TOP FORM: Jack Fagan races his way through a sheep.
Ewe guessed it – there was plenty of baaaaing going on at the Les Munro Centre in Te Kūiti last week.
The small rural farming town played host to the 37th New Zealand Shearing Championships from Thursday to Saturday.
The championships attracted shearers from all over New Zealand, Wales and even Germany.
Visiting shearers from Wales took part as they had been touring the country and a couple of tests had been lined up against New Zealand.
On the Thursday, they held numerous events including a speed shearing test between King Country and Wales at the Quota Club.
Friday saw several more events take place, while Saturday was when spectators could see the big boys in action.
New Zealand Shearing Championships president Sir David Fagan was delighted with how the event went.
“It went exceptionally well. It was incredibly well supported, we had a fantastic number of entries and great public support.
The whole event ran smoothly thanks to the wider committee and everyone doing a little bit.
“Entries were very good. I guess people have been starved of events in the shearing side of things the past couple of years.
“Most events around the country this season have had incredibly high numbers throughout the season. We had good entries too.”
This year the organiser offered free entry during the day, which Fagan said worked superbly.
“It went incredibly well, and we saw a whole lot of families there so I feel that really paid off.”
Fagan said Saturday night featured some of the highest quality shearing people could witness.
“The atmosphere on Saturday night was something else. It was electric, you just felt it throughout the centre.”
Southlander Leon Samuels took out the major final on Saturday night beating Toa Henderson, Row-land Smith, Nathan Stratford, Gavin Mutch and David Gordon.
His time of 15 minutes and six seconds was enough to see him finish shearing 20 sheep, first.
With that victory, Samuels joins Rowland Smith as the two shearers representing New Zealand at the world championships in Scotland later in the year.
“It’s a hard final to make and that’s probably the pinnacle of Leon’s career to date. Making the New Zealand team to Scotland is fantastic for him.”
Fagan is full of praise for the sheep suppliers, who provided some fantastic sheep for the championships.
“The quality of sheep was amazing.”
Fagan said it had been a bumper season for shearing sports, bucking the trend of many other events which were losing numbers.
“We are one of a few shearing events that run a lady’s competition and it is certainly something we will continue to grow in years to come,” Fagan said.
“It’s great for the championships but also for ladies too, and helping them get that exposure.”
The New Zealand open woolhandling title went to Angela Stevens, while the winner of the New Zealand Shears Circuit was Paerata Abraham.
Piopio shearer Clay Harris took out the senior final to back up his success from the golden shears.
A popular event was the whānau teams event, won by David and Jack Fagan ahead of the Gordon whānau who were second, and the Barrowcliffe whānau who were third.
“It was the first time since 2015 that I had been back up on that stage to compete and I loved it,” Fagan said. “It was good fun and we all enjoyed it.
He said the whānau teams event attracted a lot of different people, who then stayed for the duration.
“Going forward, it’s definitely an event I think we will see more of in the future.
“Winning is a bonus but just taking part was great. Many have said they are coming back next year, and others have said they will take part.”
The local contractor’s event was won by the Barrowcliffe crew in what was a superb final.
Local shearer Digger Balme said the championships ran smoothly again.
“They were brilliant.
“Huge turnout, huge crowds it went of really well.
“I am pleased. I made the circuit final on Saturday night, which is a bit of a surprise because I haven’t shorn a merino sheep for about 10 years and made the semifinals of the open. I was really pleased.”
Balme said it was great to see the whānau event back.
“Nothing better than getting up there with your young fella in a team and ripping in.”
Balme plans to return in 2024.
“Hopefully next year we might be able to get a muster down the main street next year to support all our local shopkeepers and that, even if the council don’t want to come on board. We are keen to liaise with the shopkeepers and get people downtown. Get people who haven’t seen shearing. Get it going again.”
