Speed Shear and National Circuit winner, Jack Fagan (Te Kūiti) in action.
The masters of shearing and woolhandling have been crowned in Masterton.
Open winner, Toa Henderson (Northland). Photo Golden Shears.
Regarded as the pinnacle of the sport, this year’s Golden Shears also included the World Championships.
While Northland’s Toa Henderson defended his Golden Shears Open title, Te Kūiti’s Jack Fagan also rose to the occasion securing the National Circuit Shearing Final.
Fagan qualified for the final based on performances throughout the season. He also won the Open Speed Shear, outpacing Taumarunui’s Forde Alexander.
Te Kūiti’ and Cook Islands’ woolhandler, Keryn Herbert. Photo Golden Shears.
Shortly before the competition, Jack Fagan’s father, 16-time Golden Shears champion David Fagan, told The News there is no escaping the pressure at this level.
“But these guys thrive on pressure; it’s what they live for. There’s nothing like the atmosphere – it’s the event with the history and the mana, the one everyone wants to win. Winning at the Golden Shears ensures you’ll be remembered.”
Others among the King Country cohort claiming podium spots in shearing were senior category winner, Taelor Tarrant (Taumarunui) and Te Kūiti’s Ngahuia Salmond, who placed second in the Novice contest.
Open winner, Toa Henderson (Northland). Photo Golden Shears.
Te Kūiti woolhandler, Keryn Herbert was third in the North Island Woolhandling Open Circuit final and fourth in the Woolhandling Open. While representing the Cook Islands, she placed second in both the World Champs Individual and with teammate Tina Elers the team woolhandling events.
In the World Championship events, the New Zealand team became the first to win all three team categories and two of the three individual world titles.
The New Zealand team consisted of Allan Oldfield and Tony Dobbs (blade shearers), Toa Henderson and Rowland Smith (machine shearers) and woolhandlers Joel Henare and Marika Braddick.
In total, 600 shearers and woolhandlers overall, including 150 competitors from 27 countries, stepped up to make their stand in Masterton.
Speed Shear and National Circuit winner, Jack Fagan (Te Kūiti) in action. Photo Golden Shears.
