THE top shearers from across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa raced against the clock for national and international shearing competitions near Carcoar on the weekend.
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About 1000 visitors attended the three-day open day at the Old Errowanbang Woolshed to watch shearers and woolhandlers compete in the Trans Tasman Cup, Sports Shear Australian National Shearing and Woolhandling Competition and a tri-nations competition.
Property owner Jann Harries said the heat might have deterred more people from attending the event, but tours of the four-level, 128-year-old shearing shed were still popular.
New Zealand showed prowess against second-placed Australia and third-placed South Africa in the tri-nations, winning 154 points to Australia’s 166 points.
In the national event, South Australians John Dalla and Ken French were first and second in the blade shearing ahead of Shaun Wilson of NSW.
The South Australian team won the national teams final with 113.85 points ahead of NSW on 120.44 and Western Australia on 131.34.
Daniel McIntyre nudged out Shannon Warnest by less than a point to win the national shearing competition with 98.91 to Warnest’s 99, followed by 104.19 by Damien Boyle of Western Australia.
The national woolhandling final was won by Sara Moran of Victoria with 16.22 ahead of South Australians Tara Smith and Lisa Nosworthy on 17.73 and 19.05.
In the Australian Junior titles, Clare Price of Victoria won the novice woolhandling, Tom Brewer won the novice shearing, Lee Harris won the intermediate shearing, Jamie Boothman won the senior shearing.
In the Australian Wool Innovation competition Sam Byers won the novice shearing, Dolly Wallace won the novice woolhandling, George Higgins won the intermediate and Nathan Haynes won the senior shearing championships.
tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au