An Australian shearer has taken the honours at the first event of the New Zealand shearing season.
Damien Boyle, from Broomehill in Western Australia, won the Merino Open Championship in Alexandra at the weekend.
Persistence has paid off for him. He has been competing for New Zealand's top fine-wool shearing prize for years and has been runner-up at least twice, including last year.
Second place this year went to veteran New Zealand fine-wool shearing exponent Grant Smith of Rakaia.
The open wool-handling title went to Tawhai Nelson of Alexandra.
