Keryn Herbert, of Te Kuiti, competes during the open woolhandling heats at the Waimate Shears New Zealand Spring Shearing Competition yesterday. PHOTO: NIC DUFF
Two hundred and fifty competitors are taking part in the two-day event that will see more than 1500 sheep shorn.
To add to the atmosphere, former world champion woolhandler Joel Henare commentated the event, as well as competing.
Yesterday’s action saw the New Zealand Winter Comb Championships and the woolhandling categories play out, as well as the speed shearing last night.
Today the machine shearing event takes centre stage, followed by the transtasman shearing and woolhandling test this evening. Two blade shearers from South Canterbury, Tony Dobbs, from Fairlie, and Tim Hogg, from Timaru, will be taking on their Australian counterparts in the first test.
