In a stunning upset, Dipton shearer Corey Palmer clinched the South Island Shearer of the Year title on the second day of the Southern Shears in Gore.

This victory marks one of the most significant achievements in recent Open-class shearing in New Zealand.

Palmer, who had not won a final since his impressive run in the 2012-2013 season, including the 2013 Golden Shears Senior title, has been steadily improving.

Just a week prior, he secured third place in the Otago Shears Open final.

On Saturday, Palmer outperformed his competitors in one of two 20-sheep Open finals, winning by 1.167 points over runner-up Jack Fagan from Te Kuiti. Despite Fagan finishing first in 17 minutes and 19.34 seconds, Palmer's superior quality points secured his victory.

Casey Bailey from Riverton took third place, followed by Marlborough's Angus Moore in fourth, Oamaru's Justin Meikle in fifth, and Wairarapa's David Buick in sixth.

Palmer's win was the highlight of a busy day that included two preliminary rounds and the Southern Shears Open championship, where he placed sixth. Notably, Northland shearer Toa Henderson, who did not defend his title, focused on the Open final and emerged victorious, beating Bailey by just under half a point.

Henderson's performance, including a win in the Otago Shears Open title the previous week, positions him as a strong contender for the upcoming Golden Shears Open title.

The Southern Shears also featured impressive performances in other categories.

Bruce Grace from Wairoa won the Senior final, South Australian Daniel Michelmore took the Intermediate title, and Oamaru teenager Tye Meikle continued his winning streak in the Junior final.

Masterton's Aimee Atkin won the Novice event, and local shearer Emma Martin from Wyndham triumphed in the women's event, adding to her Senior woolhandling victory on Friday.

RESULTS of the from the Southern Shears Shearing championships at Gore on Saturday, February 15, 2025:

• Inter-Island (10 sheep): North Island (Toa Henderson 8m 12.97s, 30.7485pts; David Buick 9m 13.78s, 31.489pts; David Gordon 9m 9s, 32.55pts) 94.7875pts, beat South Island (Leon Samuels 9m 0.03s, 30.8015pts; Brett Roberts 8m 55.93s, 32.0965pts; Nathan Stratford 9m 52.38s, 33.819pts) 96.717pts.
• South Island Shearer of the Year final (20 sheep): Corey Palmer (Dipton) 18m 12s, 59.5pts, 1; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti) 17m 19.34s, 60.667pts, 2; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 18m 33.84s, 61.092pts, 3; Angus Moore (Ward) 17m 20.72s, 61.986pts, 4; Justin Meikle (Oamaru) 18m 6.72s, 62.036pts, 5; David Buick (Pongaroa) 18m 21.5s, 62.425pts, 6.

Southern Shears:

• Open final (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 16m 22.96s, 53.998pts, 1; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 16m 47.75s, 54.4875pts, 2; David Buick (Pongaroa) 16m 52.97s, 55.5485pts, 3; Rowland Smith (Maraekakaho) 17m 16.03s, 55.9015pts, 4; John Kirkpatrick (Pakipaki) 17m 15.4s, 56.52pts, 5; Corey Palmer (Dipton) 17m 33.7s, 56.635pts, 6.
• Senior final (10 sheep): Bruce Grace (Wairoa) 10m 14.28s, 37.914pts, 1; Brodie Horrell (Gore) 11m 13.97s, 38.2985pts, 2; John Cherrington (Oamaru) 11m 12.09s, 39.9045pts, 3; Blake McKenzie (Riverton) 11m 15.13s, 41.0565pts, 4; Dre Roberts (Mataura) 11m 18.84s, 41.342pts, 5; Richard Lancaster (Clitheroe, England) 11m 2.03s, 42.6015pts, 6.
• Intermediate final (5 sheep): Daniel Michelmore (Yorketown, South Australia) 7m 16.06s, 29.803pts, 1; Evan Rowbotham (Pontrhydfendigaid, Wales) 7m 13.44s, 30.472pts, 2; Connor Wilkinson (Wyndham) 8m 6.53s, 31.5265pts, 3; Paddy Dunne (Wicklow, Ireland) 7m 40.4s, 32.22pts, 4; Jet Schimanski (Gore) 8m 16.2s, 33.031pts, 5; Caleb Brooking (Mataura) 7m 57.19s, 33.8595pts, 6.
• Junior final (3 sheep): Tye Meikle (Oamaru) 4m 6.31s, 19.6488pts, 1; Joseph Scahill (Mayo, Ireland) 4m 9.68s, 20.8173pts, 2; Paddy Hudson (Hokonui) 4m 52.62s, 20.9643pts, 3; Reuben Wilkinson (Wyndham) 4m 28.22s, 23.7443pts, 4; Galaxy Waihape (Mataura) 6m 36.69s, 30.5012pts, 5; Ryan O’Neill (Alexandra) 6m 28.93s, 33.1132pts, 6.
• Novice (1 sheep): Aimee Atkin (Masterton) 4m 27s, 16.35pts, 1; Bridee Wilkinson (Wyndham) 5m 37.84s, 19.89pts, 2; Jake Watt (Owaka) 4m 3.91s, 23.2pts, 3; Abbey Mallise (Barraba, New South Wales) 4m 54s, 24.7pts, 4; Ffion Jones (Wales) 6m 16.66s, 26.83pts, 5; Kayden Gaffery (Owaka) 4m 30s, 31.5pts, 6.
• Women (3 sheep): Emma Martin (Wyndham) 5m 22.6s, 20.8012pts, 1; Emilia Melinng (Norway) 6m 2.78s, 24.139pts, 2; Ally Johnson (Barraba, New South Wales) 6m 43.59s, 25.8462pts, 3; Jana Sinova (Czech Republic) 6m 5.31s, 26.5988pts, 4; Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 7m 35.31s, 29.0988pts, 5; Tarryn Perriam (Gore) 8m 35.06s, 31.753pts, 6.