Mataura shearer Brett Roberts scored his first Open final win in over a year with victory at the Mayfield A and P Show in Mid-Canterbury on Saturday. Roberts, 30, hadn’t won since the national full wool championship final at the Northern Southland .
Reigning Golden Shears open shearing champion Rowland Smith has withdrawn from this year’s event because of injury. The near two-metres-tall 37-year-old Hawke’s Bay shearer and eight-times Golden Shears Open winner, and 2014 World Champion, announced .
The Golden Shears starting in Masterton tomorrow (Thursday) have attracted the biggest entry in many years with about 500 shearers and woolhandlers competing – more than 25 per cent up on last year. The five shearing grades and four woolhandling grades, .
Perennial Golden Shears Open woolhandling champion Joel Henare will be back in Masterton this week aiming for a 10th consecutive win in the event. But it’s not so much about winning as working, in the pride and knowledge that woolhandling is a valued .
The challenge is out for all shearers anywhere near Northland to get to Broadwood for next weekend’s North Hokianga A and P Show shearing championships after two farmers heading towards the age of 80 shore in finals to help make up the numbers .