the Shear for Life, groups got right in behind us, including the Roxburgh Rotary Club, and we're really grateful for all the support so far,'' Mr Wells said.
He and Mr Hill hope to raise $24,000 for the society during the shearing marathon on Feburary 28 at Tarras, in memory of family members who had died of cancer. A total of $2200 has been raised so far and the proceeds from the car show, yet to be finalised, will be added.
The men have been stepping up their training by going to the gym, cycling, running and swimming.
''The biggest thing, though, is to keep shearing, and a few local farmers are providing us with stock to shear in the lead-up,'' Mr Wells said.
They expect to shear up to 1500 cross-bred lambs during the marathon and are hoping world champion shearer Rowland Smith, of Hastings, will accompany them for some of the time.
''The worst time will be from 2am to daylight, I reckon, and it'll be a matter of pushing through that mental barrier and keeping on going,'' Mr Wells said. His New Year's Eve celebrations would probably be ''a lot quieter than usual''.
There would be other entertainment during the event as well as the shearing - ''a bouncy castle and water slide, so it's a family day out''.
''It's coming around fast enough, but in some ways, I can't wait for it to get here,'' he said.
One of the car show organisers, Dennis Kirkpatrick, said it was the sixth or seventh time the event had been staged but the first time at the new venue of the showgrounds.
Several hundred people viewed about 70 vehicles displayed. Mr Kirkpatrick said cold weather in other centres might have discouraged potential visitors from travelling to Roxburgh this year.
