The story of Wairarapa shearer David Buick’s bounce back from near-crippling injuries in a farm accident over three years agohas produced another remarkable chapter with three open final wins in three days.

The 2024 New Zealand Shears Open Champion’s treble comprised his second national full wool ewes title at the Northern Southland Community Shears near Lumsden on Friday, a fourth Southland Shears New Zealand crossbred lamb shearing championship at the Winton A and P Show on Saturday, and a return to the North Island to win the Horowhenua Open Championship in Levin on Sunday.

The last time the treble was achieved was in 2016 by 2014 World Champion Rowland Smith, who on Saturday won the Wairoa Shears open final at Kauhouroa Station, north of Frasertown, by just 0.15 points from 2012 World Champion and Hawke’s Bay-based Scotsman Gavin Mutch.

It was Smith’s first start since a hip operation, following an injury that forced his late withdrawal from the Golden Shears in Masterton.

All were 20-sheep finals, the winners preparing for a 2026 World Championships New Zealand selection series, that spans eight competitions from the Southern Shears in Gore next month to the Rangitīkei Shearing Sports in February 2026.

Third leading contender and 2023-2024 season national No. 1-ranked open shearer Toa Henderson stayed in the north to win Saturday’s Kaikohe Show open final. In the sixth competition of the busiest weekend on the Shearing Sports New Zealand calendar, Tasman-based former Southland shearer Floyd Haare won the Golden Bay A and P Show’s open final in Takaka.

Read more shearing and woolhandling news here.

Two-time World Champion Joel Henare and Foonie Waihape, both originally from Gisborne but based in the South Island, won the two national open woolhandling titles, at Lumsden and Winton respectively.

Southern Hawke’s Bay shearer Laura Bradley added to the success of the invasion from the north by winning the Lumsden senior shearing final.

Bradley is thought to be the first woman to win the title in its 43 years and extends a record which will next season see the young mother and farmer become the first woman promoted to open class based on competition results.

On the lambs the next day she was third, beaten by Waikato shearer John Cherrington and Southlander Chris Malcolm.

The pride of the South in its own competitions thus rested largely on an 18-year-old who had never been in a shearing competition before but came out of the weekend with two national junior shearing titles.

Paddy Hudson, who grew up on a Hokonui sheep farm, started shearing about a year ago and succumbed to coercion from mates who told him competing would make him a better shearer.

He then won the Lumsden and Winton junior shearing finals, in both events relegating to second place 16-year-old Ōamaru shearer Tye Meikle, currently the No. 1-ranked junior this season with wins as far afield as Canterbury and Northland.

Record breakers and World Championships representatives Stu Connor (left) and Rowland Smith share gear tips during the Wairoa Shears. Photo / Shearing Sports New Zealand

A feature of the weekend was the emergence of shearers from abroad in New Zealand for the main shear, including German shearer Julian Karl, who won the intermediate shearing final at Winton, after finishing second to Gore shearer Jet Schimanski at Lumsden 24 hours earlier.

At the Wairoa event, the first three in the novice event were from the United Kingdom, with a win to Mary Lucas Ridge, from Somerset, England, while local Cody Mackinder successfully repelled the challenge from the three UK shearers on the other stands in his senior final.

In Levin, Irish shearers Paddy Dunne and Adam Killeen won the intermediate and junior shearing finals respectively, while, as well as Ireland and Germany, Wales, England, Scotland, France, Czech Republic, Norway, the United States, and Australia had competitors in finals during the weekend.

Southland teenager Paddy Hudson, who had never shorn in competition until Friday, under the watch of judge and shearing legend Sir David Fagan at the National Crossbred Championships at Winton on Saturday, scoring a second win in two days.

In the other national title events in Southland, Marilyn Harrison, from Balclutha, won both junior woolhandling finals, and the senior titles were shared, with Lucy Elers, of Mataura, winning at Lumsden, and runner-up Tre Ratana Sciascia, from Taihape, claiming the honours at Winton.

There were several speed shears during the weekend, with Mutch winning at the Wairoa Shears on Friday night and the next night at the new YMP Sports Speed Shear at Paroa Station, near Raupunga, before heading home to help at Rotorua shearer Jamie Skiffington’s world record attempt near Dannevirke.

In Southland, Paerata Abraham, of Masterton, won the open speed shear at Winton’s Middle Pub, and the Otautau Taven speedshear on Saturday was won by Jack Fagan, of Te Kuiti.

The only competitions next weekend are the A-grade Taihape Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in the North Island and the shearing-only Tapawera Shears south of Nelson in the South Island, both on Saturday.

