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-performing the other competitors to prevail and take the title.

“In Marlborough we shear plenty of different breeds. Being geographically varied with a broad range of terrains and microclimates, suiting diverse breeds, we have the opportunity to shear sheep of every shape, size and wool type, so adapting day to day from one to the other is excellent preparation for this competition,” Angus says.

Covering all of Marlborough, Angus’s company Moore Sheep Shearing Ltd operates on farms ranging from the Clarence River, up to Howard Valley, St Arnaud, and the outer Marlborough Sounds.

PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit shearers compete for points over five rounds, shearing fine wool Merinos, full wool hoggets, Corriedales, lambs and second shears, with the top 12 ranked over the preliminary rounds facing off in the final in Masterton on the eve of the Golden Shears.

For his efforts on the competition stand, Angus won a Hyundai Santa Fe for 12 months.

National Shearing Circuit chair Warren White says this year’s series was a keen contest.

“We saw some excellent competition this year, with good calibre shearers, particularly the younger competitors coming through and shearing in finals. This contest is a serious challenge for all the competitors, traveling all over New Zealand, making big sacrifices in both time and money. Their commitment has given us high quality shearing all the way through, setting the bar for superior standards in the industry. Great credit to the six shows that hosted the circuit, particularly Pahiatua, which came through some serious weather challenges to put on a terrific event for us,” Warren says.