Gavin Mutch, of Dannevirke, won the open shearing finals at the Waimate Shears New Zealand Spring Shearing Competition. Photo / Aiman Amerul Maner , Stuff.

The weekend’s 2022 Waimate Spring Shears competition was well attended by spectators, with people also watching a live stream of the event from around the world.

The annual event, held on Friday and Saturday, was also round two of the PGG Wrightson – VetMed National Shearing Circuit, and Waimate Spring Shears president Warren White said competitors were of a “very high standard”.

“There were good crowds. A lot of spectators were coming and going on both the days,” White said.

“A lot of people from around the world watched the live stream as well. The sheep were well presented by the farmers. It was a really good day.

“The open shearing final on Saturday night is always the highlight and was well attended with a lot of spectators.”

Shearing Sports New Zealand media officer Doug Laing said master wool handler Joel Henare, of Motueka, won the wool handling open final (merino fleeces) on both days.

Saturday’s event was the final of a crossbred event run primarily as the first leg of the Wools of New Zealand World Championship's wool handling New Zealand team selection series.

Henare reckoned he was “out of practise” and it required extra effort to make sure he was on point after a fourth place defending the New Zealand Merino Shears title in Alexandra a week earlier.

“It feels great to be back on top,” Henare said.

“But whether I do any more comps this year…? Maybe. You never know when I’ll turn up.”

Henare won the Waimate open final for a sixth time and with the two wins, has now won 125 finals in an open-class woolhandling career now in its 17th season. He started at the age of 14.

The runner-up was Monica Potae, of Kennedy Bay, Cushla Abraham, of Masterton, backed-up for third after winning the opening competition of the season at Alexandra the previous weekend, and Elite Wool Industry Training office manager Kelly Macdonald was fourth.

“Henare headed the 22 in the heats and tailed Potae in the semi-finals but excelled with his board job in the final with a 33 points buffer which overshadowed Potae’s superior time, oddment and fleece points,” Laing said.

Mataura wool handler Krome Elers, won the senior final, his second win in the grade since graduating after three wins as a junior in early 2019.

“Just seventh of eight qualifiers from the heats, which attracted 12 competitors, he topped the semi-finals and produced the best fleece quality points to claim the win, with first-year senior Jess Toa, of Ashburton, the runner-up and third place going to Alexandra winner Tamara Marshall, of Port Waikato locality Waikaretu.”

The junior final was won by Tia Manson, daughter of Monica Potae.

“It was a big weekend for the shearers, with two open titles shared,” Laing said.

“Scots international and Southern Hawke’s Bay farmer Gavin Mutch won the final of Waimate Spring Shears Open, the heats of which was the second round of the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, and Invercargill gun Nathan Stratford won the New Zealand winter comb championship.

“The senior shears title went to Ranfurly shearer Mitchell Menzies, who was runner-up to Scott Cameron, of Alexandra, in the senior winter comb final.”

Results of the Waimate Spring Shears:

Shearing:

Open final (16 sheep): Gavin Mutch (Scotland/Dannevirke) 15 minutes 59.03 seconds, 55.889 points, 1; Angus Moore (Seddon) 16min 19.19sec, 55.9595pts, 2; Leon Samuels (Invercargill) 15min 51.96sec, 56.2855pts, 3.

Junior final (Three sheep): Emma Martin (Gore) 8min 25.46sec, 30.6063pts, 1; Lydia Thomson (Rangiora) 9min 39.12sec, 37.956pts, 2; Donnie Stringer (Ranfurly) 8min 35.67sec, 39.1168pts, 3.

Blades final (Five sheep): Tony Dobbs (Fairlie) 14min 49.65sec, 53.4825pts, 1; Scott McKay (Clarence) 14min 9.42sec, 56.871pts, 2; Allan Oldfield (Geraldine) 14min 28.85sec, 58.6425pts, 3.

Women (5 sheep): Sacha Bond (Piopio) 8min 55.63sec, 38.1815pts, 1; Emma Martin (Gore) 11min 52.61sec, 39.2305pts, 2; Savvy Taitoko (Aria) 10min 16.59sec, 42.0295pts, 3.

Winter Comb shearing championship:

Open final (Seven sheep): Nathan Stratford (Invercargill) 15min 7.6sec,61.5228pts, 1; Stacey Te Huia (Alexandra) 13min 25.22sec, 65.1181pts, 2; Angus Moore (Seddon) 14min 53.4sec, 65.2414pts, 3.

Senior final (Four sheep): Scott Cameron (Alexandra) 12min 37.04sec, 63.102pts, 1; Mitchell Menzies (Ranfurly) 13min 7.3sec, 64.365pts, 2; Adam Gordon (Masterton) 12min 27.86sec, 78.393pts, 3.

Woolhandling:

Open final: Joel Henare (Motueka) 132.63pts, 1; Monica Potae (Kennedy Bay) 147pts, 2; Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 166.262pts, 3; Kelly MacDonald (Domett) 167.564pts, 4.

Crossbred open final: Joel Henare (Motueka) 70.08pts, 1; Candy Hiri (Mataura) 95.632pts, 2; Amy Ferguson (Alexandra) 109.458pts, 3; Ratapu Moore (Seddon) 129.55pts, 4.

Yashas Srinivasa, Stuff