Weekend shearing and woolhandling results

Lumsden

Results from the Northern Southland Community Shears New Zealand Full Wool Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at Selbies’ Woolshed, Lumsden, on Friday, January 17, 2025:

Shearing:

Open final (20 sheep):David Buick (Pongaroa) 19m 9.28s, 61.364pts, 1; Brett Roberts (Mataura) 19m 10.84s, 62.092pts, 2; Leon Samuels (Roxburgh) 19m 2.94s, 62.397pts, 3; Corey Palmer (Dipton) 19m 24.23s, 62.4615pts, 4; Justin Meikle (Ōamaru) 19m 17.53s, 63.3765pts, 5.

Senior final (10 sheep): Laura Bradley (Papatawa) 11m 30.22s, 39.511pts, 1; John Cherrington (Ngāruawāhia) 12m 11.59s, 43.2795pts, 2; Dre Roberts (Mataura) 12m 43.72s, 45.186pts, 3; Richard Lancaster (England) 12m 31.63s, 46.4815pts, 4; Jimmy Napier (Gore) 13m 49.5s, 48.175pts, 5.

Intermediate final (6 sheep):Jet Schimanski (Gore) 8m 48.567s, 34.2618pts, 1; Julian Karl (Traunstein, Germany) 9m 44s, 34.7pts, 2; Evan Rowbotham (Pontrhydfendigaid, Wales) 9m 1.31s, 35.5655pts, 3; Isaak Cleland (Ōamaru) 8m 58.4s, 36.92pts, 4; Callum Simpson (Scotland) 10m 1.78s, 44.7557pts, 5.

Junior final (3 sheep):Paddy Hudson (Hokonui) 5m 55.75s, 21.7875pts, 1; Tye Meikle (Ōamaru) 6m 2.84s, 23.8087pts, 2; Taryn Perriam (Invercargill) 7m 26.06s, 32.9697pts, 3; Reuben Wilkinson (Winton) 8m 2s, 34.7667pts, 4; Johnny Crichton (England) 7m 9.59s, 34.8128pts, 5.

Woolhandling:

Open final: Joel Henare (Gisborne) 109.044pts, 1; Nova Kumeroa (Mataura) 121.288pts, 2; Heaven Little (Balclutha) 184.182pts, 3; Tina Elers (Mataura) 4; Taiwha Nelson (Alexandra) 5.

Senior woolhandling: Lucy Elers (Mataura) 109.062pts, 1; Tre Ratana Sciascia (Taihape) 113.32prs, 2; Ashley Clarke (Gore) 120.79pts, 3; Nicole Petuha (Clyde) 4; Emma Martin (Wyndham) 5.

Junior final: Marilyn Harrison (Balclutha) 111.342pts, 1; Ella Harvey (Australia) 111.568pts, 2; Te Aroha Little (Balclutha) 114.73pts, 3; Pania Clarke (Gore) 4; Jasmine Emery (Ōamaru) 5.

Kaikohe

Results from the Kaikohe A, P and H. Show Shears on Saturday, January 18, 2025:

Open final (18 sheep):Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 16m 36s, 61.9pts, 1; Dane Phillips (Kaiwaka) 17m 41s, 68.66pts, 2; Neville Osborne (Dargaville) 16m 57s, 72.45pts, 3; Phi Wedd (Silverdale) 18m 56s, 73.9pts, 4.

Senior final: Michael Boyd (Kaikohe) 12m 21s, 48.3pts, 1; Alan Boler (Wellsford) 13m 42a, 51.35pt, 2; Steve Coop (Wellsford) 12m 57sm, 65.47pts, 3; Josh Quinn (Seddon) 13m 2s, 56.6pts, 4.

Combined: Bubbles Rogers (-) 7m 33s, 50.65pts, 1; Te Arana (-) 7m 34s, 60.7pts, 2.

Veterans: Allan Bramley (Kaeo) 2m 53s, 19.75pts, 1; Steve Coop (Wellsford) 3m 46s, 23.8pts, 2; Neville Osborne (Dargaville) 3m 2s, 25.6pts, 3; Ralph Smith (Dargaville) 3m 55s, 34.25pts, 4.

Wairoa

Results of the Wairoa A and P Show Shears at Kauhouroa Station, Frasertown, on Saturday, January 18, 2025:

Open final (20 Sheep):Rowland Smith (Maraekakaho) 16m 35s, 53.35pts, 1; Gavin Mutch (Scotland/Dannevirke) 15m 58s, 53.5pts, 2; Hemi Braddick (Eketahuna) 16m 33s, 53.9pts, 3; Digger Balme (Otorohanga) 16m 40s, 59.5pts, 4.

