Hawke's Bay shearer Rowland Smith is the favourite to win the open final of the 53rd Golden Shears shearing and woolhandling championships which start in Masterton on Thursday.
He has been the most successful open-class shearer on the current shearing sports calendar, winning eight finals in five weeks.
Defending Golden Shears and national champion John Kirkpatrick is also in the running for his fifth Golden Shears open title this week.
David Fagan, 51, who's competing again this year, remains the all time champion with 16 open wins.
Competition will also be tough in the wool handling, with three world champions Joel Henare, Keryn Herbert and Sheree Alabaster, seeking to take the open title from six-times winner and defending champion, Joanne Kumeroa.
Entries are down this year. While there are strong entries in the junior and novice events, the open shearing class has attrached only 60, compared wirh more than 80 in recent years.
