The 37-year-old West Australian notched up his fifth successive open title at the 53rd New Zealand Merino Shearing Championships in Alexandra on Saturday, just a week after being cleared to compete, following surgery to remove a melanoma.
It was assessed as a grade 3 melanoma - ''at the dangerous stage, where it's already spread'', Boyle said.
He had the melanoma from his back removed at his local doctor's surgery after waiting six weeks for the operation. The results meant a trip to a Perth clinic for more surgery 12 days later.
''That was a very long 12 days, after knowing it was a stage 3 melanoma. In the meantime, I'd shorn to win this trip to Alexandra for the merino shears.''
''With the second surgery, they took quite a chunk out but the results were good.
''They don't think I'll need chemotherapy as follow-up treatment but they'll do a body scan as a precaution when I get back.
''You can't help but think what might have happened if I hadn't had it removed when I did, though.
''I'm happy still to be alive and still to be around to be able to do these things.''
Boyle is the first person to win the title five successive times. He has taken part in the New Zealand merino shears about 15 times.
''My only aim this time was to make the top six; that's all I wanted. I wouldn't say I was confident about the final - I thought I shore well but you never know if someone else shore better, not until you hear the results.''
A roar went up from the crowd when the second placegetter in the open event was announced as Alexandra shearer Colin O'Neill. Nathan Stratford, of Invercargill, who was the last New Zealander to win the title, in 2009, was third.
Alexandra shearer Charlie O'Neill, a brother of Colin, teamed up with Grant Smith, of Rakaia, to win the transtasman match during the evening, against Boyle and Buscumb, reversing the result from a similar match at the Royal Perth Show the previous weekend.
Taumarunui shearer Cody Beck won the senior shearing title.