Senior final (12 sheep): Cody Mackinder (Wairoa) 14m 29s, 50.28pts, 1; Luke Parkhouse (Devon, England) 14m 59s, 52.37pts, 2; Callum Bosley (Camelford, Cornwall, England) 14m 54s, 54.03pts, 3; Daffyd Roberts (Dolgellau, Wales) 15m 40s, 56pts, 4.

Intermediate final (6 sheep):Ryka Swann (Wairoa) 7m 50s, 33.67pts, 1; Lydia Thomson (Rangiora) 9m 31s, 35.22pts, 2; Atawhai Hadfield (Wairoa) 8m 46s, 35.8pts, 3; Paddy Dunne (Wicklow, Ireland) 8m 38s, 36.4pts, 4.

Junior final (3 sheep):Jodiesha Kirkpatrick (Gisborne) 6m 38s, 23.9pts, 1; Rhys Davis (Wales) 6m 54s, 26.03pts, 2; Waiari Puna (Napier) 6m 46s, 26.63pts, 3; Kevin Noone (Donegal, Ireland) 6m 25s, 27.58pts, 4.

Novice final (1 sheep):Mary Lucas Ridge (Chumleigh, Somerset, England) 2m 46s, 20.3pts, 1; Amy McNeil (Inverness, Scotland) 3m 18s, 21.9pts, 2; Maddison Rafferty (Ireland) 4m 5s, 26.25pts, 3; Fynn Broad (Wairoa) 4m 4s, 27.2pts, 4.

Women:Lydia Thomson (Rangiora) 5m 9s, 20.12pts, 1; Ashlin Swann (Wairoa) 4m 11s, 20.55pts, 2; Jodiesha Kirkpatrick (Gisborne) 4m 40s, 22.5pts, 3; Mary Lucas Ridge (Chumleigh, Somerset, England) 3m 2s, 3.1pts, 4.

Golden Bay

Results from the Golden Bay A and P Show Shears at Takaka on Saturday, January 18, 2025:

Open final (20 sheep):Floyd Haare (Ohai) 16m 16.44s, 57.27pts, 1; Travers Baigent (Wakefield) 17m 30.85s, 61.64pts, 2; Chris Jones (Blenheim) 75.632pts, 3.

Plate final (12 sheep):Nick Nalder (Takaka) 12m 18.84s, 50.28pts, 1; Sam Win (Reefton) 16m 19.87s, 60.58pts, 2; Frank Bint (Tapawera) 16m 27.43s, 60.62pts, 3.

Senior final (10 sheep):Liam Norrie (Cheviot) 14m 9.47s, 48.47pts, 1; Hamish Barker (Tapawera) 14m 11.63s, 56.18pts, 2.

Intermediate final (6 sheep):Kimberley Whalon (Nelson) 9m 56.63s, 39.66pts, 1; Brendon Hansen ( Ohai) 9m 28.97s, 46.45pts, 2; Pax Leetch (Kaihoka) 12m 40s, 48.83pts, 3.

Junior final (3 sheep):Tom Kerley (Gisborne) 8m 38.56s, 33.93pts, 1; Sam Maclean (Motueka) 8m 15.85s, 20.667pts, 2.

Classic (10 sheep): Chris Jones (Blenheim) 12m 50.25s, 44.91pts, 1; Sam Win (Reefton) 12m 35.46s, 47.57pts, 2; Frank Bint (Tapawera) 14m 11.31s, 53.07pts, 3.

Clean Shears 2 sheep):Liam Norrie (Cheviot) 3prs, 1; Travers Baigent (Wakefield) 4pts, 2; Floyd Haare (Ohai) 4.5pts, 3.

Winton

Results from the Southland Shears New Zealand Crossbred Lambs Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at the Winton A and P Show on Saturday, January 18, 2025:

Shearing:

Open final (20 lambs):David Buick (Pongaroa) 17m 32.17s, 57.8085pts, 1; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti) 17m 34.34s, 59.567pts, 2; Leon Samuels (Roxburgh) 18m 5.59s, 60.0295pts, 3; John Kirkpatrick (Pakipaki) 18m 20.32s, 60.966pts, 4; Corey Palmer (Dipton) 18m 43.65s, 5; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 18m 25.75s, 62.9375pts, 6.

