Golden Shears

03/10/2026

PGG Wrightson Wool / VETMED
NZ Open Shearing Multi-breed Circuit Final, March 2027.

● How the Circuit Works
National points series across five major shows.
Tests five different sheep breeds — the ultimate versatility challenge.

🐑 The Five Competitions & Sheep Breeds included in the circuit will take place at:

1️⃣ NZ Alexandra Merino Shears
Breed: Merino — fine wool
2️⃣ Waimate Shears NZ Spring Shearing Competition
Breed: Romney — full wool
3️⃣ Canterbury A&P Show – Christchurch
Breed: Corriedale — mid‑micron
4️⃣ Rangitīkei Shears – Marton
Breed: Romney lambs
5️⃣ Pahiatua Shears
Breed: Romney — second shear

● Competitors earn points at each event.

● Top 12 qualify for the Golden Shears Semi-final.

●Finalists shear five breeds in one showdown at Golden Shears. They must shear five sheep of five breeds in one event:
Merino, Corriedale, Full wool crossbred, Second shear crossbred, Crossbred Lamb.

● Champion crowned National Circuit Winner 2027

A new season of the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit gets underway in October, setting some of New Zealand’s best shearers on a five-round journey that will test their skill across the country and across five different wool types.

17/05/2026

19/03/2026

Congratulations to our Class (A) WORLD MACHINE SHEARING TEAMS CHAMPIONS 2026! Sixteen sheep shorn: Eight crossbred long wool, eight second‑shear.
1st – NEW ZEALAND: Shearing Sports New Zealand
Rowland Smith & Toa Henderson — 16m 12.451s, 57.74 pts
(Pictured with NZ team manager Bart Hadfield)

2nd – ENGLAND: England Shearing
Matt Smith & Nicholas Greaves — 15m 28.93s, 58.017 pts

3rd – SCOTLAND: Scottish Shearing
Hamish Mitchell & Gavin Mutch — 15m 59.36s, 58.538 pts

4th – WALES: Shearing Sports Wales
Gwion Evans & Llyr Jones — 16m 17.414s, 59.121 pts

5th – AUSTRALIA: Sports Shear Australia Association
Daniel McIntyre & Sam Bacon — 17m 51.644s, 63.582 pts

6th – FALKLAND ISLANDS Falkland Shears
Adam Dickson & Evan Jones — 18m 23.192s, 66.28 pts

19/03/2026

Congratulations to our WORLD BLADE SHEARING TEAMS CHAMPIONS 2026 - Six sheep: Three Perendale ewes, Three crossbred long wool.
1st – NEW ZEALAND Shearing Sports New Zealand
Allan Oldfield & Tony Dobbs — 16m 46.515s, 63.496 pts

2nd – SOUTH AFRICA
Bonile Rabela & Teboho Nyatsa — 16m 51.275s, 64.724 pts

3rd – AUSTRALIA Sports Shear Australia Association
Johnathon Dalla & Daniel Rogers — 19m 40.136s, 76.177 pts

4th – ENGLAND England Shearing
Andrew Mudge & George Mudge — 22m 15.006s, 83.75 pts

5th – WALES Shearing Sports Wales
Elfed Jackson & Rhydian Evans — 20m 20.777s, 84.039 pts

6th – Republic of Ireland Irish Sheep shearers Association
James Hopkins & Martin Hopkins — 24m 2.857s, 89.973 pts

19/03/2026

Congratulations to our Class (B) World Machine Shearing Team Finalists 2026. Ten sheep: Five crossbred long wool, five second‑shear
1st – COOK ISLANDS Cook Islands Shearing & Woolhandling Team
Noel Gardiner & Max Winders — 12m 24.859s, 48.743 pts

2nd – FRANCE Association des Tondeurs de Moutons
Jérémy Leygonie & Félix Cesbron — 13m 29.991s, 49.6 pts

3rd – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Irish Sheep shearers Association
Denis O’Sullivan & Patrick Corrigan — 13m 33.006s, 52.45 pts

4th – USA American Sheep Shearers Council - American Sheep Industry
Paul Astin & Alex Moser — 12m 26.845s, 53.242 pts

5th – MONGOLIA Share Mongolia
Bassandorj Erdenetogt & Serbudee Lkhgvasturen — 14m 45.352s, 54.268 pts

6th – NORTHERN IRELAND NISSA
Graeme Davidson & Alex Butler — 13m 48.271s, 54.714 pts

18/03/2026

🏆Congratulations to our World Champions WOOLHANDLING TEAMS 2026🏆Ten sheep fleeces: six crossbred long wool, four second‑shear.
1st – NEW ZEALAND: Shearing Sports New Zealand
Joel Henare & Marika Braddick — 110.965 pts

2nd – COOK ISLANDS: Cook Islands Shearing & Woolhandling Team
Keryn Herbert & Tina Elers — 163.022 pts

3rd – AUSTRALIA: Sports Shear Australia Association
Racheal Hutchinson & Alexander Schoff — 171.858 pts

4th – SWITZERLAND
Gabriela Schmidt‑Morrell & Charis Morrell — 173.664 pts

5th – FALKLAND ISLANDS Falkland Shears
Talia Jones & Pilar Castro — 175.1 pts

6th – ENGLAND England Shearing
Hilary Bond‑Harding & Jess Parkhouse — 223.723 pts

12/03/2026

And here's the dream team of commentators from the 2026 Golden Shears and Worlds Championships.

Engaging, entertaining, and knowledgeable - even the most clueless Golden Shears and Worlds newbie couldn't help but get excited. Without them we'd have been a little bit lost and confused, and with them we have a new appreciation for the event and the industry!

From back left - Tuma Mullins, Rowena Duncum, Shane Ratima, Mavis Mullins, John McBride, Tristan Mackay, Digger Balme and Gerald Spain. (Unfortunately, Norm Harraway and Nuki Gordon were missing in action for the photo).

On behalf of the Golden Shears Committee; the spectators; all the people watching the streaming; the competitors and everyone who was in the Fan Zone. Thank you!!

10/03/2026

A big congratulations to Duncan's Pharmacy in Kuripuni, for their win in the shop window competition.

Duncan's staff have been supporting local events with these great window displays for years.

Thanks to all the shop owners who got involved.

Golden Shears

09/03/2026

A vibrant flock of sheep at the north entrance to Masterton was unveiled on the eve of the 2026 Golden Shears competitions. ‘Flock of Champions’ celebrates the international shearing community – reflecting the town’s proud rural heritage and home of the Golden Shears.

Featuring a flock of brightly painted life-sized sheep sculptures, the artwork was commissioned by Masterton Trust Lands Trust with support from Masterton District Council , Trust House and Resene.

The new artwork was a year in the making – created especially to welcome the international shearing community for this week’s Golden Shears World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.

A vibrant flock of sheep at the north entrance to Masterton was unveiled last night, on the eve of the 2026 Golden Shears competitions. ‘Flock of Champions’ ...