Australia’s victorious shearers, from left, Daniel McIntyre, Nathan Meaney, Jamie Boothman and team manager Stuart Grigg

AUSTRALIA’S top sheep shearers have reigned supreme over New Zealand in the latest trans-Tasman test event at the Golden Shears in Masterton, New Zealand, on Saturday night.

The Australian shearing team of current national champion Daniel McIntyre, Nathan Meaney and Jamie Boothman beat the New Zealand team of Leon Samuels, Jack Fagan and Chris Vickers in the test, repeating Australia’s victory by a big margin at Katanning, West Australia, last October.

South Australian open champion Nathan Meaney led his team home in 15 minutes 55 minutes 55.936 seconds for 72.547 penalty points, just behind first finisher Leon Samuels in 15 minutes 29.921 seconds for 70.246 points.

The overall winning penalty points margin of 22.411 points – Australia 210.991 points versus New Zealand on 233.402 points – was gained by a combination of speed and clean shearing by the Australians.

The trans-Tasman shearers had to contend with 12 sheep – 6 Merino, 3 long wool, 3 second shear.

Australian results — (Daniel McIntyre 16m 36.191s, 67.98pts; Jamie Boothman 16m 57.688s, 70.464pts; Nathan Meaney 15m 55.936s, 72.547pts) 210.991pts. New Zealand results — (Leon Samuels 15m 29.921s, 70.246pts; Jack Fagan 16m 57.368s, 79.668pts; Chris Vickers 19m 0.76s, 83.288pts) 233.402pts.

Australia has now won 40 of the 73 trans-Tasman machine shearing tests since the first at Euroa, Victoria, in 1974.

Kiwis win trans-Tasman wool handling

Australia’s trans-Tasman wool handlers Alexander Schoff and Tiffany Collins. Image – Facebook.

However, the New Zealand trans-Tasman wool handling team of Pagain Rimene and Ngaio Hanson regathered some claim to trans-Tasman supremacy with a narrow win of 4.48 points over Australia’s current open wool handling champion Alexander Schoff and Tiffany Collins.

Trans-Tasman wool handling test results — (8 fleeces – 4 long wool, 4 Merino): New Zealand (Pagain Rimene/Ngaio Hanson) 348.24pts beat Australia (Tiffany Collins/Alexander Schoff) 352.72pts.

The New Zealand pair was beaten by Schoff and Marlene Whittle by a margin of 4.05 points during the Australian national shearing and wool handling championships in Katanning in Western Australia in October last year, so Rimene, of Alexandra, and Hanson, of Eketahuna, were determined to make amends on Friday night.

However, the Australian wool handlers’ performance was an improvement on the 2024 Golden Shears test results when Schoff and Whittle went down to Cushla Abraham and Tia Potae by a margin of 36.6 points.

Australian last won a wool handling test in New Zealand in 2023 with Mark Purcell and Rachael Hutchison in 2023 Golden Shears.

Alexander Schoff said he and Tiffany “really wanted to win” the test and worked together well.

“We worked to a plan and we stuck to the plan and it nearly worked for us.

“On the board we dropped a few points, but it’s always difficult going into their country and trying to match them on their own sheep,” he said.

“They know just how to work with the crossbred wool whereas we work Merino wool.”

It was Schoff’s second trans-Tasman test in New Zealand and he said and Collins both brought improvements that they picking up during the Golden Shears events to apply in the test. He finished 28^th in the Golden Shears open wool handling and Collins managed an 18^th placing.

New Zealand has now won 37 of the 49 tests between the two nations since trans-Tasman wool handling matches began in 1998.

Alexander is a former SCAA Shearer Woolhandler Training ambassador and said the program had helped Australian shearers and wool handlers understand the NZ system.

“I reckon it’s one of the greatest initiatives out there really.”

The next round of trans-Tasman tests will be at the Australian 2025 championships in Jamestown, South Australia, in October.

Overall Golden Shears results

RESULTS from the 23rd Golden Shears International Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at the Masterton War Memorial Stadium on Thursday-Saturday February 27-March 1, 2025:

International:

Trans-Tasman Shearing test (12 sheep – 6 Merino, 3 long wool, 3 second-shear): Australia (Daniel McIntyre 16m 36.191s, 67.98pts; Jamie Boothman 16m 57.688s, 70.464pts; Nathan Meaney 15m 55.936s, 72.547pts) 210.991pts beat New Zealand (Leon Samuels 15m 29.921s, 70.246pts; Jack Fagan 16m 57.368s, 79.668pts; Chris Vickers 19m 0.76s, 83.288pts) 233.402pts.

Trans-Tasman Wool handling Test (8 fleeces – 4 long wool, 4 Merino): New Zealand (Pagain Rimene/Ngaio Hanson) 348.24pts beat Australia (Tiffany Collins/Alexander Schoff) 352.72pts.

