It was a repeat of last year in the top Golden Shears Events, the open shearing and wool handling finals in Masterton at the weekend.
Joel Henare won the wool-handling event. Photo: PETE NIKOLAISON
Hawke's Bay shearer Rowland Smith successfully defended the title he won last year, and Joel Henare, of Gisborne did the same in the big wool-handling event.
Both have won places in the New Zealand team to go to the world championships in Ireland in May.
Also a repeat of last year was Hawke's Bay shearers taking the top three places in the open shearing final.
John Kirkpatrick of Napier, a four times winner, was runner up and the 2010 champion, Cam Ferguson of Waipawa, was third.
Shearing Sports New Zealand media officer Doug Laing says in fact Hawke's Bay has dominated the event for years.
But Rowland Smith, and John Kirkpatrick with Dion Morrell couldn't repeat their success in the trans-Tasman test, and were resoundingly beaten by the Australian team led by the veteran, Shannon Warnest.
Wales also recorded its first success at the Golden Shears with Hefin Rowlands and Alyn Lloyd Jones, winning the junior and intermediate finals.