Senior final (10 sheep):John Cherrington (Ngāruawāhia) 11m 31.34s, 42.467pts, 1; Chris Malcolm (Winton) 11m 4.6s, 42.73pts, 2; Laura Bradley (Papatawa) 12m 28.66s, 43.833pts, 3; James Wilson (Winton) 13m 34.75s, 47.1375pts, 4; Richard Lancaster (England) 13m 28.91s, 47.8455pts, 5; Corentin Plancon (Grenoble, France) 12m 15.41s, 49.8705pts, 6.

Intermediate final (5 lambs):Julian Karl (Traunstein, Germany) 8m 48.31s, 31.8155pts, 1; Evan Rowbotham (Pontrhydfendigaid, Wales) 8m 37.63s, 31.8815pts, 2; Jet Schimanski (Gore) 8m 42.68s, 32.134pts, 3; Ryan Mackie Jones (Lampeter, Wales) 8m 35.78s, 35.598pts, 4; Connor Wilkinson (Winton) 8m 57.38s, 36.069pts, 5; Emilia Meling (Norway) 9m 3.31s, 39.5655pts, 6.

Junior final (3 lambs):Paddy Hudson (Hokonui) 5m 43.06s, 26.8197pts, 1; Tye Meikle (Ōamaru) 5m 57.53s, 27.2098pts, 2; Reuben Wilkinson (Winton) 6m 52.78s, 31.3057pts, 3; Marcel Perrin (Lymington, England) 6m 7.12s, 36.0227pts, 4; Taryn Perriam (Invercargill) 7m 33.47s, 37.3402pts, 5; Jana Sinova (Czech Republic) 7m 19.13s, 44.2898pts, 4.

Woolhandling:

Open:FoonieWaihape (Alexadra) 66.31pts, 1; Pagan Rimene (Alexandra) 69.88pts, 2; Joel Henare (Gisborne) 85.47pts 3; Taiwha Nelson (Alexandra) 4; Amy Ferguson (Invercargill) 5; Monica Potae (Kennedy Bay) 6.

Senior:Tre Ratana Sciascia (Taihape) 39.65pts, 1; Krystal Gulliver (Gore) 41.03pts, 2; Tia Manson (Piopio) 43.72pts, 3; Ashley Clarke (Gore) 53.31pts, 4; Lucy Elers (Mataura) 5, Nicole Petuha (Clyde) 6.

Junior:Marilyn Harrison (Balclutha) 35.13pts, 1; Meriana Thompson (Milton) 35.234pts, 2; Gracie Croasdale (Eketahuna) 54.69pts, 3; Pania Clarke (Gore) 55.944pts, 4; Alyssa Bartlett (-) 5; Ella Harvey (Australia) 6.

Horowhenua

Results of the Horowhenua Shearing Championships at the Horowhenua A and P Show in Levin, on Sunday, January 19, 2025:

Open final (20 sheep):David Buick (Pongaroa) 18m 14s, 61.75pts, 1; David Gordon (Masterton) 18m 50s, 65.45pts, 2; Clay Harris (Piopio) 16m 33s, 66.5pts, 3; Gethin Lewis (Wales) 17m 37s, 70.15pts, 4.

Senior final (10 sheep): Daniel Seed (Woodville) 12m 31s, 47.15pts, 1; Luke Parkhouse (Devon, England) 12m 4s, 47.3pts, 2; Jack Hutchinson (England) 10m 47s, 48.65pts, 3; Tawhaarangi Taylor (-) 13m 3s, 52.35pts, 4.

Intermediate final (5 sheep):Paddy Dunne (Wicklow, Ireland) 9m 11s, 39.95pts, 1; Will Blee (-) 9m 22s, 49.1pts, 2; Darren Beyant (Levin) 10m 4s, 49.2pts, 3; Phoebe Smith (Monroe, Oregon US) 12m 18s, 49.3pts, 4.

Junior final (4 sheep): Adam Killeen (Claremorris, Ireland) 5m 55s, 26pts, 1; Rhys Davies (Wales) 5m 58s, 27.9pts, 2; Sion Griffiths (Aberystwyth, Wales) 7m 16s, 28.8pts, 3; Tom Adkins (Whanganui) 7m 43s, 34.15pts, 4.

Novice final (2 sheep):Alice Wrenn (Dannevirke) 5m 30s, 24pts, 1; Mary Lucas Ridge (Chumleigh, Somerset, England) 7m 19s, 36.45pts, 2; Dominie Chetwynd (Brecon, Wales) 8m 15s, 42.75pts, 3; Maddison Rafferty (Ireland) 8m 57s, 45.85pts, 4.