10 Jan 2010

Avery retains shearing title

7:01 am on 10 January 2010

World shearing champion Paul Avery has retained his national lambshearing title in Raglan, despite competing with six stitches in a cut arm.

Shearing Sports New Zealand says the two-time Golden Shears winner was slightly behind the pace set by Digger Balme of Te Kuiti, who completed 20 lambs in 15 minutes and 32 seconds on Saturday.

But the judges deemed the quality of Avery's work better and he was named winner of the Western Shears contest.