National Shearing Circuit

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 will be 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 Waitangi Day, the focus shifts to lambs in Rangitikei, culminating in February's final leg 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.

2023/2024 Shearing Circuit dates

 

VENUE

DATE

CHAMPIONSHIP

BREED

Alexandra

29-30 September 2023   

NZ Merino Shearing Championships

Merino

Waimate

6-7 October 2023

NZ Spring Shears

Romney Full Wool

Christchurch

15-17 November 2023

NZ Corriedale Shearing/Woolhandling Championships Hosted by the NZ Agricultural Show

Corriedale

Marton

3 February 2024

Rangitikei Shears

Romney Lambs

Pahiatua

25 February 2024

Pahiatua Shears

Romney Second Shear

Masterton

1-3 March 2024

Golden Shears

Multi Breeds

National Shearing Circuit News

Video or image
1 November 2023
Categories
Wool
Community
National Shearing Circuit

Nathan Stratford on target for 20th National Shearing Circuit final

Two-times National Shearing Circuit champion Nathan Stratford has set sail for a possible 20th final in the annual all-breeds championship with maximum points in the first three rounds of the 2023-2024 PGG Wrightson/Vetmed series. The Southland gun first reached the final in 2000, when it was won by...

Video or image
9 October 2023
Categories
Wool
National Shearing Circuit
Community

Southland gun Samuels makes it a double

Southland shearer and New Zealand representative Leon Samuels completed a double of the traditional first two titles of the shearing sports season when he reclaimed the Waimate Spring Shearing Championship open shearing title in Waimate on Saturday. Samuels, winner of the national fine wool...

Video or image
3 October 2023
Categories
Wool
National Shearing Circuit
Community

Tia Potae returns to New Zealand shearing sports team

South Otago woolhandler Tia Potae returns to Trans-Tasman test-match competition after an absence of 10 years by winning the New Zealand Merino Shears open woolhandling title in Alexandra on Saturday. Potae has competed sparingly at times as she has pursued other interests in the wool industry over...

Video or image
28 September 2023
Categories
National Shearing Circuit
Community
Wool

Fine wool challenge starts shearing sports season

An attempt to stop Australia from claiming New Zealand’s top fine wool shearing title, and the selection of a shearer and woolhandler for next month’s Trans-Tasman tests, will be features of the New Zealand Merino Shears in Alexandra on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 September. Last year, the open...

Video or image
1 September 2023
Categories
National Shearing Circuit
Wool
Company News
Community

PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit - a "cool" competition to be in

Article by: Doug Laing, Media Officer for Shearing Sports New Zealand Entries are now open for the 2023-2024 PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit. The series incorporates the McSkimming Memorial Triple Crown which was first presented after a three-round series in 1972-1973, starting at the...

Video or image
9 May 2023
Categories
Wool
Wool Street Journal
National Shearing Circuit

Marlborough shearer Angus Moore wins PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit

Marlborough’s Angus Moore is the 2023 PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit champion. With the top shearers testing their versatility over five rounds, Seddon-based Angus overcame the logistical challenge of multiple contests throughout the country during spring and summer, also out...

Video or image
28 February 2023
Categories
National Shearing Circuit
Wool

Competition heats up for final weekend before Golden Shears

The Country, NZ Herald Toa Henderson is shaping up as a serious contender to end Rowland Smith’s Golden Shears open championship-winning run this week in Masterton. Henderson, of Kaiwaka, won a six-man Pahiatua Shears open final, scoring his third victory in three weeks over Hawke’s Bay-based Smith...

Video or image
9 February 2023
Categories
National Shearing Circuit
Wool

National Shearing Circuit Competition Heating Up

One of the closest races in the half-century of the national shearing championship has developed, as the 2022-2023 PGG Wrightson Vetmed Shearing Circuit heads towards the last of its five preliminary rounds at the Pahiatua Shears on February 26. While defending champion and Southland shearer Nathan...

Video or image
1 November 2023
Categories
Wool
Community
National Shearing Circuit

Nathan Stratford on target for 20th National Shearing Circuit final

Two-times National Shearing Circuit champion Nathan Stratford has set sail for a possible 20th final in the annual all-breeds championship with maximum points in the first three rounds of the 2023-2024 PGG Wrightson/Vetmed series. The Southland gun first reached the final in 2000, when it was won by...

Video or image
9 October 2023
Categories
Wool
National Shearing Circuit
Community

Southland gun Samuels makes it a double

Southland shearer and New Zealand representative Leon Samuels completed a double of the traditional first two titles of the shearing sports season when he reclaimed the Waimate Spring Shearing Championship open shearing title in Waimate on Saturday. Samuels, winner of the national fine wool...

Video or image
3 October 2023
Categories
Wool
National Shearing Circuit
Community

Tia Potae returns to New Zealand shearing sports team

South Otago woolhandler Tia Potae returns to Trans-Tasman test-match competition after an absence of 10 years by winning the New Zealand Merino Shears open woolhandling title in Alexandra on Saturday. Potae has competed sparingly at times as she has pursued other interests in the wool industry over...

Video or image
28 September 2023
Categories
National Shearing Circuit
Community
Wool

Fine wool challenge starts shearing sports season

An attempt to stop Australia from claiming New Zealand’s top fine wool shearing title, and the selection of a shearer and woolhandler for next month’s Trans-Tasman tests, will be features of the New Zealand Merino Shears in Alexandra on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 September. Last year, the open...

Video or image
1 September 2023
Categories
National Shearing Circuit
Wool
Company News
Community

PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit - a "cool" competition to be in

Article by: Doug Laing, Media Officer for Shearing Sports New Zealand Entries are now open for the 2023-2024 PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit. The series incorporates the McSkimming Memorial Triple Crown which was first presented after a three-round series in 1972-1973, starting at the...

Video or image
9 May 2023
Categories
Wool
Wool Street Journal
National Shearing Circuit

Marlborough shearer Angus Moore wins PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit

Marlborough’s Angus Moore is the 2023 PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit champion. With the top shearers testing their versatility over five rounds, Seddon-based Angus overcame the logistical challenge of multiple contests throughout the country during spring and summer, also out...

Video or image
28 February 2023
Categories
National Shearing Circuit
Wool

Competition heats up for final weekend before Golden Shears

The Country, NZ Herald Toa Henderson is shaping up as a serious contender to end Rowland Smith’s Golden Shears open championship-winning run this week in Masterton. Henderson, of Kaiwaka, won a six-man Pahiatua Shears open final, scoring his third victory in three weeks over Hawke’s Bay-based Smith...

Video or image
9 February 2023
Categories
National Shearing Circuit
Wool

National Shearing Circuit Competition Heating Up

One of the closest races in the half-century of the national shearing championship has developed, as the 2022-2023 PGG Wrightson Vetmed Shearing Circuit heads towards the last of its five preliminary rounds at the Pahiatua Shears on February 26. While defending champion and Southland shearer Nathan...

Proudly Supported By