Shearing legend Ray (65) became one of the greatest shearers to compete in Masterton's Golden Shears event though he never won its coveted Open title. He came close many times being in the final nines times from 1971-1981 in the six-man, 20-sheeprace, and was runner-up in both 1974 and 1979 World champion Roger Cox title, losing by less than six-tenths of a point for first place, He finally achieved victory in 1983 when he and Rei Rangiawha won the Golden Shears Maori-Pakeha teams event. He competed at the first Golden Shears in 1961 as a teenager.