Invercargill shearer Nathan Stratford didn't reckon it was one of his best shears, but it was enough to win a momentous fifth national finewool championship on Saturday.

The former world champion beat Gore shearer Ringakaha Paewa by 8.4477pts in the 60th New Zealand Merino Shears Open final in the near-empty Molyneaux Stadium in Central Otago town Alexandra.

Opening his 25th season of Open-class shearing, Stratford was the third to finish Saturday’s six-man final of 12 sheep each, in a time of 25min 56.75sec.

He was almost four-and-a-half minutes behind Cheviot-based former Southland shearer Troy Pyper, who was more than a sheep ahead of everyone else in the showdown, finishing in 21min 33.35sec.

Advertisement: Southtech

"I felt I hadn't done enough," Stratford, unaware of the penalties stacking-up against Pyper.

Two stands down the board, Pyper had been looking good till things started turning to disaster, including incurring a 'maxi' stroke against him on about the fifth sheep.

When all was said and done, Stratford's trademark quality beat speed to take him to the title, finishing with 98.2541pts, ahead of Paewa with 106.7018pts (in 24min 7.37secs), and Pyper with 111.0008pts.

Pyper reckoned he himself started getting too excited in the final, and "a bit rough", and that Stratford shore well and deserved the win.

Advertisement: Southern Automobiles Subaru

Stratford, working for O’Neill Shearing in Alexandra and otherwise based with Southland contractors Emma and Adam Rabbidge, said it was "special" to win on an anniversary such as the 60th Merino Shears.

He previously won in 2006, 2009, 2016 and 2018. His main rival, Western Australian finewool legend Damien Boyle, who's taken the title eight times, including 2013, 2014 and 2017, was unable to attend due to Covid restrictions.

The Senior final on Saturday was won by Alexandra shearer Simon Cameron, also relying on quality to beat speed.

There was no public in attendance due to level 2 restrictions.

Advertisement: Intaks

The Shears attracted more than 120 competitors, with 38 in the Open shearing, 20 in the Senior, and 70 entries across the four woolhandling grades, with 22 in the Open, 18 seniors, 23 juniors and 7 novices.

Gisborne's Joel Henare, also a former world champion, retained the Open woolhandling final, winning for the fourth time, despite having hardly worked on finewool in the last two years.

Henare had to pull out his best shot to beat defending champion and Alexandra hope and eventual runner-up Pagan Karauria. Milton's Tia Potae, now working mainly outside the industry, was third.

Gisborne woolhandler Joel Henare winning the New Zealand Merino Shears Open woolhandling title. Photo: Barbara Newton

The Senior woolhandling title was won by Jasmin Tipoki, from Wairarapa but based in Hawke’s Bay, the Junior champion was first-time winner Stoneigh Waihape, of Gore, and the Novice event was won by Anahera Cannell, from Gisborne.

The Shears championships also started the 50th season of the national All Breeds Championship. Now known as the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit, it comprises qualifying rounds on five wool types at five venues, plus finals at the Golden Shears. The next round is on the long strongwool of the New Zealand Spring Shears in Waimate next Friday and Saturday, where the national Winter Comb title, on Merinos, is also at stake.

Advertisement: ODF Transport

Te Huia, Stratford, Pyper and Masterton shearer Ethan Pankhurst got the best starts in the series with the top four points-scoring places in Saturday’s heats.

Results from the 60th New Zealand Merino Shears shearing and woolhandling championships at Alexandra on Friday-Saturday (October 1-2)

Shearing:

Open final (12 sheep): Nathan Stratford (Invercargill) 25min 56.75sec, 98.2541pts 1; Ringakaha Paewai (Gore) 24min 7.37sec, 106.7018pts, 2; Troy Pyper (Cheviot) 21min 33.35sec, 111.0008pts, 3; Jocky O’Neill (Alexandra) 27min 10.34sec, 111.6836pts, 4; Stacey Te Huia (Alexandra) 25min 47.94sec, 121.0636pts, 5; Grant Smith (Rakaia) 27min 22.88sec, 124.644pts, 6.

Senior final (4 sheep): Scott Cameron (Alexandra) 15min 25.4sec, 88.77pts, 1; Taare Edwards (Ashburton) 11min 18.91sec, 92.4455pts, 2; Emily Te Kapa (Scotland) 12min 55.84sec, 96.542pts, 3; Joshua Quinn (Dunstan) 10min 43sec, 101.9pts, 4; Hohepa Te Rata-Taituha (Ongarue) 11min 8.91sec, 124.1955pts, 5; Mitchell Menzies (Ranfurly) 6.

Woolhandling:

Open final: Joel Henare (Gisborne) 104.132pts, 1; Pagan Karauria (Alexandra) 127.362pts, 2; Tia Potae (Milton) 185.394pts, 3; Ratapu Moore (Seddon) 199.638pts, 4.

Senior final: Jasmin Tipoki (Napier) 138.286pts, 1; Holly Whakarau (-) 145.22pts, 2; Tamara Marshall (PortWaikato) 172.044pts, 3; Autumn Waihape (Gore) 179.6pts, 4.

Junior final: Stoneigh Waihape (Gore) 177.13pts, 1; Jessica Toa (Ashburton) 197.074pts, 2; Emma Martin (Gore) 228.094pts, 3; Lucy Gee-Taylor (-) 273.306pts, 4. 

Novice: Anahera Cannell (Gisborne) 87.59pts, 1; Holley Jay-Marie (Wallacetown) 104.6pts, 2; Maurea Kora (Gisborne) 124.62pts, 3; Naomi Boyce (Masterton) 126.174pts, 4.