Shearing ‘grand slam’ up for grabs

Shearers' handpieces hum during the Lincoln-Telford Division intermediate shearing heats of the Otago Shears at the Balclutha Town Hall.

The two-day shearing competition started in Balclutha yesterday, as the shearing and woolhandling competition season heats up.

The Otago Shears are the first of an unofficial but long-standing grand slam series that includes four major events on four successive weekends.

The next event is the Southern Shears in Gore next weekend, the Pahiatua Shears on February 28, in Manawatu, and the Golden Shears in Masterton on March 3.

Competitors are chasing national woolhandling and shearing titles awarded at the conclusion of the series.

Favourite to win Woolhandler of the Year is Joel Henare, of Gisborne, while Hastings shearer Rowland Smith is favoured to win the open shearing title.