Shearing:

PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit final (15 sheep – 3 merino, 3 long strong wool, 3 Corriedale, 3 lambs, 3 second-shear): Paerata Abraham (Masterton) 17m 7.809s, 64.46pts, 1; Angus Moore (Ward) 17m 51.273s, 67 764pts, 2; Gavin Mutch (Scotland/Dannevirke) 17m 36.893s, 70.645pts, 3; Justin Meikle (Oamaru) 18m 18.946s, 70.677pts, 4; Axle Reid (Taihape/Waipawa) 18m 21.249s, 70.722pts, 5; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 19m 45.122s,72.186pts, 6.

Golden Shears Open final (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 16m 15.779s, 55.389pts, 1; David Buick (Pongaroa) 16m 23.437s, 57.522pts, 2; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 17m 55.916s, 58.896pts, 3; Angus Moore (Ward) 16m 55.644s, 58.982pts, 4; Nathan Stratford (Invercargill) 17m 56.574s, 60.929pts, 5; Brett Roberts (Mataura) 17m 49.587s, 61.529pts, 6.

Golden Shears Senior final (12 sheep): Bruce Grace (Wairoa/Napier) 12m 36.551pts, 45.078pts, 1; John Cherrington (Oamaru) 12m 48.356s,  49.168pts, 3; Tommy Stevenson (Ruawai) 13m 6.949s, 49.677pts, 3; Laura Bradley (Papatawa) 14m 1.22s, 50.891pts, 4; Aiden Tarrant (Mapiu) 13m 10.968s, 52.718pts, 5; Cody Waihape (Gore) 14m 49.638s, 56.732pts, 6.

Golden Shears Intermediate final (8 sheep): Ryka Swan (Wairoa) 9m 58.67s, 38.428pts, 1; Kaivah Cooper ( Napier) 10m 42.722s, 38.886pts, 2; Lachie Cameron (Pohangina) 11m 40.881s, 41.914pts, 3; Sarah Bryant (Arohena) 12m 10.051s, 44.253pts, 4; Hamuera Henderson (Kaiwaka) 10m 19.061s, 50.333pts, 5; Tomos Jones (Dolwyddelan, Wales) 13m 10.461pts, 51.903pts, 6.

Golden Shears Junior final (5 sheep): Paddy Hudson (Hokonui) 7m 20.526s, 28.426pts, 1; Tye Meikle (Oamaru) 7m 29.213s, 28.861pts, 2; Joseph Scahill (Mayo, Ireland) 7m 4.961s, 37.048pts, 3; Tamati Dennison (Kurow) 8m 55.466s, 37.173pts, 4; Tom Clarkson (Martinborough) 8m 3.643s, 37.782pts, 5; Trent Alabaster (Taihape) 8m 22.34s, 38.517pts, 6.

Golden Shears Novice final (2 sheep): Hunter Wigglesworth (Marton) 5m 28.593s, 23.43pts, 1; Ben Solomann (Taupo) 6m 8.43s, 25.422pts, 2; Angus Monk (Masterton) 4m 48.388s, 26.419pts, 3; Jess Gooding (Featherston)  7m 25.279s, 27.264pts, 5; Charlie Kjestrup (Weber) 5m 54.984s, 27.749pts, 5; Cody Hall (Hawera) 6m 59.451s, 30.473pts, 6.

Women’s Invitation (6 sheep): Laura Bradley (Paparawa) 8m 8.402s, 31.92pts, 1; Lydia Thomson (Rangiora) 10m 10.193s, 37.01pts, 2; Kate Donald (Scotland) 8m 48.319s, 38.416pts, 3; Pagan Rimene (Alexandra) 8m 57.365s, 40.868pts, 4.; Emma Kendrick (Feilding) 10m 50.298s, 48.685pts, 5; Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 10m 52.844s, 57.982pts, 6.

Regional Challenge (7 sheep – 3 long wool, 4 second-shear):  North Island West (Jack Fagan/Taelor Tarrant) 8m 3.11s, 30.726pts, 1; South Island Region 3 (Justin Meikle/John Cherrington) 8m 28.577s, 33.149pts, 2; Central Region 1 (Angus Moore/Timo Hicks) 8m 14.118s, 33.276pts, 3; North Island East (Bruce Grace/Josef Winders) 8m 31.641s, 34.302pts, 4; North Island North (Toa Henderson/Tommy Stevenson) 8m 4.823s, 35.241pts, 5; South Island Region 4 (Brett Roberts/Dre Roberts) 8m 18.193s, 35.765pts, 6.

Maori Pakeha Teams Event (12 sheep): Hemi Braddick/Justin Meikle 10m 43.005s, 42.99pts, 1; Chris Dickson/Digger Balme 11m 11.139s, 43.477pts, 2; David Gordon/Ant Frew 12m 14.221s, 44.461pts, 3; Simon Goss/Clay Harris 11m 11.481s, 44.654pts, 4; Lionel Taumata/Aaron Haynes 11m 59.881s, 45.324pts, 5; Shane Ratima/Peter Clendon 14m 5.866s, 54.293pts, 6.

