Dating back to 1972, the National Shearing Circuit is a prestigious competition celebrating excellence in the skill of shearing. PGG Wrightson has stood as a principal sponsor for two decades.
A longstanding partnership forged in 2001 between PGG Wrightson and the event has been sustained, evolving into a collaborative sponsorship with Vetmed, a notable figure in the realm of animal health products. As a result, the event is proudly titled the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit.
The competition spans five rounds, commencing in Alexandra during October with the fine wool section. The journey then progresses to Waimate for full wool hoggets, followed by the Corriedales stage in Christchurch in November. Come February, the focus shifts to lambs in Rangitikei, before the circuit's final qualifyround in Pahiatua with second shears.
Culminating in Masterton, the circuit's pinnacle sees the top 12 shearers, determined by their accumulated points across the five rounds, competing on the eve of the Golden Shears.
2025/2026 Shearing Circuit dates
| VENUE | DATE |
CHAMPIONSHIP | BREED |
| Alexandra | 3-4 October 2025 |
NZ Merino Shearing Championships | Merino |
| Waimate | 10-11 October 2025 |
NZ Spring Shears | Romney Full Wool |
| Christchurch | 14-15 November 2025 |
NZ Corriedale Shearing/Woolhandling Championships | Corriedale |
| Marton | 7 February 2026 |
Rangitikei Shears | Romney Lambs |
| Pahiatua | 1 March 2026 |
Pahiatua Shears | Romney Second Shear |
| Masterton | 4-7 March 2026 |
Golden Shears | Multi Breeds |
Vetmed
Vetmed is a proud sponsor of the National Shearing Circuit and has an extensive range of animal health products, developed for New Zealand Farms
National Shearing Circuit News
Video or image
A cut above the rest - Wairarapa’s shearing champ clips his way to another big win
Paerata Abraham was recently celebrated at the PGG Wrightson Masterton store after clinching the 2024/2025 PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit title. This win not only etched his name into the shearing history books once again but he became the first Wairarapa competitor to claim the...
Video or image
The race to the Golden Shears heats up
The PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit is in full swing, with the competition intensifying as we edge closer to the Golden Shears. On Saturday, 1 February, the fourth round took place at the Rangitīkei Shearing Sports in Marton, marking the first North Island event of the series. With...
Video or image
Leon Samuels claims top spot in Round 2 of the National Shearing Circuit
The 2024/2025 PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit continued its thrilling journey with the second round at the Waimate Spring Shears, where competitors took on the challenge of shearing strong wool ewes. Leon Samuels of Roxburgh emerged as the standout performer, claiming the top points...
Video or image
Big start to National Shearing Circuit: Round 1 complete!
The 2024/2025 PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit has kicked off in a big way, with a possible record of 37 entries in the opening fine-wool round, held at the New Zealand Merino Shears in Alexandra last weekend. PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit first round leader Stacey Te...
Video or image
PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit starts tomorrow at the New Zealand Merino Shears in Alexandra
The world’s biggest, and possibly only, merino shearing and woolhandling championships are expected to attract more than 150 competitors to Alexandra in Central Otago on Friday and Saturday. With many seasonally based in the area, it will be the first outing in a Shearing Sports New Zealand season...
Video or image
Canterbury Shears: The show must go on
The Canterbury Shears’ national Corriedale shearing and woolhandling championships are confirmed to take place in November, despite the Canterbury A&P Society's decision to cancel the New Zealand Agricultural Show. Despite the decision not to host the show this year, shearing and other sections have...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford drives off in new car after PGG Wrightson/Vetmed Shearing Victory
Nathan Stratford, the multi-breeds shearing legend, added another feather to his cap as he was awarded a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe for a year at a presentation held at PGG Wrightson in Invercargill. This event marked his third victory of the PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, a feat...
Video or image
PGG Wrightson extends National Shearing sponsorship to 45 years
PGG Wrightson has extended its sponsorship of one of shearing’s most prestigious and demanding events. Established in 1973, the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit pits the top shearers against each other based on versatility over five separate rounds. In terms of competitive shearing...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford shines again taking out his third PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit
Nathan Stratford, a multi-breeds shearing legend, has once again claimed victory at the prestigious PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, securing his third win at the Golden Shears in Masterton on Saturday night. Setting a New Zealand record with 18 trans-Tasman tests under his belt since...
Video or image
A cut above the rest - Wairarapa’s shearing champ clips his way to another big win
Paerata Abraham was recently celebrated at the PGG Wrightson Masterton store after clinching the 2024/2025 PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit title. This win not only etched his name into the shearing history books once again but he became the first Wairarapa competitor to claim the...
Video or image
The race to the Golden Shears heats up
The PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit is in full swing, with the competition intensifying as we edge closer to the Golden Shears. On Saturday, 1 February, the fourth round took place at the Rangitīkei Shearing Sports in Marton, marking the first North Island event of the series. With...
Video or image
Leon Samuels claims top spot in Round 2 of the National Shearing Circuit
The 2024/2025 PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit continued its thrilling journey with the second round at the Waimate Spring Shears, where competitors took on the challenge of shearing strong wool ewes. Leon Samuels of Roxburgh emerged as the standout performer, claiming the top points...
Video or image
Big start to National Shearing Circuit: Round 1 complete!
The 2024/2025 PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit has kicked off in a big way, with a possible record of 37 entries in the opening fine-wool round, held at the New Zealand Merino Shears in Alexandra last weekend. PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit first round leader Stacey Te...
Video or image
PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit starts tomorrow at the New Zealand Merino Shears in Alexandra
The world’s biggest, and possibly only, merino shearing and woolhandling championships are expected to attract more than 150 competitors to Alexandra in Central Otago on Friday and Saturday. With many seasonally based in the area, it will be the first outing in a Shearing Sports New Zealand season...
Video or image
Canterbury Shears: The show must go on
The Canterbury Shears’ national Corriedale shearing and woolhandling championships are confirmed to take place in November, despite the Canterbury A&P Society's decision to cancel the New Zealand Agricultural Show. Despite the decision not to host the show this year, shearing and other sections have...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford drives off in new car after PGG Wrightson/Vetmed Shearing Victory
Nathan Stratford, the multi-breeds shearing legend, added another feather to his cap as he was awarded a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe for a year at a presentation held at PGG Wrightson in Invercargill. This event marked his third victory of the PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, a feat...
Video or image
PGG Wrightson extends National Shearing sponsorship to 45 years
PGG Wrightson has extended its sponsorship of one of shearing’s most prestigious and demanding events. Established in 1973, the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit pits the top shearers against each other based on versatility over five separate rounds. In terms of competitive shearing...
Video or image
Nathan Stratford shines again taking out his third PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit
Nathan Stratford, a multi-breeds shearing legend, has once again claimed victory at the prestigious PGG Wrightson/Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, securing his third win at the Golden Shears in Masterton on Saturday night. Setting a New Zealand record with 18 trans-Tasman tests under his belt since...