Digger Balme in action at the Rotorua A&P Show
The clippers and the shearers have been running hot during the final competitions of the year.
Jack Fagan following his speed shear win in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Photo Shearing Sports NZ
While the Corriedale Shearing Championships in Christchurch served as the last PGG National Shearing Circuit event for 2025, there has been plenty more to play for.
Notably, veteran Digger Balme (Ōtorohanga) defended his Rotorua A&P Show Open title during his 40th season in open-class shearing at the weekend.
These days, Balme is in it more for the love of the sport and his number one fan is his son Kyle, who is autistic.
“The biggest joy I get is taking Kyle,” he said. “He also loves the people that look after him when I’m shearing, or on the microphone. When you see something like that it really touches your heart. I don’t go to the shows to win.”
Taumarunui’s Forde Alexander placed second in Rotorua with James Ruki (Piopio) fifth. Te Kūiti’s Sonya Fagan placed fourth in the intermediate final and third in the senior woolhandling event.
In the woolhandling open, Keryn Herbert (Te Kūiti) placed second to Vinnye Phillips (Taumarunui) at the Agrodome.
Another of Kyle Balme’s heroes, Jack Fagan (Te Kūiti), has carried on in fine form since his wins at the Corriedales and in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
At the weekend’s Whangarei A&P Show, Fagan placed second in the Open to his New Zealand teammate Toa Henderson (Northland). However, the order was reversed when Fagan secured the Open Speed Shear.
In addition, Fagan won the Matiere Speed Shear in late November, in front of a hometown crowd, and the Taranaki Shears Open title the following day.
Piopio’s Clay Harris placed fourth in Taranaki and the Novice grade was won by Rikihana Salmond (Te Kūiti), son of world-class woolhandler, Keryn Herbert.
The shows are now over for 2025, but dark horses, as opposed to black sheep, may yet emerge in the New Year.
“Definitely towards the end of January we’ll start to know who’s really going for it,” Fagan told The News.
However, it’s already been a busy and productive season for King Country’s shearing contingent.
See: Shearers shine, season looms
Digger Balme in action at the Rotorua A&P Show. Photo – Shearing Sports NZ