Student Shearing Challenge (2 sheep relay): Smedley Station (Bradley Anderson/Jordan Miles) 5m 14.011s, 22.201pts, 1; FAHS Feilding High School (Hunter Wigglesworth/Cody Hall) 6m 2.299s, 25.115pts, 2; Pukemiro Station (Holly Bird/Ben Solomann) 7m 59.632s, 31.468pts, 3; Pukemiro Station (Oliver Selby/Sam Short) 8m 21.152s, 31.558pts, 4; Elite Wool Industry Training (Charlie Bennett/Charlie Kjestrup) 7m 50.009s, 34.5pts, 5; Otiwhiti farming school (Ngahuia Salmond/Jared Topless) 6m 42.962s, 36.648pts, 6.

Speed shears:

Open final: Chris Dickson (Masterton) 14.726s, 1; Llyr Jones (Wales) 14.91s, 2; Brett Roberts (Mataura) 16.804s, 3.

Senior final: Brodie Horrell (Gore) 20.079s, 1; Jack Hutchinson (England) 20.611s, 2; Callum Bosley (England) 20.635s, 3.

Wool handling:

Golden Shears Open final (10 fleeces – 6 longwool, 4 second-shear): Joel Henare (Gisborne/Motueka) 187.514pts, 1; Tia Potae (Harataunga) 198.89pts, 2; Pagan Rimene (Alexandra) 200.372pts, 3; Vinniye Phillips (Taumarunui) 294.35pts, 4.

North Island Woolhandling Circuit final (6 fleeces -3 long wool, 3 second-shear): Keryn Herbert (Te Kuiti) 87.286pts, 1; Ngaio Hanson (Eketahuna) 126.678pts, 2; Marika Braddick (Eketahuna) 138.34pts, 3; Jasmin Tipoke (Martinborough/Napier) 146.792pts, 4.

Golden Shears Senior final (5 longwool fleeces): Lucy Elers (Mataura) 145.41pts, 1; Tatijana Keefe (Raupunga) 147.294pts, 2; Chloe Henderson (Hunterville) 172.41pts, 3; Tre Ratana Sciascia (Taihape) 180.88pts, 4.

Golden Shears Junior final (4 long wool fleeces): Jasmine Emery (Oamaru) 133.016pts, 1; Grace Croasdale (Eketahuna) 148.634pts, 2; Capree Wallace (Taihape) 168.314pts, 3; Marilyn Harris (Ohai) 151.948pts, 4.

Golden Shears Novice final (2 fleeces): Char Taylor (Masterton/Cheviot) 101.858pts, 1; Riria Moanaroa (Eketahuna) 114.362pts, 2; Autumn Amoroa (Whakatane) 131.258pts, 3; Piata Eruera (Eketahuna) 148.67pts, 4.

Wool pressing:

Men’s final: Ricci Stevens (Napier) 67.6pts 1; Jeremy Goodger (Masterton) 129.35pts, 2.

Women’s final: Savannah King (Masterton) 108.8pts, 1; Mollie Moffett (Hastings) 108.85pts, 2

Pairs final: Jeremy Goodger/James Goodger (Masterton) 32.45pts, 1; Shyla Gordon/Joseph Gordon (Masterton) 40.85pts, 2.

Triathlon (shearing, woolhandling, woolpressing): Jeremy Goodger (Masterton) 160.556pts, 1; Ricci Stevens (Napier) 162.868pts, 2; Joseph Gordon (Masterton) 199.224pts, 3; Cushla Graham (Masterton) 207.802pts, 4.

Quality awards:

FMG Best Quality in hearing heats: Junior – Tom Clarkson (Martinborough) 3pts; Intermediate – Owen Martin Jones (Llangollen, Wales) 3.34pts; Senior – John Cherrington (Oamaru) 3.5pts; Open –Nathan Stratford (Invercargill) 2.8pts. Local: Junior Tom Clarkson (Martinborough) 3pts; Intermediate – Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 7.66pts; Senior – Daniel Seed (Pahiatua) 5.25pts; Open – Hemi Braddick (Eketahuna) 4.2pts.

Best quality points in shearing finals: Junior – Paddy Hudson (Hokonui) 6.4pts; Intermediate – Kaivah Cooper (Napier) 6.75pts; Senior – Bruce Grace (Wairoa/Napier) 7.24pts; Open – Casey Bailey (Rivertonn) 5.1pts.

R.E.O’Hara Memorial Trophy (best quality points all shearing finals): Casey Bailey.

Les Field Memorial Trophy Best Quality points in woolhandling heats: Junior – Ashley McConnon (Tasmania) 39pts, 1; Senior – Kelly Barrett (Kawhia) 72pts; Open – Monica Potae (Kennedy Bay) 52pts, 3.